The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-18
BOY MURDERERS
Three Youths Kill a Man OF 40
to Get His Money.
Beat and Shoot Him While He
Is in Bed.
TWO HIS GRANDSONS.
One of the Trio Escapes; Later
Is Arrested.
Sum of 81. 500 Is Their Reward
for the Deed.

vfneland. n. J., Nov. 1S.-The ar
rest last night of Walter Zeller, lS
years old. and Cline Wheeler, his 20
year-old companion, charged with the
murder of William Read, the grand
father of ZelIer last Friday night, has
caused a sensation in this section OF
the state. Zeller has confessed to the
murder plot, but seeks to lay the &C
tuaI commission of he crime upon
Wheeler. Herbert Grigg. another 10
year old boy, who is implicated in
the confession disappeared from his
fathers farm yesterday and has not
been seen since. Zeller and Wheeler
have admitted that the motive was
robbery.
Read was more than 20 years old
and quite wealthy. He lived with
his son-in-law, William E. Cooper
ZeIler is a son of Mrs. Cooper by her
first husband. The aged man was
found dead in his room last Satur-
day morning, he having Deen shot
and beaten. Much of the money the
old man was in the habit of displaying
missing and the police i'm
mediately decided that robbery was
the motive. In looking around for
clew suspicion fell upon young Zeller
with the result that he was taken into
He stoutly denied the accusation but
finally broke down and told of the
crime.
Zeller in his confession. according
to detectives made the first attempt to
rob the aged man on Halloween while
Mr.. and Mrs. Cooper were away from
the house. He says wheeler and
Grigg were with him at the time
Before they could get to the old man,
he said, Read awoke and they fed
fearing he would recognize them.
Last Friday, according to detectives,
Zeller learned his parents were going
to the theater and he and his two com
panions again laid plans to rob the old
man. The stepfather had given Walter
and his brother William money to go to
the theater and they went, Walter re-
naming only part of the evening and
returning before the performance was
over
zeller says he remained away from
the house while his grandfather was
being killed.
Il hadn't anything to do with the
murder" he sobbed. Cline and Her
bert killed grandpop. I stayed four
block from the house while they did it.
Wheeler fired the shot and Is minutes
later he came up to me with Grigg and
said: My God, Walter we have killed
your grandfather "
The detectives told Ze1ler that Wheel
er had confessed that he (Zeller) had an
active part in the murder, but he again
denied it.
Wheeler was arrested at his home
here shortly after Zeller was taken into
custody.
The detectives say he signed a depo-
sition and was during the night taken
to the Cumberland county Jail at
Bridgeton.
Detectives Lore and Spencer will not
say at this time what Zeller and Wheel
er told them about the $500 alleged
to be missing. The detectives hope to
find the money today.
From what Zeller told the detectives,
the grandfather was asleep when at
tackled The cane found found in the
Cooper barn Sunday is alleged to have
been lying in Reads room on Friday.
The detectives say that the old man
was struck with it by one of the boys.
Although partially stunned the aged
man is said to have taken his pistol
from under his pillow and Wheeler is
alleged to have taken it from him. 1t
is believed by the detectives that Read
was killed because the boys feared he
would recognize them.
Third One Caught.
Philadelphia, Nov. discharged
with being an accompIice in the mur-
>der of William Read, Herbtrt Grigg
in this city today. Grigg denied that
he had any connection with the muir
der. In his possession was found a
80 caliber cartridge of the kind sup
posed to have been used in the gun
with which Read was shot.