The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-07
Formal Charge Made To.
day--Bartlett Held, Too.
Elliott Found.
HEARING ON THURSDAY
Alleged Wife Murderer on Brink
of Further Admissions When
Counsel Arrived TO Save
Him-Puzzling Features
Are Still UnsoIved.

Theodore S. Whitmore was formally
arraigned before Judge Branegan in
the Harrison Police Court late this
afternoon on a charge of numbering
his wife, Mrs. Lena Whitmore, whose
body was found in the lampblack
swamp, that town, the morning after
Christmas. The charge was drawn up
by Judge Branegan and sworn to by
Police Sergeant Caleb Coakley, of Har-
rison, in the absence of Chief Rodgers,
who was in Brooklyn Whitmore was
held without bail for formal hearing
on Thursday at p. m. before Judge
Branegan.
The prisoner was extremely nervous
when called before the Judge. but cid
not break down. He was represented
by Alexander Simpson, a Jersey City
lawyer, who had brought the case to a
head late yesterday, when he was sent
| to Harrison to represent Whitmore by
/ the latters brother, Elias Whitmnre.
who is a conpositor on a New York
newspaper. Simpson had demanded
that Whitmore either be charged with
some offense at once or released.
The charge of murder was drawn up
in the morning by Judge Branegan,
but it was not until afternoon that
Sergeant Coakley, who works nights,
was routed out of bed to sign the COM
plant when Chief Rodgers did not re-
turn from Brooklyn to sign 1t. Chief
Rodgers had gone there to
bring back Harry Hendrickson, of 90
Claremont avenue. that city. who was
the murder inasmuch as he was at
tentive to Mrs. Whitmore. Hendrick-
/ son could not be prevailed upon to
waive extradition, however. and was
held for hearing in Brooklyn on
Thursday.
The afraignment was also further
delayed by the fact that Mr.. Simpson
had gone to Trenton in the morning
and did not arrive in Harrison until
late.
The copy of the charge Of murder
was as follows:
State of New Jersey, Town OF Harrison,
Hudson County.
"Caleb Coakley. residing az Harrison,
New Jersey complains that upon infornna-
tion and belief Theodore Smith Whit
more on December 26th. 1907, at Harri-
son, county Of Hudson, State of New Jer-
violence aforethought kill and murder one
Lena Whltmore. in violation OF an act
concerning crime, section So. approved
June II. 1898 and supplements thereto
THE deponent therefore prays that the
said Theodore Smith Whitmore may be
held to answer said complaint and dealt
with as law and Justice may require.
Sworn and subscribed to January T.
1908, before me. Police Justice Joseph M.
Branegan."
Billy Bartlett, the Brooklyn waiter.
who knew the Whitmores well. and
who is under arrest in Harrison on
suspicion, was likewise arraigned this
afternoon and held in $1,000 bail as a
witness.
Frank Boettener. a lawyer of this
city, is looking after his interests.
Frank Englert, of 61S Warren street.
Harrison. who also knew Mrs. Whit
more, was arrested today and also held
under $4,000 bail as witness.
Although Whitmore is held for the
murder, the mystery has not yet been
fully cleared. 1t has not been shown
how Mrs. Whitmore came to be in
Harrison It has not been proven that
Whftmore took or accompanied her
there. 1t has not been revealed who
took her there. That is the mystery
Did Whitmore and a possible accom-
plice follow her and a man there? Did
they drug her and then take her to
the swamp and kill her? What instru-
ment was used to slay her? These
questions have not bene answered.
But things look black for Whitmore.
He admits sending the fake telegram
to Mrs. Martin Schmitters, of New
York, a sister of Mrs. Whitmore. after
the murder This was done to blind
the victims relative. Again, he sent
his wife's trunk, filled with stones and
old clothes, to Mrs. Schmitters. But
most important of all, his handwriting
is said to be like that of the fake let
ters supposedly sent by Mrs. Whitmore
after the crime to her relatives.
Frederick w. Elliott, who was with
Whitmore after the murder, and pos
sibly on the night of the tragedy, was
located last night at Newton. Mass.
and he agreed to go to Harrison. He
had not arrived up to early this after
noon. He is an important factor in
the case.
When Whitmore was questioned further
;ate yesterday afternoon he admitted thar
he had been in Harrison before.
Yes, l was in Harrison once" ne con-
fcssed. Il was here a few weeks l.;a look
ing for job with the General Electric
Company"
Whitmore, therefore, had the oppor-
tunity to survey the lonely swamp IN
which later his wife was found dead
Hitherto he has asserted positively that
he had never seen the town before, and
was not acquainted in New JERSEY at alt
II do know little hit about jersey.
he admitted. Il was In several towEs
along here looking for jobs. Paterson was
cne Of the places went to"
"Billy" Bartlett, who was arrested after
identifying her body, while acting sns-
piciously IN Harrison. was also put through
another grilling yesterday. He admitted
having served two terms OF imprisonment
in Kings County. New York, on charEs
Of felonious assault. Likewise he eoa-