South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-14
Weldon Wells of Kansas City
Held at Huntington for
Murder of Mona Simon
at Columbus.
SAYS DRINK POSSIBLY
CLOUDED HIS Mind AT TINE
Testimony of People in Ohio
Capital Makes Him Doubt
full and Uncertain That
He Didn't Do 1t.
Associated Press Service.

Associated Press Service
; HUNTINGTON. Ind, Jan. Il. -
Blaming drink for condition which
may have clouded his mind, WELDON
n. Wells Of Kansas City admitted
tonight the police say, that he might
have killed Mona Simon in a hotel
at Columbus, O. chief OF Police
Baker declares the prisoners state
ment practically is a confession. and
believes that as Wells condition i'm
proves. that the mystery surround
ing the death of the Columbus girl
will be solved
If I did it was out of my head
with drinking" Wells said. accord
ing 20 the police. II must have
been crazy. l was drinking hard 1
know"
Says He Might Have.
When asked for a direct statement
as 10 whether he killed Miss Simon.
Wells is reported 10 have said Il
don't know. 1 might have. The tes-
timOny of all these people in Co
lumbus makes me doubtful and un-
certain that may be / did do It. If
done such a thing"
When first questioned he said he
did not remember distinctly of be-
ing in Columbus. He has steadfast-
ly denied knowing or meeting a girl
while there. When told that a Co
lumbus sporting writer had given
information regarding his where
abOuts Wells is reported 10 have
said: IF Tom Daily said 1 was there
Friday afternoon, l must have been
there. Tom wouldn't turn on me
Tom wouldn't tell anything on me
that he did not know what was
right"
Columbus police are expected here
10 take Wells TO the Ohio capital.
He says he viii return without Tequi-
sition papers.
Wells today confessed To the
embezzlement of SIS from Ward &
Co. a commission firm of Kansas
City. II was or this cha ge that the
police began a search for Wells
Monday. Columbus police viii ar
rive in Huntington tomorrow morn
ing. TO take the prisoner TO Ohio.
Although Wells maintained his in
nocence OF the murder charge
throughout the day his story was
changed radically from that told
Huntington police after his arrest
early this morning
In indianapolis.
Wells now declares he was in Col
umbus Tuesday leaving there at
night for indianapolis. where he re-
manned Wednesday. Thursday and
Friday. He says ne arrived in In
dianapolis early Wednesday morning
and remained in a hotel lobby the
remainder OF the night Thursday.
ne SAYS. ne spent about the city
drinking and visiting picture shows
and spent Thursday night in a hotel
lobby About 1880 or > o'clock Fri
day morning. he says he registered
as c. L. Clifford of Cleveland. o.
Among Wells effects when arrested
was a key TO an indianapolis hotel
This room, according 70 the officials
OF the hotel. was occupied Thurs
day night by a man named Gilchrist.
Gilchrist. according 10 the manage
ment. left without his bill and TAX
ing with him the key 10 the room.
First story Different.
Wells originally declared he left
Columbus Monday. At another time
he said he had spent Monday. Tues
day and Wednesday in Toledo. Ad-
hitting that circumstances are
against him, he stated he would he
able to prove his innocence. although
il would be hard TO do.
When his aged grandfather visit
ed him at the Jail today and urged
him 20 tell frankly his connection
with the Columbus case, Wells turn
ed his back upon the aged man and
refused 10 speak a word.