Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22

remains OF Ph1l1p Wilkinson, the
man alleged to have been murdered
by Joseph Leavell in September
last. The grave was located in Fair
fax county, Va, not far from the
Chain bridge, by Lula Tyler, the
woman who gave information to
the police respecting the alleged
crime, as given exclusively in The
Sunday Star.
Following the directions of Lulu Tyler,
colored woman who claimed to have knowl-
edge of the murder of Philip Wilkinson
colored In Fairfax county, Va, last Septem-
Der, party of Fairfax county officials this
afternoon visited a lonely spot near the
river shore few miles west of the Chain
bridge and discovered the decayed remains
of a man supposed to be Wilkinson under
mound of stones.
The party consisted of Sheriff J. r. Alli-
son, Deputy Sheriff William Cross and
Commonwealth Attorney c. Vernon Ford.
The officers were accompanied by the Tyler
woman by a coroner's jury and physi-
clan. They We're followed by large crowd
of interested citizens.
The woman led them by lonely route
through the woods to a place wild and
dreary in appearance, where she assured
the officers they would find the remains of
the murdered man. After digging for some
time the decayed remains of a man were
unearthed-
Positive identification was impossible
from the body itself, but no doubt existed
IN no minds of present that the grave
of Wilkinson had been found.
On the way Lula Tyler identified a colored
man named Peter Harris. in whose Rouse,
she said, Wilkinson had lived.
Harris went with the party, and very
reluctantly admitted that that was the spot
where Wilkinson was buried. although he
said he had nothing to do with the muir
der.
The jury will hold an inquest at the place
this afternoon.
Local Police Investigate.
Following the information furnished by
Lula Tyler, colored, concerning the disap-
pearance and killing of Philip Wilkinson,
colored near Balls Hill, Va, in September
last as printed exclusively in The 5unday
Star Lieut.. Mathews of the fourth pre-
cinct went to the Jail yesterday afternoon
and interviewed Joseph Leavell, who was
mentioned by the woman as the slayer of
Wilkinson Leavell promptly admitted to
the lieutenant that he had a hand In the
killing of Wilkinson and also accused Lula
Tyler.
II suppose they are fixing to break my
neck over in Virginia." he said but
might as well tell the truth"
He then related a horrible story of the
fatal encounter in which Wilkinson, the
Tyler woman and himself had figured. His
story does not tally in every respect with
that told by the woman, he putting Lula
Tyler in the position in which she had
placed others. Leavell told the story with
out the slightest hesitation and at times
seemed to think he was relating something
amusing to a friend. He laughed and
chatted pleasantly over the affair, and said
he realized what 1t may mean to him. The
police official visited the prisoner in the
jail yesterday afternoon after Lula Tyler
had been turned over to Sheriff Allison of
Fairfax county to be taken to the county
Jail.
Leavel Tells His Story.
Joseph Leavell, who is young man. is
serving time in Jail for an assault COM
mitted upon girl He was given SEN
tence of twelve months. and has several
months of his term yet to serve. No OBJ
lection will be made to his surrender to the
Virginia authorities, however, In event of
an Indictment being returned against him
there. The story told, by Leavell gave the
lieutenant the impression that while the
killing is guilty, he did not tell them just
as they occurred. Il Is his belief that
Leaveu stated the facts in way to shield
himself as much possible, but that his
reference to the part the woman Is alleged
to have taken in the affair Is correct.
The arrest of the Tyler woman and the
appearance of Philip Wilkinson followed
the action of Lieut.. Mathews in causing the
arrest of the woman after he had heard of
statements that had been made about Will
lNxr sIN-ea oil low STffp 10 "a ffafr
pie living in the alley, one of them Mabel
Brown a sister-in-law of Wilkinson, had
talked of the affair, and 1t was the subject
of gossip among the residents of the alley.
When Mabel Brown called upon the lieu
tenant She told him of the affair as 1t had
been told to her, and Lula Tyler's arrest
followed The woman told her version of
the affair substantially as given in The
Sunday Star, and was held for the Virginia
authorities. She did not hesitate to tell
OF the killing OF Wilkinson and of the at
tempts that were made to dispose of his
body. Tire woman was careful however,
not to say anything that she thought would
| inplicate her in the crime Her story was
told in such q manner that the police lieu
tenant felt that she was trying to shield
herself. The statement of Leavell. so far
as it affects the woman, puts her just where
| Lieut. Mathews thought she should have
| put herself.
Details of the Crime.
During his talk with the lieutenant Lea
his sdster-in-law. Mrs Wilkinson. and had
! been there about three weeks prior to the
! time of the alleged murder of his host. 1t was
| on Thursday Friday evening about the
middle of September, Leaveil said, that he
and Lula Tyler left the house together and
went to the spring. He said 1t was just
| getting dark and that when they reached
| the spring Wilkinson sprang from behind
ciump of bushes and Lula Tyler struck him
| on the head with stick. The blow stag
! gered him and he fell back into the bushes,
where he had an old musket concealed
II grabbed the musket from him and
| ram" said the man behind the bars and
| Wilkinson pursued me-"
| Being afraid he would be overtaken and
assaulted. he said he turned and struck
| Wilkinson on his head with the musket. He
| then dealt him second blow and knocked
! him down Wilkinson groaned and squirmed
1 a few times and then Strengthened out,
1 Leavell said that he returned to the house
| with Lula and they retired About three
| hours later. he said. they got up and went
out to see about the man they had left near
the spring.
| Disposing Of the Body.
HE was cold and stifr," said Leavel.