The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-02-02
STATE ESTABLISHES MOTIVE FOR
THE MURDER Of MRS. NHEBY
SYRIAN SLAYER PLANNED TO
WE'D WOMAN TO SECURE
TITLE TO HER
PROPERTY.
County Physicians Remove Four Bull
lets From Body Of Slain Woman.
Alexander in Jail.

Four thirty-eight calibre revolver
bullets were removed from the DodE
of Mrs. Letta Whcby al the autopsy
performed yesterday afternoon by
County Physicians John +. Marsch'
ner and Carl Ulfcrl. Prosecutor Dave
Mckee, who attended the autopsy,
along with Coroner R. G. HOBBS.
stated that the. county physicians Will
testify AT the inquest that any one
of the four bullets found could have
caused death. Their statement Will
be that death was due to gunshot
wounds.
Alexander was grillcd at the county
Jail last night by Prosecutor Mckee.
Assistant, Prosecutor Carl Bachmann
and Sheriff Howard h. Hastings. Ills
statement was taken by Court Stem,
ographer Louis Walters. No part III
his statement was made public. The
police officers, Saul Rosenberg, VINO
captured Alexander. and all Witnesses
to the killing were asked TO make
statements. which they did. under
oath, and their statements were taken
by the court steNographer.
Prosecutor Mckee stated TO the In
telllgencer later that he believed the
state had a clear case, with motive
well established. He will demanl
the death penalty for Alexander. ~
preliminary hearing for Alexander
will probably not be held until next
week. He is now held on murder
warrant issued by Squire Hobbs. Inc
inquest date has not been fixed. nut
in all probability the official inquiry
will not be held until Saturday attc:-
noon.
Some Interesting rac1s developed in
the killing Of Mrs. Whe6y last eye,
ming. 1t is entirely probable that tue
motive for AleXander's repeated De
mands that the woman marry MIN
was to secure title to her property
Her rejection Of his marriage offers
resulted in her being a murder VIC
tim.
Alexander, although retaining
sphinX-like silence. repeatedly nut
1ers: 81 wish could die. because
of this he is being guarded day ana
night. His wild actions in MS cen ecu
caused Jail trusty 10 report OUTSIDE,
that Alexander had twice attempted
suicide. At the Jail the only, eXplana-
ton Of the rumor that could be Sc,
cured was the statement: III ne trlcd
suicide we don't know anything
about it,"
rayed like a wild man and said hn
wished he could die. He was re-
moved frfom the lookup TO the JAZZ
bv Chief Leyland and Detective
Raper. lie occupies the first cell, on
the bottom tier Of cells, on the North
east corner of the cell room. He IS
kept locked in his cell constantly and
guard remains at his cell door.
When Alexander was searched al
the police office he had in his pos
session a large pocket knife. the
blade was open, as though he intend
ed using it. The authorities now be-
lieve that Alexander intended doing
injury either TO himself, or 10 his
captors. In addition 10 the five bull
lets fired he carried a trouSer pocket
full Of bullets in reserve.
The thirty-eight calibre blue steel
Ner-Johnson gun was picked up,
from where it had been thrown. by
the slayer and was carried into the
Burns and Church stable, by small
boy, who found the weapon. II was
covered with blood, from the wounds
inflicted when it was used in beating
Mrs. Nheby's daughter, when she at
tempted to aid her dying mother.
One OF the four bullets carried
corset stay five inches into the won-
ans body. Each Of the bullet holes
showed that Alexander fired at close
range. The body was burned by
powder. One of the bullets passed
entirely through the body. The fifth
fired went wild. The woman's body
will be removed from. the Bertschy
morgue this morning. 10 her home,
the scene of the killing, al 2219 Main
street