Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-02
DETECTIVE IN vlLLlScA Ak MUIR.
DER INVESTIGATION PUNISHED
FOR CONTEMPT.
REFUSES TO ANSWER
GRAND JURY QUESTION
Clash Between Attorney General Hav.
ner and Detective Results in One.
Day Sentence For WiIkerson and
Threat Of More Unless Hs Answers
Grand Jury in Session Since Feb. 20.

|
Red Oak, April J2.-Late Saturday
afternoon J. n. Wilkerson, Burns
agency detective who has been inves-
| tigating the Villisca ak murders, was
placed in Jail here for contempt OF
court.
The detective had submitted to At.
torDey General Havner and County
Attorney Westrand dope sheet
telling what witnesses who had been
used in the Jones Islander suit of last
fall would say before the grand jury
now Investigating the Moore murders
These witnesses, when questioned by
the grand jury. did not testify as Will
kerson had said they would. He was
called to explain, refused to answer a
question and was Jailed.
Wilkerson was put in Jail about
o'clock. He was asked by Judge Wood
ruff If answering the question would
incriminate him. The detective re-
piled that it would not. The judge in
sisted that he answer. Wilkerson re-
fused and was sent to the county jail
for twenty-four hours, He will be
brought before the grand jury again
Monday morning, when the question
will again be put to him.
The question asked was: you may
state to the grand jury whether or not
the witness Alice Willard told you that
on the Saturday night Immediately
prior to Sunday night of the murder
Ed (meaning Ed Maccrae) came to see
her and brought his brother Morris
along with him.,
Leading to Something Else.
Wilkerson refused and said: That
is only leading up to something else.
That is attempting to destroy the
veraoity Of Alice Willard, and is at
tempting to put me in the attitude Of
subornation of perjury"
The question was repeated and re-
fused; the judge asked if the answer
meant determination Of the witness;
was told 1t didn't, and sentenced the
detective.
Wtlkerson's excuse for refusing to
answer as given Saturday evening was
that he sought to obtain the dope
sheet" from the attorney general to
prove the truth" Of his claims. He
said he could show by this sheet that
the witnesses were testifying as he
said they would and when denied it
refused to answer the question.
Wilkerson was asked to testify by
the,grand Jury. During the summer he
had held mass meetings at which he
had said that Senator F. F. Jones, Of
Villisca, furnished the money to pay
for the murder Of Joe Moore, which
led to killing Of the Moore family and
the little Stillinger girls on the night
Of June 8, 1912, Jones had brought a
SANDER suit against him for damages.
The detective proved to the satisfac-
ton Of q Montgomery county jury by
Witnesses that he had Justification for
his assertions.
Witnesses Don't Meet Expectations.
Then the present grand jury took up
the investigation Wilkerson submitted
to the attorney general and County
Attorney Westrand dope sheet" tell
ing what certain witnesses who had
testified in the Jones damage case
would say. The grand jury sub
poenaed these witnesses
They did not give the evidence Will
kersons dope sheet said they would.
The Jury called the detective to ex-
plain why the witnesses were not
measuring up to what he had said in
his dope sheet" and at his mass
meetings. He was being questioned
on this when he baked and was SEN
fenced to Jail.
The incident concerning which At
torney General Havner's question was
directed was contained in the testi-
mony Of Mrs. Alice Willard in ths
Islander suit Of Senator F.. F. Jones
against Wilkerson early in the winter
and was considered the most sensa-
tional Of the trial, In her testimony
in the SANDER suit Mrs. Willard told
Of returning home from an automo-
bile trip on the Saturday night preced-
ing the murder with another woman
and Mr.. Maccrae. 1t was on To-
COZ ner of the vacant lot near the Moore
h ,me and Mrs. Willard testified that
she overheard conversation particle
pated in by Senator Jones, Bert Nc
Caull and man whom she identified
as Bill Mansfield. Bits Of the talk as
repeated by Mrs. Willard were Get
Joe first the rest will be easy" Sun
day night" and After church"
Probe Wilksrsen's Evidence.
Persons who are following the turns
Of this, the most talked Of murder in
vestigation in Montgomery county's
criminal annals, see in this latest de-
velopment an apparent attempt in the
grand jury room to filter to the bottom
one OF the most vital links in Wilker-
sons chain of evidence.
How long the session Of the grand
jury will last can not be predicted.
,WiIkerson's refusal to answer ques-
tions asked him may put a new angle
to the case.
AS it is now the Jury has set a new
record for length Of service. 1t be-.
gan work Feb 20 and worked thru that
week. Next week 1t lost couple OF
days on account OF tins illness OF a jur-
or, and the necessity for filing the va
cancy. Then week ago 1t adjourned
for two days on account Of the death Of
a sister OF one Of the Jurors. In all 1t
has served thirty days.
1t is safe to say that there was never
before so important a matter before a