New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-07
HUSBAND AND GIRL
TAKEN, THEN FREED
Slayer Escapes, Leaving
Gun and Wet Umbrella
Only CIews to Identity.
ARRESTS IN MONTCLAIR
Mother and Sister of Murdered
Wife Questioned for Many
Hours by Police.


One OF the strangest murders with
which the Newark police have been
confronted in years occurred early last
night. when a young woman was shot
in her mothers home by a strange
woman who was admitted 10 the house
a few minutes before and escaped.
Mrs. Harriet Manning, twenty eight
years old, separated from her husband
who is said to be employed in Mont
clair garage, was killed in the parlor OF
the home Of her mother, Mrs. Harrie.
Cobb, at No. 2l9 Warren street. while
in an adjoining room were the mother
and Mrs. William Riley. a sister, also
living apart from her husband.
The police this evening arrested
Charles ]. Manning, husband of the
murdered woman. at Verona. Manning
is proprietor Of the Mountainside Ga
rage. in that place. He and his wife
have not lived together for two years,
and he SAYS he was getting evidence
against her with the idea OF bringing
an action for divorce.
The police admitted early this MORN
ing that they had also arrested wom-
an whose name they refuse to give. In
connection with the murder of Mrs.
Manning They arrested the woman In
or near Montclair about the time they
placed Manning under arrest Ihey
admit the two were not together wneh
arrested The two were released later'
the police saying there was no evidence
on which to hold them.
There are strange features OF the
case which the detectives are at work
trying to have explained. Mrs. Copp
and Mrs. Riley. the only persons thus
far from whom the police could get any
information, are under arrest.
The story of the murder was related
by Mrs. Cobb and in some details was
corroborated by Mrs. Riley Accord
ing to their statements, Mrs. Manning
was washing in the kitchen when there
was ring at the front door bell Mrs.
Riley answered the ring. AS shc
opened the front door, according 10 her
story. a woman wearing long gray
raincoat a small black hat and a veil
asked If Mrs. Manning was in. Mrs.
Riley replied in the affirmative ana
asked for the visitors name
"Oh. lust tell her it is her friend from
Philadelphia the woman replied, ac-
cording to Mrs. Riley. "and she VIII
know"
Mrs. Riley invited the visitor into the
parlor which was in darkness. went to
the kitchen, and repeated 10 her sister
what the stranger had told her. Mrs.
Manning arranged her hair and cloth
ing. apparently puzzled as TO who her
caller might be. AS she entered the
parlor. Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Riley said,
Mrs. Manning inquired who was there.
Don't you know me-" both women
declared they heard the visitor answer
whereupon Mrs. Manning asked her
visitor 10 wait until she procured a
light. Mrs. Manning had struck a
match and was about to light the gas,
when shot was heard
Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Riley, the latter
with her two-year-old daughter Eve
lvn. ran TO the parlor as a second shot
sounded. AS they reached the door, so
both women said, there were two more
shots in rapid succession, the visitor
aiming at them.
Mrs. cobb and Mrs. Riley ran from
the house to that OF Mrs. Della Muir
raw. next door, while a member OK
Mrs. Murray's family hurried out 40
get a policeman. Patrolman Frank
Farrell was about block away. and
hastened TO the Cobb home. He found
Mrs. Manning in a kneeling position.
her head partly buried in couch. She
was dead. She had been shot through
the head. a bullet entering behind her
left ear.
The bullets which Mrs. Cobb and
Mrs Riley declared were fired at them
were found imbedded in the wall OF the
parlor ose having passed through a
picture near the door, TO which the
women say they ran when the first shot
was fired. \ search disclosed the re-
Volver from whic.- the shots had been
fred lying in the hallway behind the
front door, which had been flung open,
presumably by the murderer as che
made her escape. In the parlor was
found A wet umbrella, which the visito.
is said TO have carried.
Beyond the superficial description
given by Mrs. Riley OF the slayer os
her sister the detectives could get moth
ing in the shape of definite clew. No
one but Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Riley could
be found who saw the woman enter or
leave the house.
Mrs Cobb and Mrs. Riley were re-
,oa ased COON aftar midnight