The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-04

HARRISON. n. J., Jan. 4.-TheodOre
WhitmOre, IN his cell in the local jail
where he Is awaiting the action OF the
coroner" Is today the central figure in
the Passaic river swamp murder mys-
terry.
The body Of the murdered victim, hav-
ing been positively identified by reia-
tives, he now freely admits 90 be his
wife Lena, missing since Christmas Day,
but although under a severe fire OF cross
questioning all last night and again to-
day, he sticks resolutely to the story
that he supposed she had been in
Schenectady, visiting relatives, and
maintains that he knows nothing about
her murder.
That he and his wife quarreled fire.
quentIy and mat he at times beat her
severely, he admits but in the same
breath he insists he had nothing to do
with the crime OF Christmas Night The
police, however. while not directly
charging him with the murder, declare
he has made so many contradictory
statements that he will have difficulty
in convincing them that he does not
know much more about the matter than
he viii admit
Seek Missing Diamonds.
BY order OF Chief Rodgers. the police
Of Newark. Jersey City, @nd New York
were today asked to search the pawn
shops for the missing diamonds OF MRS.
Whftnore. According 10 her sister. when
she left the latter's house in Harlem
Christmas Day TO return 70 her hus-
band, she wore two solitaire diamond
rings, guard ring. and her wedding
ring.
Developments in the case came rapid
" last night With the arrival of Whit
more In Harrison In custody OF New
York detectives he was confronted with
the body Of his wife. Fory that pur-
pose Il had been clad in the clothing
found on the banks Of the river, but
he stood beside the pine casket and
looked at IL .unmOved, declaring II
looked Ike" his wife, but insisting that
Il was too small for heE-
II was not until he had been locked
IN a cell that he admitted the identity
For hours thereafter he was grilled by
the police. but stOutly maintained his
innocence.
Woman Calls Him Murderer.
After midnight the police played their
strongest card. Down through the dimly
lighted cell room came Whitmore's
sisters-in-law, Mrs. Martin Smithers,
and Mrs. Mooney. So quietly did they
approach Whitmore, sitting with his
head IN his hands, he did not hear them.
Mrs. Smithers. grasping the bars Of the
cell with both hands. her face thrust
as close Q his as possible. quivering
with EXETER mt and anger fairly yelled:
You muir rsr! You coward You dog.
yOu killed my sisteri You have struck
her down as you have often threatened
you would do, you stripped her body
and threw her into the swamp!
Whitmore jumped. He started as
though he would strange the woman.
Then, taking IN the group OF detectives,
he smiled. and drawing up 20 his full
height said:
Did you come all the way over here
TO lid me?'
"I came over here to show who mur-
deTed my sister," declared the almost
frantic woman. ''You know you killed
her. You always hated her and you
were never satisfied excepting when you
were beating her. You are a murderer
at" But here the woman tainted
and had TO be carried away, while
WhItmore with half q contemptuOus
smile on his face, resumed his former
attitude
Sent Letters in Wife's Name.
The police plan had failed He had
retained his composure and no damaging
admission hal been surprised from him.
Mrs. Smlthers and her husband. after
leaving the cell room. turned over to
Judge Branegan several letters and
kilograms they had received signed by
Mrs. Whitmore between Christmas and
New Year. These purported to tell
Of the dead woman sending her effects
70 their home and going visiting In
Schenectady.
Judge BTanegan at once called IN ex-
perts to endeavor TO substantiate their
authorship. The police openly charge
these letters were written by WhitmoTe
and have obtained samples OF his writ
ing for comparison
Beat Her Christmas Eve