The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-24
EBERHARD, AUNT'S
SLAYER, SAYS I'LL
FIND WAY TO DIE
"You'll Never Convict Me-" He
Derlares in Hackensack Jail,
Where He Refuses Food.
w'LL STARVE MYSELF"
DESPERATE MANS THREAT
Attempts to Give Keeper the
Slip-Story of Accomplice
in Crime a Fake.
Especial to the Evening Star

Especial to the Evening star.]
HACKENSACK, July 24.-August
Eberhard, self-confessed slayer of his
aunt, Mrs. Ottilie Eberhard. in bare
cell In Hackensack's jail. declared to-
day that he would starve himself, rather
than face jury In trial for his life.
"You will never try or convict me-" he
snid, smilingly, ns he was led away to
his cell. "'H stnrve myself, IL I can't
die any other way"
He was Immediately stripped by the
two guards who accompanied him to
the room. Even a tiny hand mirror,
found in his pocket, was denied him.
A regulation suit of prison clothes,
striped trousers and shirt was placed
on him, but belt, usually given with
the suit. was not Forthcoming. Tho
officers want to make sure that Eber-
hard does not cheat the law.
Since his first hearty meal of yester-
day, Eberhard has refused to eat a
morsel, but pushes to the farthest cor
ner of his cell the food that Is Offered
| him.
Early today. while being led from his
cell to a wash room, Eberhard turned
upon Keeper Mahr. who was accom-
panying him, and attempted to trip him.
Failing in this, he ran to the room
where he was being taken and tried to
slam the door in the keepers face.
Mahr was too quick for him and held
the self-confessed slayer until he
reached the cell.
Coralinn Wade, the actress in the
Five Typewriters," for whom Eber-
hard declares he slew and robbed his
aunt of $4,000, says she never heard OF
him, and denied positively that she has
ever seen him. "He must be insane. u
she declares.
Prosecutor Koester has not decided
whether he will have the actress
brought to Hackensack or not. He
said today that he would not have her
| brought here today. but might do so
later.
Eberhard late last night retracted
that portion of his confession in which
he declared that he had an accomplice.
| THAT yarn about Berkman is all a
fake" he yawned. There's no truth
In it, 1 told you that because thought
1t might help me out in getting lighter
sentence but as l live there was no one
to help me. 1 did the deed all by my
self"
Prosecutor Koester, who has doubted
the story of an accomplice from the
start, said that he would investigate
the story of the accomplice, as though
1t had not been retracted. Eberhard's S
later statement might have been made
to shield his confederate, he said. Ac-
cordingly, the detective who was yes
terday sent to Chicago where Berk-
man is supposed to be in hiding, was
not recalled.
At the conclusion of the gruelling
third degree to which he was subjected
by the prosecutors detectives, Eber-
hard was taken before Justice of the
Peace Thomas Cummings, of Hacken-
sack A formal charge of murder was
made against him by two of the de-
tectives, and he was ordered held, with
out bail, in the Hackensack jail.
Says Jersey Justice Won't Lag.
"The case will be presented to the
grand jury the first thing Monday
next" said Prosecutor Koester today
1--WE will not allow Jersey justice to lag
in this case. Monday, unless some
thing unforeseen prevents, August
Eberhard will be indicted for his crime
on that day.
81 cannot say just when the trial will
be held, but 1t will be not longer than
six weeks after his Indictment Pos
sibly we may get to 1t by the first week
of September, certainly by the 18th OF
| that month"
In a search for the pistol which Eber-
hard used to fire the shot which ended
his aunts life, a detective went to the
Susquehanna Railroad bridge today, in
structed to go over the ground care
| fully and If he was unsuccessful to re-
port back, when a diver would be sent
down to the bottom of the river and
hunt for the weapon there Eberhard' S
statement regarding the revolver, how
ever is not thoroughly believed by the
authorities, who declare they have
found him such a monumental falsifier
that they place little credence In any
| tale he tells.
OttiIie Pines for Sweetheart.
Ottilie Eberhard, the daughter of the
slain woman, has changed her quar-
ters at the Susquehanna Hotel for the
| hospitality of Mrs. Jacob Dunn, wife
of the chief of police. who was so
(oensinued ON second Paxe.)