Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-18
BOYS IN MURDER PLOT
Break Down and Confess They
Killed Septuagenarian.
.--
HAD TRIED TO ROB HIM
Grandson Implicated. but Denies
That He Participated in Violence.
OLD MAN ATTACKED IN SLEEP
Although Stunned by Blows. He
Drew His Pistol, Which Was
Seized and Used Against Him.

FINELAND. y. j.. November lS-1he
arrest Monday night OF Walter Zeler
nineteen years old. and Cline Wheeler.
his tWenty-year-old companion, charged
with the murder of William Read. the
grandfather of Zeller, last Friday night
mas caused sensation in this section
OF the state. Zeller has confessed to ait
murder plot, but seeks to lay the actual
commission Of the crime upon Wheeler
herbert GrigS. another nineteen-year-old
boy. who is implicated in the confession
disappeared from his fathers farm yes
terday and has not since been seen.
Zeller and Wheeler have admitted that
the motive was robbery
Grandson First Suspected.
Read was more than seventy years old
and quite wealthy. He lived with his
son-in-law, VILLAIN f. Cooper Zeller Is
son of Mrs. Cooper by her first nus
band The aged man was found dead in
his room last Saturday morning, having
been shot and teaten. Much of the
money the old man was in the habit OF
displaying was missing, and the pol &c
Immediately dec ded that robbery was
the motive. In looking around for a clue
suspicion fell upon young Zelier with the
result that he was taken into custody last
evening after the funeral. He stonty
denied the accusation Tut finally broke
down and told CT the crime.
Leller in his confession, according to
Detectives Lore and Spencer, 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 Gr.gg were with him at the
time. Before they could set to the old
man. he sa d. Read awoke, and they fed,
fearing he would recognize them.
Last Friday, az co:djng to the detect
ives. Zeller learned that his parents were
going to the theater, and he and his two
companions asain lad plans to rob the
grandfather. The steptather had given
Walter and his brother w liam money to
20 70 the theate.'. and they went. Waiter
returning before the performance was
over.
er~.c BunieE Aiding Murderers.
zeller says he remained away from the
house while his grandfather was being
killed. .--
Il Lad no: anything to do With the
murder" he sobb,d.. Cline and Herbert
killed grandpop. ! stayed four blocks
from the house while they did it. Wheel
er fired the si,ot and fifteen minutes later
ne came up to me with Grigg and said ::
My. God. Walter We have killed your
grandfather
The detectives told Zeller that Wheeler
had confessed that he (Zeller) had an
active part in the murder, but he again
denied II.
Wheeler was arrested al his home here
shortly after Zeller was taken into Gus
today.
The detectives say he signed posi-
ton and was. during the night. taken to
the Cumberland county Jail at Bridseton
Detectives Lor, and Spencer will not
say at this time what Zeller and Wheeler
told them about the sl.5O0 alleged to be
missing. The detectives hop. TO find the
money today.
Read Asleep When Attacked.
From what Z-ller told the detectives
the grandfather was asleep when at,
tackled. The cane found in the Coop. r
barn Sunday is alleged TO have been lying
In Reads room Friday. The det ectiv.s
say that the old man was struck with il
by one of the boys. Although partl,
stunned the aged man is said 10 hav
taken his pistol from under his pillow
and Wheeler is alleged to have taken il
from him. 1t is believed by the detectives
tiat Read was killed because the boys
feared he would recognize them.