Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-16
CONFESSION OF
MURDER Is MADE
BY YOUNG FIEND
William W. Cryderman Admits
Killing Of Mrs, Nell Heelan and
Mrs, Anna Layport at
Arabia.
LAUGHS AT THE OFFICERS
Recites Details Of Gruesome Crime
and Burning of Bodies With
out Repentance.
MRS. HEELAN FORMER oMAHAN


Scornfully laughing at his ques-
TONERS, William w, Cryderman, who
declares his home is on q northern
Michigan homestead. confessed today
TO the murder OF Mrs. Nell Heelan.
wife Of rancher at Arabia, Neb.,
and daughter OF Mrs. Margaret Hee-
Ian, 721 South Twenty-fifth street,
Omaha, and Mrs. Anna Layport, a
neighbor.
Cryderman, who is but II years OF
age, says that he landed in Nebraska
while tramping about the country
and that he first went to work for
Joe Leader, a ranchman near Valen-
tine. Then he went to work for
John Heelan, by whom he had been
employed since July.
The young fiend confessed that he was
at Arabia early in the evening with Mrs,
Heelan and Mrs. Layport and that alter
cation arose regarding horse. He says
he was ordered home by Mrs. Heelan.
Angry because he was ordered home
murder. When Mrs. Heelan and Mrs.
Laayport returned cryderman dec AIRED he
went to the house and asked for soms-
thing to eat, which was refused him.
Crydernan then confessed that he got
the shotgun and went to the barn, where
he wrote note which sad. II won I
tell what the trouble started over. but
you will find our bodies in the ashes"
and signed II "w. c."
Kills Mira, HeelAn First.
After writing the note Cryderman de-
clares he sneaked up 20 tho house and
shot through the window at Mrs. II o.
Ian, killing her instantly. Stepping over
her body as he entered the house Cryder-
man says he then shot Mrs. Layport.
who was standing at the telephone cali
ing for help, He says he shot Mrs. Lay.
port twice, but that che was not dead
when he set lire to the house few
moments later, %
After firing the dwelling crydornakn
sonfesses that he donned woman's
skirt. caught one Of Heelan's fastest
horses hnd started to make his escape,
followed by Keelan's dog. He abandoned
tho horse near Wood Lake and walked
into Valentine, where he tried 10 sell
watch which he had taken from tho
body ot Mrs. Layport. TO section men. He
thcn boarded freight. but was put off
by the train crew and captured at VAL
entine by Sheriff Rossiter, who had re-
ceived q description of him from Gordon.
Nsb.
cfyderman was lodged In the Valentine
Jail. but the feeling began to run so high
among the residents OF the town that the
prisoner was taken to CrookHton by auto,
and from there to Rushville In Sheridan
county.
BY piecing the confession and the evil
dence It has been learned that Cryder-
man shot Mrs Heelan while she was say
ing her rosary and was holding her cru
cifix in her hand. II was also learned that
the confessed murderer took crucifix.
rosary and prayer book from Mrs
Heelan's body and an inexpensive hair
comb and gold watch from the body
of Mrs Layport.
The authorities at Valentine have no
doubt that Cryderman attempted 70 as
sRult Mrs. Heelan before committing the
double murder.
Daughter of Omaha Pioneer.
Mrs. Heelan was daughter OF Mrs
Margaret Heelan, Omaha pioneer and
wife Of the late Major Phillip Heelan
Though the murdered woman's maiden
name was Heelan. she married man
Of the same name At the time of the
crime. her husband was in Omaha with
his brother. william. to sci live stock
He had ACCOMPANIED his 12-year-old
daughter. Mary. to ST. Joseph's hospital
for an operation. when he was apprised
OF the tragedy. The little girl at the
time had come off the operating table
and was sending back messages Of iose
to her mother, but ives not told OF the
affair. She is an attendant at ST. Berch-
mans academy.
Mrs. Heelan was a Eister OF Edward
Heelan. for twenty-five years member
OF the Omaha police force. but now re-
tired on a pension.