Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-17
Wife of Murdered Man Must
Give Testimony.
CORONER EXPECTS A CLUE
Jealousy, Hatred or Revenge Mo-
tive, He Says.
BOARDER ALSO IN CUSTODY
Dead Man Had Political Ambitions
in Suffolk County, N. z.
Trouble With Wife.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CENTRAL ISLIP. L. l., September H.
Following the finding of the dead body of
her husband with charge of buckshot
through his back, Mrs. Irving ]. Nelson
has been held by Coroner Savage Of this
place as a material witness at the murder
inquest which will be held Wednesday Of
next week. With her as a witness is held
Augustus Schwartz, who boarded with
the Nelson's.
According to Coroner Savage. the mo-
tive for the killing was jealousy, hatred
or revenge. and while he is unwilling
to make any statement as to the prob
able murderer. he intimates this morning
that some important facts might be re-
vealed at the inquest.
Nelson, who was democratic town COM
mitteeman for Islip on the Suffolk county
committee, was found shot to death and
the contents of his buggy scattered over
hundred yards of country road near
the grounds of the Central Islip Hospital
for the Insane at an early hour yesterday
morning. Wednesday night he had hired
team from the stable where Schwartz
was employed TO go to the ball of the
held in Bay Shore, whittier Nelson is said
to have accompanied Miss Gertrude Lupke
Of Central Islip. Nothing out of the ordi-
nary, such as an alteration between the
guests occurred, and no one seems to
have seen Nelson leave for home.
Shot Wound Discovered.
At $50 o'clock yesterday morning Ira
Thompson, a fireman at the hospital,
came upon Nelson, whom he knew well,
and concluded from the bruises on the
face and the position of the body that
Nelson had been thrown out by a frac-
tious horse. The fireman telephoned to
Dr. NJ. B. Heyman, who discovered the
jagged shot wound in the back of the
dead man. The slugs were only slightly
spread. showing that the charge had
though there were no powder marks to
indicate a point-blank discharge.
whip and hitching line were found
In different spots along the lonely road
many yards from the body. 1t is re-
marked that this road is not on any line
that Nelson would have taken in going
from the Bay Shore ball to his home.
Nelson's horse evidently ran away, either
before or after the shooting. as the ami
NAL was found before the house of Post
master Hubs, whose daughter had only
recertl. sold the animal to the liveryman.
Miss Lupke, whom Nelson accompanied
to the ball, asserted last night that Mel
son had driven to her home in Central
Islip after the ball. and had left her,
without any untoward happeni G, about
o'clock in the morning.
Had Political Ambitions.
Nelson was until recently manager of
the telephone exchange of the town and
also ran a bicycle store and repair shop.
He was prominent in local politics and at
tended many social affairs to further his
political ambitions. 1t is said that there
was an understanding between husband
and wife by which each was permitted to
do as he or she pleased, and his spouse
seldom accomp anied him on his expedi-
tions. Nelson was thirty-siX years old
and his wife was several years younger.
They had three children.
Coroner Savage stated that he was not
satisfied with the statements made by the
two prisoners, and that several matters
must be cleared up by them. 1t is certain
that robbery could not have been the mo-
tive for the crime. as the body still bore
a watch, several pieces Of jewelry and a
sum of money when found in the road.