Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-01-13

Camp Funston, Kans. Jan. 12.-
With the finding late today of the
body of Capt. Lewis r. whistler of
Salina, Kans., in his tiny office at the
rational army cantonment here, the
mystery which had surrounded the
looting last night Of the army bank
and the subsequent murder of four
men and serious wounding of a fifth.
is believed to have been cleared up.
The murders were committed with a
hand axe.
Captain Whistler killed himself, fir
ing two shots from an army service ri
fle into his head. The first bullet
glanced downward through one cheek
but the other lodged in his brain. The
suicide followed a general order from
headquarters instructing all captains
at the cantonment to report and have
their finger prints taken.
Reason for Suicide.
A note was left by the army Off
GER addressed to a woman whose
name the authorities so far have de-
clined to divulge. The note said
Il have been thinking OF commit
ting suicide for a long time but | have
never had good reason. yesterday
went out and made myself rea-
SON."
The room in which Captain Whis-
ler's body was found was smeared
with blood spots. TWO blood soaked
towels were found in the room and
the table was spotted with gore.
Captain Whistler borrowed two
hatchets from a supply company yes
terday, according to officials, and he
borrowed two more today.
Army officials tonight declined to
say whether any of the money, which
the robber is supposed to have OBJ
tanned was found in Captain Whis-
ler's room.
Definite Information at Last.
The suicide of Captain whistler was
the climax of day of investigation
BY army authorities, who were con-
fident as the day progressed that the
murderer had not left the reserya-
sion. Their most definite information
was furnished by Kearney Wornall
of Kansas City, the fifth man at
tackled by the robber and whose con-
dition tonight was said to be serious.
Wornall, who recovered conscious
ness this morning, told the authorities
that the murderer was an army cap
tain whose face he recognized and
who, he said, was a close friend of
C. Fuller Winters of Kansas City,
head of the army bank, and one of
the men killed. As the result of Wor-
army officers was begun. This after
noon the order that all captains
should report and have their finger
prints taken was issued
Wornall in describing the murders,
said a man came to the door of the
bank about $3.50 o'ciocK last night
and raped insistenty. He was ad-
mtted and covering the five men with
his revolver, forced Wornall to tie
the hands of the four men, after
which he tied Wornall's hands. The
man then looted the bank safe and
had reached the door when Winters
said to Wornall:
"You recognize him, don't your"
Wornall answered that he did.
You know me, do you?"
Il sure do, you black scoundrel,'
was Winters reply.
Wornall says at this point the man
| hestated and then suddenly leaped
at them, swinging his axe. He struck
the helpless men down, one by one.
Wornall Last Victim.
Wornall was the last man struck.
When he recovered consciousness he
managed to unite his hands and made
his way into the open air, where he
was discovered by a sentry.
Relatives and friends of Captain
Whistler were unable tonight to ad-
vance any theory as to what impelled