South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-03
Mrs. Elizabeth Blair Mohr Held
Following Husbands Murder
Declares She is the Vic
tim of a ''Frame Up."
WOMAN REMARKABLE
FOR HER COOL NERVE
ArrangeS Details of Funeral
and Invites Son of Dead Man
by Another Wife 10
be Arraigned Sept. 16.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., Sept ST
am absolutely innocent" said Mrs.
Elizabeth Blair Mohr. after spending
the night with her children at home
following her release on $40, 900 bail.
She absolutely denied all knowledge
of the alleged conspiracy that resulted
in the murder of her husband, DR.. Z.
Franklin Mohr and the wounding or
his hOusekeeper Miss Emily Burger.
1t was the first statement made by
Mrs. Mohr since her arrest in connec-
tion with the murder and her release
on bail by Judge George I. Brown, or
the superior court.
The funeral of Dr. Mohr, held to-
day from his residence, was arranged
by Mrs. Mohr and carried out under
her direction. 1t was private.
Il knew nothing about the dread
full conspiracy until the detectives told
me-" Mrs. Mohr declared. They shot
and killed DR.. Mohr and then tried to
frame me UP. Yes, il was frame-up.
But my lawyers Will have to give you
all the information"
Woman Is Remarkable.
For cool nerve, Mrs. MOhr is re-
markable. She was the first TO reach
her husbands bedside at the Rhode
Island hospital Within a few hours
after his death she applied for and
TGCelNeu the CuSlOuS VI lAiS plOBNA ~
She has smiled and laughed ever since
her arrest. The funeral arrange
ments for her husband, made by her
down to the last detail, even included
an invitation of Charles NJ. Mohr.
son of the murdered physician by an
other wife, though there always has
been unfriendliness between the son
and his step-mother. Charles Mohr
contested Mrs. Mohr's right to the GUS
todianship of DR.. Mohr's estate, and
a legal battle was avoided by the ac-
cused widows voluntary surrender.
Charles Mohr's two attorneys were
placed in charge Of the property.
That the three negroes, George w.
Heals, Henry Spellman and Cecil
Brown. have made detailed confess
sions that the physicians wife prom
ised them $4,000 TO kill DR.. Mohr and
disfigure Miss Burger apparently has
not shaken the nerve of Mrs. Mohr.
After her release on bail, she went,
practically a free woman TO her little
yellow home, and busted herself with
her children as though she had not a
care in the world.
Hunt First Wife.
Efforts already are beng made by
the authorities to get in touch with
DR.. MOhr'S first wife, said to be in
New York. Little has been known of
the former Mrs. MOhr since she fig
ured In a sensational alienation suit
brought in 1897 by Dr. Mohr against
Wr. William Stevens of New York.
DR. Mohr kept a safety box in the
Rhode Island Trust Co., and in this is.
it is said. a will made by the physic-
ian after Mrs. Elizabeth Mohr field
her suit for separate maintenance.
Mrs. Mohr and the three negroes
are to be arraigned before Judge
Hammill at Warren in Bristol county
on Sept. 16, by which time it is be-
lieved Miss Burger, with her beauty
forever marred by bullet wound in
her jaw and shoulder, will be able to
leave the hospital and give testimony.
Today it was said the young woman
was out of danger.
Though the police are still search |
ing the Bristol county road for the |
revolvers with which DIR. Mohr and |
Miss Burger were shot down when |
their automobile was halted by the |
chauffeur in a dark point, Inspector |
O'Neil of the Providence police, today |
said the revolvers were not necessary |
to connect Mrs. Mohr with the mur- |
der.
I'VE have enough without the pis- !
tolls" was O'NeiPs declaration.
In regard to the letter to Rockies, /
the brother-in-law of Miss Burger, !
Mrs. Mohr, through her attorney said: |
yes, l wrote that letter, but you /
cannot believe, from what 1 wrote |
there that / intended to harm either |
Miss Burger or my husband. All l |
wanted to do was to break up their |
friendship which had ruined my |
home"