The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-11-21
BOYS ADMIT THEY
| AIDED IN MURDER
Three Lads Held in VlneIand,
n J., Case.
ANOTHER CONFESSES CRIME

Cline Wheeler Tells How He and Two
Others Robbed Aged William Read,
and When Recognized Shot and
Killed Him to Hide Their Crime
Cartridge Found In Pocket OF Her
bert Grigg When He Was Arrested
The Three Youths Committed Many
Other Robberies.
Vineland, N. J.. Nov. 19.-The sensa'
ton caused here by the arrest OF
Walter Zeller and Cline Wheeler, who
are charged with the murder of VIII
liam Read, the aged grandfather OF
Zeller, was followed by the capture o.
Herbert Grigg, an alleged accomplice
In the crime, at the home of relatives
In Philadelphia. Grigg, who was impli'
Gated in the crime by the confession
of Zeller, denied any knowledge of the
murder when arrested, and the police
have not yet clearly established how
the aged man was killed. zeller. who
was first arrested. declared that he
knew nothing Of the actual killing OF
his grandfather. He said that he stood
outside the house while Wheeler and
Grigg went inside to rob the aged
man, who was quite wealthy. ZelleI
told the detectives that Wheeler beat
the old man and then shot him. and
that he knew of the murder only when
Wheeler and Grigg came out and ;oid
him.
The confession of Zeller was fol
lowed by one from Wheeler. in which
be is said TO have accused Zeller OF
previously trying to poison his grand
father by placing poison in his coffee
Wheeler is alleged to have implicated
Grigg. and says that when the three
went to the house Friday night Mr.
Read was asleep in his room. Grigg
Wheeler is declared TO have asserted
placed his hand over the aged mans
mouth and made grab for his pocket
book. He did not get the wallet enc
quickly stole Reads revolver from un
der his pillow. A shot was fred by
Grigg. but ii went wide Of the mark
The aged man recognized his grand
son, and Zeller Is alleged to have said
1--WE will have to kill him" A fight fol
lowed. in which Read was shot and
killed. Wheeler is not credited with
having said who fired the fatal shot.
Under severe examination ZelleI
and Wheeler amended their state
ments and declared that Grigg shot
Read after having taken the revolver
from under his pillow. Grigg. who was
also cross-questioned. steadfastly de-
MED any knowledge or responsibility
for the murder of the aged man. He
insists that he had absolutely nothing
TO do with the affair. According to the
detectives. Grigg was preparing to
leave for Seattle, Wash, at the time
he was arrested at the home of rela-
tlves in Philadelphia.
A thirty-two caliber cartridge found
In Grigg's pocket when arrested is
considered a damaging bit Of evidence
in the case. The youth saws he has
carried the cartridge as pocket piece
for some time. but II is regarded as
significant that it is the same kind OF
cartridge as that used in the re
yolver win which Read was shot The
accused saythey did not rob the house
after the shooting. because they were
afraid. but considerable sum Of
money Is missing and the authorities
are satisfied they have not yet Sc
cured all the details of the affair.
According to Wheeler's alleged
statement, the three youths had com
mitted several small robberies and
had planned number more, including
the robbery of Read. They had a cave
near here in which they met and
where they hid their "swag."
The police are said to be searching
for this cave, as they now suspect that
a number of robberies comitted re
Gently were the work of the band.
The accused boys are members OF
reputable families.