Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-23
ESHELMAN AGAIN
MAKES CONFESSION
OF BOYS MURDER
Tells Superintendent of Mis-
sion That He Attended
Religious Service After
Strangling 8-year-old AL
bert Kraft.

A second confession that he killed eight.
yeat-old Albert Kraft last wednesday
night was made today by Victor e
Bshelman, a boarder at the Inasmuch
Mission 1011 Locust street, who is being
held without bail for the murder at
city Hall. This confession was made to
George Long. superintendent Of the mis-
sion.
Captain Of Detectives Cameron said
after Long concluded his talk with Eshel-
man that but one point remained to be
| cleared UP. Attaches OF the mission
say that Eshelman reached there the
| night OF the murder about 6.15 O'clock
The detectives think they are mistaken
about the time.
They also say Eshelman took supper
at the mission. In his confession to
Long today Eshelman says he went di-
rectly to the religious services being con-
ducted at the institution and did not eat
any supper. His story was substantially
the same as that which he told Saturday.
Long was called in by Captain Cameron
because OF discrepancies In the story told
by Eshelman and in pointing out places
where parts of the dead boys clothing
we're found
Detectives Emanuel and Glonnetu were
in the room today when Eshelman was
questioned. The prisoner, who is being
held without ball on the charge Of MUIR
der, was SO weak this morning that he
staggered on his way from the celroom
to the office of Captain Cameron. Detec-
tive Gionnetti almost had to carry him.
At the door OF the captains office Eshel-
man showed the first sign OF fear since
he has been under arrest He faltered and
then tried to hang back as though he
did not want TO enter The detective had
to urge him forward TO get him into the
room.
Nine-year-old Frederick Sykes and his
S-ycar-old brother, william, with Albert
Zubiuch. of 1895 South Fallon street, all
playmates of the murdered boy, were
taken to City Hall today In an attempt
to Identify Eshelman. All declared they
had never seen him before. Policeman
Curtis, of the Goth street and Woodland
avenue station, told Captain Cameron he
had seen the man near the scene of the
murder, Goth street and Gibson avenue,
but not within the last few weeks
SEEN AT p. NJ. DAY OF MURDER.
1t has now been established definitely
that Bshelman entered the Inasmuch Mis-
sion, where he boarded, at about 6.15
o'clock last Wednesday night the night
of the murder Frederick J.. Mortimer,
who checks the hats and coats at the
mission, told Captain Cameron today that |
he could not be mistaken in the time Esh-
eln1an entered the place because he al |
ways looked for the man.
Eshelman always took fve to 10 minutes |
to take off his overcoat, according to |
Mortimer. The night OF the murder was |
no exception, and Mortimer remembered |
that several persons had called his at.
tehtlon TO the man standing with his |
coat half of as IL lost in thought
Eshelman confessed Saturday that he
had strangled Kraft and hidden his
BODY In deserted culvert near 56th
street and Gibson avenue, where Il was
found early Thursday morning.
Sitting stolidly in his cell on the sixth
floor of City Hall, Eshelman has been
closely watched since yesterday, when
he sent note to Captain Cameron. in
which he outlined directions for the dis
position OF his body 'in case he died
Detectives are guarding
against an attempt at suicide. Captain
Cameron and members of the murder
squad are divided in their opinion as to
the truth of Eshelman's confession.
On Saturday he guided detectives over
the ground in the vicinity of the crime,
and though he appeared to know It inti-
mately, his errors in pointing out the
position of the body and the spot where
some of the victims clothing was found,
are taken as basis for doubling the story
he tells.
"Yictor was always the mildest man in
he world" said A. p. Wilmer, OF 1901
summer street. Eshelmans cousin, today.
After his mother died ne was brought up
oy his aunt and his grandmother. both OF
whom have since died. Their influence,
always thought. had the effect of making
him most tractable person.
II don't think he had nerve enough
% commit such a crime, Why he left
West Point at the end of a year because
ie was homeBick. His grandmother was
veil on and he knew he could so back
lome and be sure OF welcome West
Point is pretty trying place, guess
md Victor didn't like II.
He went TO school In Lancaster and
When he was 20 they sent him to West
Point. After he left there he came to
and he has been here ever
nce so far as I know. We used 10 see
lin every month or two.
He had a good position with the trac- |
Ion company and We thought he was
cling we'll 1t was only after he got
nto trouble with the company that he !
egan to act the way he does now" Mr.. ,
Wilmer referred to the time last October,
!hen Eshelman was sentenced to six
months In the County Prison after being I
onyicted OF taking 1915 from the Funeral
Association OF the employees.
81 knew Victor Was on the down grade &
fter the trouble IN the traction COM
any" Wilmer continued. but 1 cannot ]
elieve he committed this crime. He I
asn't got the nerve. that's the main I
eason."
In the brief note he sent 10 Captain
ameron yesterday, Eshelman said that
he died suddenly he wished to have
Is body buried IN the plot IN which his
lother's body lay. The family plot Is
a village cemetery at Paradise, a ,
tile town nine miles east OF Lancaster