The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-31
MURDER IN
new YORK STARTS
SEARCH FOR GIRLS
Ruth Wheeler Was Slain and
Murdered in Albert VOTERS
Room.

New York, March 30.--Spurred on by
the discovery that Ruth Wheeler, the
victim of the sensational murder un-
covered last Saturday was by every
evidence smothered and stuffed While
unconscious into the fire place Of AL
bert VOTERS apartments and there
burned to death, the authorities to-
day continued the task Of trying to
develop the real motive for the crime.
After the autopsy on the body, Cor
oner's Physician O'Hanlon declared
that traces of SCOT in the nostrils and
lungs convinced him the girl was still
living when her body was set on fire.
Hours of questioning of the closest
sort have failed to shake young Wolter
in his declaration that he never had
seen the Wheeler girl and knew Moth
ing Of the way in which she met her
fate. He steadfastly declines to explain
the entry of Ruth Wheeler's name in
the memorandum boo or account to
the satisfaction of the police for his
movements on the day when it was
learned Miss Wheeler visited his rooms
in answer to an advertisement for q
~stenographer.
Strike Fresh Trail.
Information obtained of Katie Miller,
or Mueller, VOTERS companion, who
was arrested yesterday. was mostly Of
a negative character. A fresh trail in
VOTERS case, however, was struck by
the authorities in a story told them
by a young woman, who confessed to
having known Wolter well. Her tale
Of the many young girls who, she said,
had been associated with the prisoner
set the authorities to looking up the
numerous girls whose names and adj
dresses were found in VOTERS mem
orandum book to see If any of them
are missing.
Since the latter part of January
moro than -h1 Girls hafy-nar %l,o ~.-~-
Of is and II years of age, have been
reported missing. All but is have heen
accounted for.
A Pathetic Case.
The body of Miss Wheeler. a little girl
graduate who was lured from her Wild
owed mother on Thursday last by a decoy
offer of employment. was found late Sat-
urday huddled In a gunny sack on a fire
escape outside the apartment of Albert
Wolter. the man charged with her abduc-
ton. She had been %strangled with a short
end OF a three-eighths rope, hacked with
a knife. burned beyond recognition and
thrust carelessly out of doors like SO much
rubbish.
Identification was only possible by
shreds OF clothing and fragments of tew-
elry, but there was abundant evidence OF
how the murder had been committed.
Around the neck were the charred fbres
of manila burnt into the flesh. The apart
inent reeked with the odor of kerosene.
There were oil stains In front Of the newly
painted freboard that hid an open CRATE.
Fully dressed, the girls clothing and hair
had been saturated with kerosene, the
flreboard had been removed and the bodv
thrust u the chimney standing. When
the mate was touched to her she burned
like a torch.
Ruth Wheeler was IL years old, the
youngest of three sisters, bred, by their
mother. a d~ressmaker, to self support.
Both the elder sisters were stenographers
and Ruth had Just graduated from a bus
mess college, eager for employment and
proud of her diploma. An employment
agency for graduates is conducted by the
college, and Ruth called there often to
look for a situation. Thursday morning
she left home on her usual errand and
never returned.
Carefully Reared.
The girl had been carefully brought I'D.
She was never on the streets at night.
and her failure to come home for "a hours
without explanation meant more thar q
caprice. The next morning the elder sis
tiers, Pearl and Adelaide. in serious con-
Germ. went to the college and learned that
the following postal card had been turned
over to her:
Dear Madam: Please call in reference
to position Of stenographer at residence
VI III secretary. "A. WOlter,
24 East Fifth st.
Crazy About Women.
VOTERS parents told in voluble but
broken English OF the difficulties their
son had brought upon them.
H was always crazy about women"
said the mother. From the time he was
q little boy 1t was always dancing. pleas
ure, women, women with him."
Detectives who searched VOTERS rooms
believe he was a procurer. Among his eff
fects were found obscene photographs and
a notebook filed with the names and ad-
dresses Of girls, with their ages, wages,
weight and details Of appearance noted.
Among the names, the detectives say, was
that of Ruth Wheeler. They believe he
obtained his names from employment
agencies and business colleges who have
lists Of girls looking for work.