South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-20
SLAYER FLEES
WITH MONEY
AFTER FIRING
Mrs. George WiIkeSOn Tells
Story of Tragedy in Village
Merchants Home Near
Midnight Monday.

80 more tangible cIew as 20 the
identity or the murderer Of George
WiIkeson, storekeeper of Lydick
we're uncovered by officers working
on the case Tuesday than were in
their possession at midnight Mon
day when the crime was reported
10 the local police departments
II is the theory. however. that the
work was that Of an amateur, other
wise the elderly man would not
have been murdered without at least
q struggle on his part The position
the body was found i'm bed leads 10
the belief that the murdered man
was shot while asleep ON his left
side facing the front of the bed APP
parentiy NJ had NOT even raised
hand after the bullet entered his
head. although Jacob Watkins liv-
ing i'm the next house 10 the east of
The Wilkesou store and home who
was the first 10 reach the scene aft
or the crime was committed. stated
The room where the Wilkesons slept
us he was entering the front door
i've minutes after the shot was Hred
Mr. Watkins said 20 The News
Times that he and his wife were
awakened ar 1880 10y the calls for
help being made by Mrs Wilkeson
who ran out the rear door Of her
home 20 the Watkins home To give
ne alarm within a minute after thu,
Obber and murderer left the prem
SEES. lie said ne dressed I'm AN pos
sihle haste and hurried 20 the WiIke-
son home and that he consulted his
watch and saw that 70 was then
1885 o'clock.
Both the front and rear doors
were standing wide open and Ii win
low i'm the store part Of the building
% the north side was up several i'm
-hes. indicating that the robber had
Inferred I'm that way the suppositiou
aeing that the Wilkesons neglected
Boz lock the window before retiring
Mrs. Nilkesou also stated that the
rear door through which she left
.he house 60 summon the Watkins
was. STANDING open when she reach
sd the lower floor
Mrs. WilkcSOn'~ story
Mrs. Wilkeson was still suffering
from the shock Of the tragedy late
Monday morning. bur her mind was
,u a clear condition OF things that
transpired after she was awakened
uy the shot that killed her husband
When she opened her eyes half
lazediy at the report Of tine pistol
=ud began screamiug. the intruder
brew the light from "a poke. Hash-
ght into her Face, and demanded
hat she keep quiet and turn over
.1 h.m what money she had iu her
elssessiou. she reached under tine
iIlow and broueht forth small
money Dag containing aJou- sI- u
silver and offered it ro THE man
HON she described as tain and
masked with some dark cloth The
after She said. told her that he
idu't want that bu- wanted the
a.Il-book." which she haa under
er pillow. Without hes.t.tiug. She
luded the book containing about
so over 90 the ronler who snatch
td m and ran down th. stairs and
..t or the house
Immediately She followed u her
Eh- clothes and gave the alarm to
The Watkins family. who notified
'ranb Plum1ack. who Ga turn no.
ICED The South Bend ,oiice head
f.arters 10y telephone, and detail
~ officers. accompanied hy Deputy
sheriff. Ray BarCtiay and News
Times reporter went 20 Lydick u
&c patrol
Body Stnl Warm.
Deputy Barcklay said the body of
Nilkesou was still warm when ne
trrived on the scene The house
lad been ransacked by THE robber
afore he entered Oh sleeping room
u the owners. The Till iE The store |
-efors ne entered the sleeping room
= the dwelling. was found open and |
f-veral nickies. pennies and stamps
10 untouched. q dresser in an adj /
dining room 90 the one occupied by I
ne WiIkesons was searched hv the I
'lbber. the contents az the drawers /
catered on the Hoor. Every ar |
trie in that room and the one oc- I
.Ipied by the AGED couple was .eft /
.nGisturbed until the arrival OF Cor
,ner swami Monday. Beueath the /
f--ssct Wss Christina 1o> con