New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-27
HACkED IND BURNED
BODY FOUND.
Discovery at Home of Nan
Held for abduction of
Missing Girl.

DAY.
The girl had been murdered. After
she had been strangled 10 death her
body was dismembered. Both legs we're
torn of, ard an attempt had then been
made % burn the body piecemeaL
The fire in which the dismembered pOr-
tiOns Of the body were placed was built
In an old-fashiOned fireplace Of an apart
ment IN the four story brick building az
No. 224 East 10Th street. The apart
ment was rented by WOlter and was
occupied by him and Katie Miller. With
whom he had been living until Friday
night. when he was arrested on the
charge OF being responsible for the dis
appearance or the girl There was no
suspicion then Of her death.
Ruth Wheeler was killed on Thursday
afternoon. A student in the Merchants
and Bankers Business college, at Madi-
son avenue and 5Sth street. she was sent
by the principal on that day 20 answer
an inquiry from WOlter. who had asked
for a stenOgraDher and typewriter
When she failed % return on Thursday
night her sisters started a search, which
led to the arrest OF WOlter
VOTERS Apartrnent Searched.
The sisters. accompanied by a police
man from the East 57th street station,
entered VOTERS apartment on Thursday
night. They found no trace Of the girl
but il turns out that only short while
before her body had been taken from the
fireplace, following an attempt 20 incir-
crate IL. and wrapped in papers and a
gunny sack and placed on the fire escape
Of an adjoining apartment
Although Woiter denied that Ruth
Wheeler had answered his ADVERTISE
ment for a stenographer. the sisters in
sisted that he knew of her whereabouts.
and on Friday night again they called
at the police station. This time two
detectives accompanied the girls. They
followed the woman believed to be
VOTERS wife. who left the house az 3
O'Clock and a half hour later met WOlter
at the corner of Park avenue and SOtl
street
The man and woman led the detectives
uptown until they reached a furnished
room house, al No. 122 East 1O5th street.
where WOlter was arrested A further
search of the rooms in tha-East 18Th
street house again failed TO give a cIew
to the mystery Of the girls disappear
arce, and on the complaint of her sis
ters. the Misses Pearl and Adelaide
Wheeler. Wolter was held in $1,000 bail
in the YOrkville police court.
While general alarm was being read
In station houses all over the city. John
TaggeTt and his wife. who occupy rooms
on the fourth floor Of the building az n.
%224 East Ijth street dire city adjoining
the WOlter apartment. were attracted TO
a bundle on the fire escape. Mrs. Tag
CERT explained that il had been there
since Thursday night. and that il was
unsightly and should be removed.
Pushed OF Fire Escape.
4 closer inspection If the bundle led
TaRgert % believe that his neighbor had
wrapped a quantity of old clothes in the
bag Although he was surprised at its
weight he pushed the package OF Tire
fire escape into the adjoining yard four
flights below
4 SKIRT which had ueen hanging on the
rail alongside the bundle was a,sJ
thrown into the yard ny Taggert. Then
his wife recalled a motion picture melO-
drama. and adding 10 her theory the
search by the detectives of the WOiter
rooms. suggested to her husband that
Ruth Wheeler might have been slain.
Acting ON the advice given by h.s
wife. Taggert called On john NlOEl. th0
ianitOr of the place. and they went ints
the yard where the bundle had fallen.
NiohI s5rank from the prospective dis
coyery. but Tgggert drew his pocket
knife and ripped open the sewed end e
the bag
AS the cords were released the jdgged
ends os the arms and legs protruded
through tine paper wrapping TasgerJ
Instantly realized that he had foOnd q
human body aRd attempted q cut
further into the bundle. but his pyosress
was hindeTcd by picture wire which
bound the inner wrappiugs over the head
anG chest Of the murdered girl.
All Flesh Burned Away.
There was not shred Of flesh on the
portions of the body found IN this
bundle but a touruuoise necklace and
q SnFtU ~ SIN NuttM was "a part rN t4t
girls shirt were taken 90 disclose that
the victim was woman The arms
and legs were missins f~om the bundle.
which also contained quantity Of
burncd coal and charcoal
white The chawed parts OF tie body
were being examined at the East 6ith
street police station by Coroner winter
b.,ft,r, ard Br I..hava t'o~ouer EFp'fr-
hauser and Dr. O'Hanlon noted all the
eyiderc, S of the crime, and they said a
charge of murder " ould De made ag;iinsS
Wolter when he - arraigned in che pO-
lice court dag.
A portion Of a heavy wash line lay in-
bedded in the neck of the dead sir,.
This led Or O'Hanlon 20 believe thas
strangulation had caused death. anG,
working on th;s theory. ne gave Cp the
search for Slood marks when he reached
the apartment
The marks Of fresh paint on the fire
place y,ab in the dining room Of the
apartment led to the direct solution ~
the crime. Dr. % OHanlon and the Coroner
then noticed that the carpet in front &c
the fireplace had been treated mOrs
thoroughly than any other part Of tks
place during the recent hOusecleaning.
The mem tore away the slab. and in