New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-18
States Own Witnesses Say
Cash for Death Cycle
Came from Doctor.
HUSBANDS ESTATE
WILL AID WIDOW
She WithdraWs Suit and Gets a
Lump Sum for Expenses
Witness Missing.
lbs Telegraph N Tie Tribune J.


Providence. Jan. 1.-Two witnesses
failed the prosecution to-day in its at
tempt 70 identify Cecil Victor Brown
and Henry II. Spellman as the two
dark complexioned men" who were
seen walking along the highway where
DR.. &. Franklin Mohr was murdered
on the night Of August 81 Of last year.
Neither was the state able to show
that Mrs. Elizabeth +. Mohr, who, IT
is charged. hired the negroes to shoot
her husband, purchased for them the
motorcycle on which they are said TO
have sped away after computing the
crime
Samuel L. Bryant, motorcycle
dealer, testified that DR.. Mohr agreed
to see that the instaIments on the
motorcycle were paid. Bryant said
that he had tried 10 induce Dr. Mohr
20 purchase the machine outright for
Brown. because Brown had told HIM
ne had no money. Soon after this talk
with the doctor. Bryant said. Brown
came 30 his shop and paid 800 as the
first instalment on tho machine.
DR.. Mohr Gave Him the 500.
According 20 testimony already given
by police officers. Brown and Srellmsn
declared az The police staiica that 1T
was Mrs. Mohr who gave Brown the
500 he paid 20 Bryant.
Mrs. Ida Irene Brown, aunt OF both
Brown and Spclman, who arc step
brothers. testified that the boys had
been at her house repairing the motor
cycle during the morning and after
noon o. the day on which DR.. Mohr
vas shot. George ". Heals, Or. Nohr's
negro chauffeur. drove up in the doc
tor, machine. she said. and conversed
with Brown and Spellmsn for a few
minutes and then drove of. Her story
was corroborated by her son, Earl d.
Brown.
Mrs. Mary Gardner told Of hearing
the shots and of seeing a negro pass
her near the spot on the hyatt road
where the shooting occurred. She said
she thought she saw another man
dodge into tho bushes a short distance
away. This was on Lake Drive. where,
according TO previous testimony, Brown
and Spellman said they had hidden
their machine.
Samuel Selley admitted that he had
been poaching in Echo Lake on the
night OF the murder. lie said that ne
was on the shore, Gour feet from the
road when two dark compleXoned
men. who he thought were negroes
passed down the road about ten feet
from him. He said that he had visited
the jail where Brown and Spellman
were locked up, but that he had not
been able 20 identify them, although
he thought they answered the descrlp-
tion Of the men he had seen.
William +. Halliday. of Boston,
motorcycle salesman, stated that at
1925 o'clock on the night Of the shoot
ing. Brown, accompanied by a taller
negro. was IN Providence. Or. Mohr
was shot an hour and half later.
The prosecution intimated to-day mat
negotiations were in progress with the
hope that either Brown or Spellman.
Joint defendants with Mrs. Mohr. would
turn states evidence. II was Indicated
at the same time that Brown would not
be permitted % plead 10 lesser Of
fence than murder.
Heals already has pleaded guilty TO
laughter and viii be put on the
stand by the state.
Mrs. Mohr Withdra~s Suit.
Following a conference tonight be
tween Arthur Cushing, of counse. for
Mrs. Mohr, and Philip 5. Knauer. who
was one of Dr.. Mohr's attorneys, 1t was
stated that an agreement had been
reached in the equity suit brought by
Mrs Mohr TO recover real estate she
had conveyed 10 the doctor before his
death
DR.. Mohr left no will so far as has
been learned, but his widows legal
share in the estate. based on the fig
ures shown In an inventory by the APP
praisers, would be approximately
$4,000. The agreement provides d
lump sum for her to use for her
immediate needs. What this amount
was Mr.. Knauer refused 20 state, but
il is believed it will be about $4,000 .
DR.. Mohrs practice is reported TO
une. but Mr.. knauer denied that IT .
amounted 70 half million dollars. as
had been stated. The inventory
showed personal property OF $4,000
and the tax books give records Of real .
estate here and in MIddletown valued .
At $4,000.
Under the agreement" said Mr.
Krauer, Mrs. Mohr's equity suit is
withdrawn and she will get her widows .
allowance and also an amount Of fur
niture. The law provides that the
widow shall get one-third Of the per-
sonal property and a life interest in
one-third OF the real estate, the rest .
10 20 20 the heirs. In this case there
are four heirs, Charles and Virginia
Mohr by the present wife, and Charles /
Manning Mohr. Of New York. and Adele
MARI. wife of DR.. Ernest Mari, of Bal
timorc. children by former mar
rage
There were reports tonight that
Martha Wilson. who was Dr. Mohr's .
housekeepcr at Newport. and whom the
prosecution wished 70 introduce as a
witness against Mrs. Mohr, was out of
the tate and could not be located.
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