The Washington herald., 1914-06-25
DENYING MURDER,
She REVILES FATE
Woman, to Whose Apart
ments Blood Trail Led.
Pleads Innocence.
SAYSFALEcAUSED DEATH
Police Hope to Prove Motive Against
Mrs. Helen Angle. Who Dragged
Dying Visitor to Street.
. rh, Washinr.an HeraId.

6pecial 70 Ihe NashinEton heTald
Stamford, Conn, June 2+-Dry-eyed
and courageous. but bitterly reviling fate
for the cIose-knit web of suspicion which
y circumstances have woven about her,
Mrs. Helen h. Angle. the central figure
in one OF the. strangest mysteries of
crime or violence that New England has
ever known" faced the press and the
police in her cell at Stamford police
headquarters tonight and steadfastly de-
MED completely in bringing about the
death Of Waldo R. Ballou, politician and
wealthy business man. whose battered
body was found outside the door of her
studio apartments early this morning.
Within her denial. however she en-
bodies story that rivals the most amaz-
ing cases in the annals OF the police or
the courts. Denying the graver accusa-
ton of which she stands accused, she re-
lates an extraordinary tale of the manner
in which the aged politician met his
death. Ballou died. she says. as the re-
suit of a fall from the door of her
third-story apartment to the second hoor
landing.
DRAGGED Him to Street.
=. Fearing exposure and the condemnation
OF her friends if he should be found
there, she half cried, half dragged him,
streaming blood from a dozen wounds,
down another long flight Of stairs and
thrust him into the street, where a pas
fser-by stumbled over his body an hour
and half later. Clad only in the scant-
lest Of underclothing and in bare feet,
she climbed the stairs and after remov-
ing the signs OF the accident attempted
TO sleep.
1t was the trail of blood traced by her
footprints into the very inner room of
bloody hat, identified as Ballou's, was
hidden away in one of her cedar chests. !
Her dainty lingerie, stained and clotted |
with blood was found where she had /
tossed it carelessly aside.
Her hands, her feet, and her body !
tbore traces of the blood of her aged mid |
night visitor.
'Tnnocept," She Cries.
No one will believe me innocent" she !!
cried tonight. Everybody has con-
demned me already. I have no one to .
speak a word in my defense. 1t looks !
blacker and blacker. and they all be-
lieve the worst. But I am innocent, 1
tell you, I'm as innocent as an angel of |
this awful thing
coroner's inquest begun today with |
Coroner John J. Phelan. of Bridgeport |
in charge, has done little to clear up |
the mystery surrounding the case. Phys
'iCiaus who performed an autopsy this /
morning are unwilling to commit them /
selves.
The cause OF death was hemorrahage ]
scaused by fracture Of the skull induced
by the violence Of either a blow or fail
Mrs. Angle. near collapse in her cell.
was not called 10 the stand. Her counsel,
former Surrogate H. Stanley Flint,
pleaded a pOstponement of a day.
The postpOnement was granted and
only three witnesses were heard. Medical |
Examiner Sheriff.. DR.. Bruce S. Weaver.
patholOgist of the Stamford Hospital, /
and John a. Wendle. a business man, |
who found the body of Ballou. (
City Prosecutor Phillips and Chief of !
Police Brennan both admit the case is
purely a circumstantial one, but point
out that it has only one flaw. the lack of
motive and this, they hope to develope
in another tWenty-four hours.