New-York tribune., 1909-02-05
PRISONER FACES BODY
STILL DENIES HIS GUILT.
NezCark Police Arrange Grezosonse
Scene in U,HheIm Home.

Developments yesterday in the case Of Franz
Wilhelm. the contractor who was found murdered
in his home in Newark on Monday. included ths
charge that Wilhelm had three wives living and
that he had never been divorced The police wsnR
the limit in third degree methods by suddenly puts
ting Nicholas Sicca, formerly bOarder in the WI
helm home. who is held suspicion. into the pres
ence Of the body OF the murdered man Though the
experience reduced him a OF utter collapse.
the police were forced to- admit that he made No
damaging disclosures
An hour or two after Mrs. Wilhelm had been
awakened at midnight and taken to the mOrsue -
view the body Of her dead husband sicea was
aroused and conducted by the detectives to ths
Wilhelm home. No reply was made to his ques-
tions to what be done with him
Before Sicca reached the house Wihelrn's body
had been conveyed there from the morgue and
placed In the position in the basement hall in
which 1t found Monday night Sicca was
first led through the the first noor, the
detectives asking him numerous questions regard
ing articles Of furniture. etc. and making 20 men
tion Of the presence of the body in the house The
man appeared cool. and talked freely with the d.
tectives.
Presently one of the detectives. who had gons
into the basement, called the party upstairs to
go down and view the rooms there. Sicca was lsd
down the stairway, and Just he reached the foof
of the flight a light suddenly flashed. dis
playing the body of Wilhelm lying face DOWNWARD
the floor
AS sicca stared at the corpse Of the DE-
tectives shouted in his
THAT is what you did Sicca!"
Il did not he responded hUskly, turning MS
face away. Then the detectives say. his knees De-
gan TO tremble and he would have fallen II ons
OF their number had not supported him Siccas
nervous collapse complete that the de-
tectives hurried him back the carriage and re-
turned with him to the police station without ask
ing further questions.
The first intimation received BY the Newark po-
lice that Wilhelm had more than one wife living.
they say was when Chief Corbett received let
ter from a woman who signed herself Mrs Franz
Wilhelm, No. 227 East SD street. saying that she
was married 20 Wilhelm in Heidelberg. Germany.
twenty years ago. and that he deserted her twelve
years ago. Mrs Wilhelm, under detention in New
ark. told the police that her husband had come
from Heidelberg, and that he married her in Bos-
ton ten years ago. Mrs Frederick Wilhelm, the
author Of the letter told the police that she has
two chdren-Francis, thirteen years old and
Frederick, twelve years old
Mrs. Frederick Wilhelm and her sister. Mrs.
Maria Armater, visited Newark yesterday. and
were permitted to attend Wilhem's funeral, which
held at his home No. AS High street They
positively identified him Both tainted soon after
reaching the Wilhelm house. and were carried from
the scene The Rev Ezra Ferris. who was con-
Quoting the services, pleaded for order. and WITH
some difficulty Gained the women present.
The information concerning the third wife of
Wilhelm, according to the Newark police.
through Mrs. Fredericka Wilhelm She told the
police, they say. that years after she
married to Wilhelm she learned that he had pre-
viously married his step-sster. who known
Hannah Wilhelm. and whom he deserted Just be-
fore he married Mrs. Fredericka Wilhelm. Shs
declared. the police say. that when she accused him
Of his dupIicity he deserted her. Since then sha
had heard nothing Of him until her son Fred read
Of the murder in the newspapers and was struck
by the likeness of the murdered to the pictures
which he had been told were those OF his father.
Anna N. Saltau. the servant who told the polcs
on Wednesday that she had Sicca In front of
the Wilhelm home s O'Clock on Monday night,
visited Police Headquarters yesterday and posi-
lively identified Sicca the she had seen st
that time. Sicca's collapse so cornplets after
his visit to the Of the murder that his
raignment which had been planned for yesterday,
postponed