Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-12
Student of University Of
Wisconsin Confesses to
knowledge of Affair.
CLAIMS SHE TOOK 1T
Youth Vows Miss Lambert
Swallowed Poison of Her
Own Volition.


0rpet. student at the University
Of Wisconsin,, was formally
charged today with the murder of
Miss Marion Lambert. of Lake For
est, whose body was found in the
snow Thursday morning in the
woods near her home.
Chemical analysis showed death
due to poison. Orpet admitted that
he had been with the girl in the
woods and had told her that he
intended to marry another.
He declared he was innocent Of
her death.
Chicago, Feb. 12-William H. Orpet,
junior az the University of Wiscon-
son, early today confessed to detect
ives at Madison, Wis, knowledge Of the
death by poison of Marion Frances
Lambert, Lake Forest high school girl,
whose body was found in a wooded
section Of Lake Forest on Thursday.
Orpert, in custody of detectives, is en-
route TO Lake Forest, where he will
testify in the coroner's inquest into the
death Of the girl.
0rpet said he met Miss Lambert In
the woods near her home on
Wednesday morning by appoint
ment according to statements he is al
legged to have made to officials. He
said she pleaded with him for two
hours to renew his friendship with her.
He said he declined. Then, according
to the officers, Orpet said he left her
and as he did she swallowed the poison
which caused her death.
Admits Making Appointment.
0rpet did not admit he saw the girl
de- He confessed, however, that he
wrote her letter, making an appoint
ment, and later wrote another letter to
be delivered at her home in Lake For
est after the finding Of her body. 1t
was pointed out by detectives that the
second letter might have been written
to establish an alibi, the purpose of
which was to indicate that he had not
left Madison on the night preceding
the girls death.
0rpet's confession came at the end
Of fve-hour cross examination at the
hands of detectives and States Attor-
ney Dady Of Lake county. He was
taken into custody at Madison, Wis,
Yesterday afternoon and it was after
midnight before he admitted that he
had been with Miss Lambert on the
day Of her death.
Prior TO that time he maintained
stoutly that he had not left Madison
and this was corroborated by his land
lady, who based her statement on the
TACT that his bed appeared to have
been used
The Lake Forest authorities today
made public the statement Of Gayit
James, deaf-mute, who claims tc
nave witnessed the girls death. James
according to the police, said he saw
man walking into the woods with Miss
Lambert, saw him press something
mat looked like bottle to her lips ane
mat shortly afterward she fell dead.
Denies He Witnessed Act
Solemn denial was made today b!
william H. Orpet. a student at the
University of Wisconsin, that he saw
Marion Lambert, an 18-year-old higf
school student, take the poison which
ended her life in the woods near he
home in Lake Forest, a suburb, wher'
ner half frozen body was found Thurs
day morning.
II had only looked back, do you
mink | would have let her lie there,
ne said, pointing TO the dark wood
Where the body was found, as he reach
% Lake Forest today in the custod!
Of detectives.
Part Of the mystery which surround
eu the tragic death Of Miss Lamper
was lifted by the confession OF Orpe'
VINO, after long questioning, ADMITTED
mat he had met the girl in the lonei'
woods and that he had then told ne
mat be intended 10 marry another.
Vrpet is reported TO have given IN
following account Of his meeting VIII
the girl:
| got TO Lake Forest Tuesday nlgh
(ror,;.a -, Dana J'wo