The Detroit times., 1910-04-22
TAKES STAND TO
FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE
Albert Wolter Says He Returned To
His Home and Found Coney
Island Waiter There.

NEW YORK, April 22.-Positively
denying that he ever harmed Ruth
Wheeler, the -stenographer,- whose
charred body was found on fire
escape outside his room, Albert w.
Wolter took the stand today. He
looked straight at the jury and his
answers were given firmly Skisfully
guided by his counsel, he recited the
abb he hopes will give him freedom.
Wolter declared he was born In Ger
many and had been In this country
two years. He lived with his parents
while employed by local piano firm.
He met Hatcher Mueller at dance,
he said, and went TO live with her.
His parents objected. but he declined
- separate from the girl, and his
father ordered him from his home.
He admitted that during the time he
ard the Mueller girl lived together
he was out OF work, although he tried
TO find employment Their expenses,
he admitted, were paid from money
the girl earned while working In a
bakery.
Wolter said he left home at six
O'Clock on the morning OF the murder
and did not return until three o'clock.
When he reached home he caid he
found Fred Abner there. Abner, he
shiu, was a Coney Island waiter. with
whom he had agreed TO open school,
IN which Wolter was 10 teach German
shorthand. He said 1t was at Abner's
suggestion that he wrote the name
Ruth Amos Wheeler. 10, parents
American, merchants and bankers
business school"
"Abner told me she would be good
girl to get into our school and that
was why | made the entry" he said.
Previous to VOTERS testimony Kit
tie Gillie, who used the fiat kitchen
Jointly with Wolter and the Mueller
woman. related story relied upon
by the defense TO establish an alibi
The woman said she heard Wolter go
out early I'm the morning Of the day
the crime was committed. Several
times the door bell rang, but no one
answered She was there until noon
and no one entered the fiat. The next
day she said she did her ironing in the
h9t, but did not see bundle on the
fire escape. Neither wolter nor the
Mueller girl were there. With the
cross-examination Of Wolter the de-
Tense rested
katchen Mueller, with whom Albert
Wolter lived prior to the killing or
Ruth Wheeler, gave damaging evidence
against him yesterday afternoon when
she told the Jury that she had been
awakened the night OF the murder by
the falling down of the fireplace.
She swore Wolter got up and fixed
II and when IL fell down later. he got
up again. She started to help him
and he ordered her back to bed. de-
claring he could fix II without her
help.
In several respects her testimony
differed from that before the coroner.
and she admitted having received
eight letters from Wolter since she
has ben in the house Of detention. She
admitted Wolter told her he had
painted the fireplace and said when
she went TO work that morning there
was a stove In the front room and
when she came back at night ii was
gone
She identified the memorandum
book found in VOTERS trunk as his,
but said the name OF Ruth Amos
Wheeler in IL did not seem to be in
his handwriting although the remain
der of the writing In the book was.
She was not cross-examined by VOL
ter's lawyer.