South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-09
Strong Box Containing Half a
Million in Jewels is Found
Afle. New York WOm-
I'd is StrangIed.
FOOTMAN CONFESSES
TO PART IN PLOT
Says He Helped Plan the Rob-
berry and Names His AS
SiStantS-0ne is For
mer EmpIOye.

NEW YORK, Sept. 9.-Onnie Tails.
fOotman in the home Of Mrs Eliz-
abeth Griggs Nichols. after an ALL
night grilling by Inspector Faurot to-
day, confessed that he and a band of
youthful gangsters planned the rob
berry of the wealthy widow and named
the men who chOked Mrs. Nichols to
death
This announcement was made by
the Inspector at l o'clock today ana
il was said the police were in posses
sion of sufficient information 10 en-
able them to round up the bandits.
Inspector Faurot said Tails told
him that his accomplices planned to
overpower Mrs. Nichols in order to
obtain the strong box in which they
supposed she kept 100000 in jewels.
Startled by the widows unexpected
death, which the police now believe
was due to fright. the band made no
attempt to get possession of the keys
carried by Mrs Nichols but fled fron
the house leaving Tails to cover their
tracks.
The inspector said that Tails gave
him the names OF the youths invol-
we'd in the alleged confession and told
him addresses and descriptions Of
places where they might be found.
Thirty detectives in automobiles
Immediately were sent TO all the
haunts described.
That part of the confession of the
footman. owen Tails given out by In
spector Faurot, was 10 the effect that
one of the three robbers was Arthur
Walter a Finn. whose real name is
Waldemar who vas discharged as
second butler by Mrs Nichols about
five weeks ago.
A strong box containing $1,000 600 in
jewelry. supposed 20 have been the
goal of the three robbers who
strangled Mrs. Nichols to death i'm a
desperate struggle, was found intact
today in the house. though on the
first alarm, the police thought the box
was missing.
In the meantime 40 detectives
were securing pawn shops for S1O,-
600 in rings which the murderers
stripped from the fingers of the aged
widow after they had bound a dolly
about her neck.
Talas and Edith Langfeld were ex-
amined at great length by Inspector
FaurOt, and their statements which
were said to conflict were taken down
by a stenographer. The cooks evil
dence. 1t is said, is considered of less
Importance.
Mrs. Nichols was choked to death
on the top fiOOr of her home where
she lived alone. except Tor the serv-
ants. The hall boy and maid were
the only other persons in the room.
Mrs. Nichols found the men ran
sacking the upper floor and struggled
desperately. despite her years. To save
her gems. 1t was known that she
kept about half a million in iewelry
in the house. and she always carried
I'm her corsage the key TO the strong
box in which she kept her valuables.
There was evidence that the rob
bers had made a desperate effort 10
get the key from. Mrs. Nichols. and
falling they tied a dolly tightly about
her neck. took the rings from her
fingers and fled. When the police first
searched the house, the box could not
be found, but it was discovered today.
Mrs Nichols. who before her mar
riage TO the late James F. Nichols
was Miss Lizzie Grigsg Of Springfield.
nass.. inherited 100000 from the
wealthy grocer's estate.
The police who are looking for a
man known 10 them only as Ar
thur" a former employe of Mrs. Mich
OILS, regarding the murder and rob
berry as an "3 van" inside job OF
the trio recognized by the cook and
the maid was Arthur" The robbers
evidently knew the interior OF the
house and the nightly custom of the
widow 10 seclude herself i'm the draw
ing room. Tre murders evidently
knew that it was the regular night
off Of Ernest Vital. the butler. and
that there would be no man in the
house.