Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-12
Confesses Meeting Marion {
Lambert on Day Of
Tragedy.
DECLARES GIRL
ENDED OWN LIFE
Swallows Poison After University
Student Declares HE Love For An.
other-Forsaken Girl Pleads With
'Swestheart in Lake Forest Woods.-
Accused Youth Admits Seeing Girl
Swallow Drug.

Chicago, Feb. 12.-william IA. orpet.
junior at the University Of Wilson's
sin. early today confessed to detectives
at Madison. Wis. knowledge Of death
by poison of Marion Frances Lambert,
Lake Forest high school girl, whose
body was found In wooded section OF
Lake Forest on Thursday. Orpet, in
custody Of detectives, is enroute to
Lake Forest. where he VIII testify at
the coroner's inquest into the death OF
the girl
According to the statement Of offic-
ers. Orpet said he met Miss Lambert
In the woods near the Sacred Heart
academy Wednesday morning by ap-
pohtment. He said she pleaded with
him for two hours to renew his friend-
ship with her. He said he declined.
Then, according to the officers. Orpef
said he left her and as he did so she
swallowed the poison which caused her
death.
Did Not See Girl Die.
Orpet did not admit that he actually
saw the girl die. He confessed. how
ever. that he wrote a letter making an
appointment. declined to continue as
her friend. and later wrote another. let-
ter to be delivered at her home In Lake
Forest after the finding Of her body.
IF 4, had only looked back. do you
think would have let her lie there?''
he asked. pointing to the dark woods
where the body was found.
Orpet arrived in Lake Forest today
from Madison, Wis, In the custody OF
detectives and States Attorney Dady.
Of Lake county. Part of the mystery
which surrounded the death Of Miss
Lambert was solved by the con1easion
| OF Orpet who admitted he had met the
girl in the lonely woods. on a secret
tryst and that he had told her he In.
tended to marry another.
orpet's Account Of rryst.
Orpet Is reported to have given the
following account of his tryst with the
girl:
Il got to Lake Forest Tuesday night
and failed to make an appointment
with Marion that evening, so I made
one for the next morning. We had our
talk In the woods and then I told her
/ was figuring on marrying another
girl
Il told her plainly that 1t was all on
between us. Then we arranged that T
should leave the woods first and take
! a car to Chicago. where could get a
| train for Madison. I did that. She
was to follow me in a few minutes,
after / had time to catch my car and
get out Of her way. But she didn't
| do that"
The police planned to confront Orpe{
with David James. deaf mute, wa,a
said he saw Miss Lambert and young
man In the woods Wednesday and that
he saw a man press a bottle to the
young wornan's lips.
Takcn to Scene of Tragedy.
Orpet was taken to the woods where
the body was found. With officers he
! walked over the route which he said
he and Miss Lambert followed last
Wednesday. Crossing little ravine.
Orpet stopped. There. he said was
where he had a sharp quarrel with the
girl. when he told of his engagement
to another.
Reaching the three trees under
which the body was found. the party
searched unsuccessfully for a bottle or
paper which might have contained the
poison. .et