Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-26
CAUGHT BY FLASHLI6HT
AFTER EIGHTEEN MONTHS
sIeaehea and charred Skeleton of VIC
tim Identified by Jewelry a Few
Days Before Murderer's Face Hap-
pened to be Revealed In Flash for
Police Dogs Picture.
by Associated Press

| NEW YORK. Oct. ga year and
half ago a friendiess girl was muir
dered in forsaken patch of woodland
near lslip. Long Island; a week ago
her bleGohed and charred skeleton was
found. with nothing TO indicate its
lidentiy but her jewelry and a bill of
sale from German shop: three days
later through the police OF Hamburg.
Germany. her identity vas established
as Anna Luther. though the cables
first carried the name as Latta.
Last night her husband, Frederick
lGebhardt. who had married under the
name OF Otto Mueller. was caught in
Astoria. L. l.. by q photographers
tiash.ight, and tonight he confessed
over his signature that he is her
! slayer. The confession follows:
Murderer's Confession.
"Abcut December. 1897. first met
Anna Luther. We wee married. N
| February. 1908. AMI vent II Europe to
| live. We returned Ap;i 4. 1908. Sho
| went 10 Henry Werfp. M In Newark,
". ]. 10 spend dav o. two. tn tie
pretense that ] was going to rent an
/ apartment for US to live in returned
! 10 my hcme and wife III Astoria
I
l Newark, and we went 20 an address
IN Thirty-fourth. New York, and then
/; to- jamaica, L. 4 We STAYED IN
Jamaica until next day.
April we went TO Bayshore and
we walked about and I showed her
some property. got into an argument
with her about some money matters
and I turned away and wanted to 90
1 no Cd Inc
| and | shot her In the head did nor
lock at her. and do not remember
whether shot her more thahi once.
immediately after I went to the
Islip depot and took train for home
II was nearly dark On the way home
! on the train / threw the revolver OUT
Cf the car window
| Didn't Kill Her For Money.
II want to state that I did not kiie
Anna Luther for her money. as the
newspapers have stated. Ny original
reason for marrying Anna Is that
did not care to live with my first wife
/ any longer, but as sbe--my first wife
had given me child my desire to
again see nv child caused me to
want TO get rid OF Anna Luther and re-
| turn to nv first wife and child
| That is the reason I shot Anna
luther and I told her in Bayshore
that was married and had a vie and
child and mus. leave her.
| A"Shs screamed and ran after me-
and kissed me and wanted me back
and Ishot her.
This confession is made on my own
free VIII without any hope of recon-
peEse being offered me-
From the time Of his arrest last
night until he broke down today under
police questioning, Gebhardt although
he admitted that he committed bigamy
when ne married Anna Luther denied
all knowledge OF her death.
In a letter written to the German
consul last night Mueller, the author.
spoke OF a Mr. Bradley, OF Denver. as
having called to see MuelTer's wife
during his absence. The description
Of this man. who existed in Imaeina-
ticn only. answered exactly TO that or
Gebhardt.
Fisshlieht Caught Him.
I Gehhardt- when he was in Germany,
bought two Gsrman police dogs and
Il was by trsrinE the dogs that the
detectives found MS home IN Astoria.
While a newspaper photographer
CHANGED a fashlighf et the dogs the
fare revealed the pale.f face OF Gehharst
peering from the chinks OF an out