Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-09-02
WIFE PAID NEGRO
TO KILL HUSBAND
Confession Of Three Slayers
Leads to Arrest Of Woman
On Murder Charge


al developments in the killing of DR.. C..
Franklin Mohr and wounding of his Of
flee assistant, Miss Emily Burger.
came today with the arrest of Mrs
Elizabeth Mohr, the physicians S wife,
/ following the confessions of three
negroes that they had been paid
$4,000 to slay Mohr.
The physician, prominent here and in
Newport, was shot as he and his young
woman companion sat in an automobile
near Hyatt. He died soon after being
taken to hospital. Miss Burger was
/ painfully wounded and is being cared
for at the same hospital where her EN-
ployer died. According to the young
woman S story the automobile in which
she was riding with DR.. Mohr had come
to a stop at dark place in the road
when another ear came by from which
the shots were fired.
George w, Heals, cOlored chauffeur
of DIR. Mohr's automobile and Victor
Brown, alias James johnson, who was
recently discharged by the physician,
were the first to be taken into custody.
The police. declare both signed CON
fessions. Henry Spellman, third
negro, was arrested early today and
confessed, according to the police, that
he shot Miss Burger and that Brown
shot Dr. Mohr Soon after questioning
Spellman the police arrested Mrs. Mohr.
Heals and Brown were given the
"third degree" by the police through
out last night before their confessions
were finally secured. According to the
statements they signed, Heals was to
get 81 600 for stopping DR.. Mohr's car
in secluded spot. Brown was then
to get $4,000 fer killing DR.. Mohr and
Spellman was to get the same amount
for killing the girl who happened to be
with him at the time. DR.. Mohr also
employed Florence Ormsby in his office
and it was only trick of fate that
made Miss Burger the victim.
Mrs. Mohr had a suit for separation
pending against her husband and he
had filed counter action. Upon being
grilled by the, police she emphatically
denied having any thing to do with the
shooting The police said they under
stood the alleged conspiracy to "get"
DR.. Mohr was Matched soon after the
negro Brown was discharged by the
physician.
Mrs. Mohr is accused by the three
negroes Of planning the murder of her
husband and the girl she believed had
won the love of DIR. Mohr.
Not only did Mrs, MOhr agree to pay
them $4,000 when they committed the
murder, but provided them with mo-
torcycle. on which to follow the ply
sician, they declared to the police this
afternoon.
Mrs Mohr denies the charges and
through her attorneys said the story
todd by the three black men was ride
ulous. -
Arraigned in the district court this
afternoon on warrant charging her
with melting to murder, Mrs. Mohr en-
tered plea of not guilty. She was
held without bail for preliminary hear
ing September g. The negroes were ar.
raigned on charge of murder. They
pleaded not guilty and were held for
a hearing on the same date.
The police this afternoon made pub.
lie letter, signed in Mrs Mohr 3
name, and addressed to George Rookie
a brother-in-law Of Miss Burger. The
letter said:
Just line to ask you to tell your
sister that If she dGres to 20 into my
Newport home she will never come out
alive. ] am giving fair warning. Nc
matter what the outcome, | will &C