Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-20
MOHR WAS MURDERED
BY WIFE'S ORDER, SAYS
DEATH CAR CHAUFFEUR
Heals Lost Nerve When First
Attempt Was to Be Made,
But Stopped Car
Later
HE WAS TO GET $4,000
PROVIDENCE. r. l., Jan. 2

PROVIDENCE. X. L., Jan. ~.
I'VE were to have killed Doctor Mohr
on Saturday night. but lost my nerve
and threw In all the speed l had. Miss
Burger wasn't In the car, but Miss Orms-
by and Miss Wilson were in the tonneau
with the doctor"
George Heals. negro driver OF the Mohr
death automobile, for the first time, to-
day told the story of the plot on the
witness stand in the Mohr trial.
"On Friday night. August %. went
to Mrs. Mohr's home with Brown" said
Heals. Mrs. Mohr asked Brown, How
is everything? and he said. %. X He
said we knew the roads. Mrs Mohr said
Brown would get $1,000 Spellman $1,000 and
l $1,000. She told me not to be afraid Just
to stop the car and then go to the nearest
farmhouse and phone the police that the
doctor had been held up and shot. The
Job was planned for the next night, Satur-
day, and Brown told Mrs. Mohr he had
his motorcycle lamp ready.
II met Brown next day. I said
wouldn't have anything more to do
with It.
STOPPED THE AUTO.
''The next Tuesday I did stop the car
and they killed the doctor.
II went to Miss Burgers home for the
doctor on the afternoon before she shoot
ing TO see about a suitcase / had an
l met Brown and Spellman coming down
the street on Browns motorcycle. We
went into Mrs. Mohr's house and talked
with her She said. Why didn't you stop
Saturday night? Have you gone back
on me? Be sure and stop tonight. This
is my last chance. because my divorce
case comes up on the first of the month.
You can just say there was a robbery and
will give you good job driving a car
for me. If you get into any trouble over
this l will spend my last dollar to help
you out
He said he then went to Miss Burgers
house, arriving at 7:45 and then drove TO
Doctor Mohr's office with her. Mohr got
into the car, taking his dog with him.
and they started for Newport at s.15.
When l got to a bush in the Wash
ington road l stopped the car" Nealis
said. II got out of the car and turned
out the headlights and turned on the
Eidelghts, so / could see the engine, and
started To tinker with II. Then / heard
revolver shots and ran to the side of the
car. Doctor Mohr was leaning against
Miss Burger and his head was bathed in
red. Miss Burger got up to get out and
she fell over the lap robe. | took her in
my arms to carry her across the road
and she got another bullet which came
over my left shoulder
SAW SPELLMAN IN BUSHES.
II looked at the side of the road and
Spellman in the bushes. Then
another car came along and while a
young lady from that party held onto
the doctor in his own machine l drove II
to the hospital. From the hospital | was
taken to the police station.
When l picked up Miss Burger she
had blood all over the side OF her head
| dropped her when she was shot again.
but l picked her up and carried her TO
the side OF the road. did not hear any
one speak except Miss Burger and my
self. She had hold OF the doctors left
arm and was saying, oh. doctor; Oh,
doctor!
II cried, MY God!
II did not see any one but spellmsn
at the roadside"
ney William II. Lewis, the big gun OF the |
negro defense, for cross-examination.
His first statement to Lewis was in con- |
Lradiction of his direct testimony.
II am not sure l saw Spellman at the |
scene of the shooting" he said. 'I saw
some one, but 1 am not sure it was Spell |
man. l simply saw a dark shadow which |
supposed TO be Spellman"
Lewis closed his cross-examination with |
! trembling voice.
George Heahs." he cried, Doctor Mohr |
put all his trust in you. He placed his life |
10 your hands as his driver. and yet you |
drove him deliberately where you knew /
he would be shot to death in the dark and |
his companion wounded for life. Did you
DO that. George w. Healisg'
Everybody In the courtroom was at the |
highest pitch OF excitement, lawyers. tur- |
prs and even the Judge leaning forward |
almost ON tiptoe.
Heals faltered for moment and then
answered, with sickly half smile. IT |
did"