Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-20
Charged Against lorentz
By Providence Police
Said TO Have Confessed to
Many Robberies and Assaults.
Identified by Many vietims'..Sus.
pected Of Two Murders.

Providence, X. L., Jan. 19.-becdune
of the similarity between the murder
of Laura f. REGISTER and the many
depredations to which he has confess
ed the police department was at work
today in an effort to discover if Ernest
W. LorentZ, brought before the court
today as a murderer and highWayman
had any connection with the death of
the CranstOn girl.
Miss REGISTER was returning to her
home along Reservoir avenue on the
evening of May 10, 1909. after trying
on her wedding gown at dressmak-
ers. Her cut and bruised body was
found the next morning behlnd the
Jewish cemetery. No one has been
charged with the crime. 1t was the
opinion of several of the police Off
Gals at the time that assault was the
motive of the holdup.
The case of murder and three cases
of highway robbery brought against
Lorentz today also have assault as the
underlying motive, according to the
police.
1t was learned today that LorentZ
is engaged to be married to IL we'll
known Providence young woman and
that the wedding day had been set for
sometime in March. The ceremony
was to have taken place in the home
of his Oldest sister during her silver
wedding anniversary at Mehltheur,
Germany
Lorentz told the police of the CEN
trail precinct today that he came to
this country in 1903 and had lived in
New York, Philadelphia and New Bed
ford. Pawn chOnS ca1rrha6 I'll
morning and conclusive evidence
against the man was found. Identifi-
cation of the various articles We're po-
stive.
The man was arrested here yester-
day for the alleged holding up and rob-
bling of Sanford Burton, Jr a we'll
known clubman. on Monday last. The
mans name was given yesterday as
William Luden, but today it is said to
be Ernest W. LorentZ. Wholesale
highway robbery. eliminating in one
instance in murder, has stirred Provi-
dence and vicinity for the past few
weeks and the police express their be-
lief that I.orentZ is the man RESPONSE
BILE for the reign of terror" He is
said to have admitted the Burton af-
fair. When he was brought into the
district court today the charge of rob-
bling Burton had been definitely lodged
against him and it was expected that
he would be called upon to answer
to charge of having murdered Gill
bert Mann. ct 81
Mr.. Mann was shot and fatally
wounded by highwayman while driv-
ing with George Williams in the town
Of Johnston on Jan. s. Mr. Williams
late yesterday unhesitatngly declared
that he was positive that Lorentz did
the shooting, picking the man out of a
line of half dozen men.
Ihe police last night and TODAY sum-
moned a number of persons to the no.
nee station and victim after victim
loeitined LorentZ as the man who had
robbed them on the open road.
Whlle Chief Inspector Horton and
other members of the detective depart
lieht were questioning Lorentz before
the johnston authorities took him to
court, there to answer four charges
against him, the prisoner collapsed and
'he services of the police surgeon were
required. The man was being sharnlv
asked concerning his Whereabouts on
the evening when the REGISTER murder
was committed
because of his weak condition the
questioning was stopped and the court
proceedings were postponed until later.
Inc police say that he has confess
Gu 10 three cases of highway robbery
ana IL cases of assault against Young
girls. lie denied that he was guilty of
the Mann murder and declared that he
mas no connection with the Register
case.