New-York tribune., 1903-07-29
C0NFESSES WIFE MURDER
EBELT TELLS DETAILS.
Accused Her of Being Too Intimate
ucith Anotber-She "G0t Mad"


After visiting the norgue and gazing on the
swollen features OF his dead wife without be-
traying sign OF emotion. Martin Ebelt, the
young man who is under arrest in Mount Yer
the charge Of strangling her to death
and hiding her body in a sewer. yesterday un-
expectedIy weakened and confessed to Coroner
wiesendanger and Chief Foley that he killed
her.
The prisoner made the confession Immediately
after his visit to the morgue. He was taken
there, accompanied by Chief Foley, Coroner
wiesendanger and several witnesses. As the
coroner drew back the cloth Ebelt said: Yes.
that's my wife,
Ebelt for fully three minutes gazed at the
body. Then the police led him away. He re-
mained determinedly stolid. He had apparently
nerved himself for the ordeal
On the return TO the police station Ebelt ex-
hibited signs Of weakening, and Coroner Vie
sendanger and Chief Foley took him into pri-
vate room and began to attack him with ques-
tions. He answered a few questions, and then
became confused
You had better tell the truth" said the coro-
ner. What did you do to your wife?'
Ebelt looked confused. and his lips trembled
Finally he leaned over closely toward the coro-
ner and Chief Foley and whispered:
'I killed her.
What did you do it for?" asked the coroner.
We'll" replied the prisoner. "she made lot
of trouble for me. and would have made more
IL she had lived"
What kind OF trouble do you mean?' inquired
the coroner.
We'll. she was always spending money re-
piled Ebelt. land then she would tell my peOpie
that I couldn't earn enough money to support
her properly. She told my sister that she hao
made mistake when she married me-
CoNFEssEs IN COURTROOM.
Last evening Ebelt was brought before Cor
oner weisendanser again TO tell his story. Inc
courtroom was crowded with spectators Eoelt
said:
Last Friday night when went t+, home fer from rom
She said ali right she would be glad 10 taKe & IL.
i told her il over at VOLTS Lane, ana aItef
dinner she put on her hat and we went OUT 10
zether We went down Franklin-aVe. 10 sixth
st and stopped there and sat down. AT hrst
we talked about the position, and then 1 ac-
cused her of being too intimate with a Mr.. Col
Inns. During the argument her hat fell OF anu
rolled down into the salt meadows. she denlea
that she had been oJp with Mr.. Collins. l SAID
that Collins had told me that she had been
Then she got mad and said had no strings on
her and she would go with whom she pleased
Then caught her by the throat and choked er
with my thumbs.
How long did you choke her?" asked the
coroner
About ten minutes" replied the prisoner.
Did she make any outcry or resistance?'
No she didn't scream. but once she tried to
slap me in the face"
why didn't she make a noise? Couldn't
she?"
Il don't believe she could"
When you choked her you had her down on
the ground. didn't you?"
Yes. After choked her wanted to be sure
she was dead. so took the shoestring from my
pocket and tied it about her neck and then
pulled it tight with both hands. Then threw
her down the sewer
How far away from the sewer were you when
the struggle took placer
About ten feet l went over to the sewer
about a week ago while looking for a good place
to Kill her. l the hole in the sewer then and
thought that it would be about the best place TO
hide the body
How did you get the body into the sewer?'
PUT HER HEAD FIRST INTO SEWER.
ct picked her up under the arms and carried
her to the hole in the sewer and put her down
head first Then 1 went back home and told my
people that my wife had gone TO work that night
at a house in Wolfs Lane at Sc a week. My
mother objected and said that Gussie had ought
TO stay home, because she Cmy mother) would
not be able 10 90 all of the work. I did not care
TO tell her what / had done, I put my hat
and my sister. Mrs. Mitchell. did
not hear anything more about the crime until
Chief Foley drove out to White Plains where I
was at work yesterday afternoon and arrested
me"
The prisoner said he gave his wife warning
that he going TO Kill her. He appeared in
the courtroom in his shirt sleeves and seemed
composed while making his statements. He was
evidently ashamed of the deed for he spoke at
times in a very low voice. he ldenthed MS
wifes hat which she the night of the
murder, and the shoestring with which he COM
peted the strangulation
Coroner Wiesendanger then arraigned the
prisoner on the charge Of murder in the first de-
gree. He selected Sidney A. Syme, OF Mount
Vernon as his counsel. Mr.. Syme stated that on
account of the severe mental strain which Ebelt
had undergone he would waive further examina-
ton Coroner Wiesendanger then committed
Ebet to await the action Of the Westchester
grand jury
The body OF the woman was buried yesterday
in the East Chester Cemetery.
Ebelt was insanely suspicious of his wife. who
was only eighteen years old. blonde and at
tractive His distrust of her strong that
he was even opposed TO her going out in the
afternoons, fearing that she might make the