New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-15
Confession
and Accuses Mrs.
Grace HumiStOn.
HE WAS TO GET
$4,000, HE SAYS
Murder Charge Against
Him Dropped to Foil
Plan for Removal.
rFrom s,ar Correspondent, o, The tribunal


Albion, N. Y, Aug. 14.-Erwin Kings
Reputation of his confession that he
and Clarence O'Connell were the mur-
dcrers of Charles F. Phelps and his
housekeeper, Margaret Wolcott, in
West Shelby, in March of last year;
his declaration that he was led to admit
the murder because of an offer of
$4,000 from Mrs. Grace Humiston, and
a successful attempt on the part OF
John c. Knickerbocker. District Attor-
pcy Of Orleans County, to prevent the
removal of King to Rochester, were the
days important Developments in Mrs
Humiston's desperate fight to estab-
lish the innocence of Charles F. Site
low, under sentence of death for the
crime.
II was the most severe blow the New
York woman has had. Just as she
and David A. White, Stielow's attor-
ney, were making arrangements to have
King removed from the influence of
the Orleans County officials by having
him taken to Rochester, Monroe Coun-
ty. as a witness in the hearing on the
motion for a new trial before Supreme
Court Justice A. ]. Rodenbeck, the Dis
trict Attorney got wind Of their inten-
ton and promptly withdrew the charge
of murder, which he had lodged against
King, and had him remanded to jail
as his own witness in the hearing, with
bail at $4,000.
Calls Bribery Charge Lie.
Mrs. Humiston branded the bribery
offer charge as lie and then laid
plans by which she expects to take
King out of the county, in spite of
Knickerbocker's opposition, and to ask
for the appointment Of Surrogate
Larkin, of Olean, N. Y, as special pros
ecutor, on the ground that Knicker-
booker is disqualified through reiter-
ating his belief in the innocence Of
King and the guilt of Stielow.
Mr.. White left fo- New York to-
night, where he will confer tomorrow
with Stuart NJ. Kohn, of so Maiden
Lane, and Mrs. lnez Millholland Bois-
sevain, both Of whom are active in
behalf of Stielow. One course of action
undertaken to-day, was request to
the officials of Cattaraugus County to
ask for the return of King for trial
on the charge of assault and robbery,
on which he was first arrested.
C.. B. Nichols, Sheriff of the county,
could not be reached, however, by Mrs.
Humiston, and the plan was given a
temporary setback.
Mrs. Humiston characterized the ac-
tiyities of the District Attorney as star
chamber methods. She said she had
been told she would be notified when
King would be brought into court, so
she might be present. Instead. King
was taken before Justice OF the Peace
A. C. Tucker, without notification being
given Mrs. Humiston or Mr.. White. they
assert. The warrant charging murder,
obtained by Sheriff Chester NJ. Bart
lett, was Immediately withdrawn by the
District Attorney on the representation
he had learned King was not at the
Phelps home the night of the murder.
No witnesses were called and no evil
dence taken and the proceedings were
over within few minutes.
From the Office of the justice of the
peace King was hurried to the court OF
County Justice Fred Downs, where he
was held as a material witress in $4,000
bail. 1t is not unlikely the bail will be
furnished tomorrow by some one act
ing for Mrs. Humiston in order that
King may be taken out of town. The
Sheriff would not let Mr.. White or
Mrs. Humiston see King to-day, and
King was emphatic IN declaring ne
doesn't want to see either Of them. A
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