New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
Sole Survivor Identifies
Officer After Robbery
at Camp Funston
Letter to Woman
Left by Suicide
Witness Tells of Brutal
Murder After Victims.
Hands Were Tied

CAMP FUNSTON, Kan, Jan. H.
identification to-day Of Captain Lewis
n. Whistler by Kearny Wornall, the
sole survivor Of five men who were at
tacked by an army captain bent on rob-
berry of the camp bank last night as
the man who had perpctrated the crime
and Captain Whisler's subsequent
death by suicide have convinced army
authorities here that the search for the
slayer is ended.
Captain Whistler killed himself by
firing two bullets from an army rife
into his head. His death came after
Wornall had recovered consciousness
at the base hospital and told the ques-
tloning army officers the story of the
tragedy in which the captain, in the
course of looting the bank. had killed
with all axe four men, including c.
Fuller Winters, vice-president of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
an intimate friend of the captain. Then
an order was issued that all CAPTAINS
at the cantonment report at headquar-
ters to have their finger prints taken.
1t was then that the shots from Cap
tam Whisler's Office were heard.
Left Note for Woman
a note was found with the body. 1t
was written to woman whose name
the authorities have refused to d.
vulge. 1t said:
81 have been thinking of committing
suicide for a long time, but l have
never had good reason. Yesterday ]
went out and made myself reason"
The room in which Captain Whis
lcr's body was found was smearcd with
blood spots. Two blood-soaked towels
were found in the room and the table
was spotted with blood.
Captain Whistler had borrowed two
hatchets from supply company yes
terday, according to officials, and he
borrowed two more to-day.
Army officials tonight declined to
say whether any Of the money which
tanned was found in Captain Whisler's
room.
Friend Of Bank Head
Wornall who recovered conscious.
ness this morning, told the authorities
that the murderer was an army captain
whose face he recognized, and who, he
said, was close friend of Winters
head OF the army bank.
Wornall, in describing the tragedy
said man came to the door of the
bank about $3.50 o'clock last night ane
raped insistently. He was admitted
and, covering the five men with his re-
volvcr, forced "ornall to tie the hand:
Of the four mon, after which he tiet
Wornall's hands. The man then pro
ccedcd TO loot lne bank safe, and hae
reached the door when Winters said tt
Wornall:
"You recognize him. don't you?'
Wornall answered that he did.
The murderer turned to Winters ane
said:
'You know me, do you?"
II sure do, you black scoundrel," wa.
Winters's reply.
Strikes Helpless Men Down
Wornall says at this point the MAJ
hesitated and then suddenly leaped a
them. swinging his hanc axe. He strucl
the helpless men down one by one
Wornall was the last struck. When h.
recovered consciousness ne managed tt
unite his hands and made his way int
the open air, where he was dscovere,
by a sentry.
Relatives and friends of Captain
Whistler were unable tonight to ad
vance any theory as to what impellet
him to commit the murders and rob
berry. Captain Whisler's former wife
from whom he was divorced about
year ago, and son, fourteen years old
reside in Salina. Kan. His parents liv,
at Goodland, Kan.
Captain Whistler fought in the Span
ish hAmerican War and later saw con
siderable service in the Philippines
During the Mexican border trouble h
attempted to form regiment in Kan
sas, but the plan was not carried ou;
When the war with Germany came h.
entered the officers training camp a
Fort Riley, Kan, and was commissions,
captain. He was about forty years old
Mrs. Whistler to-day received lette
from her former husband, in which h.
said he was in good health and spirits
The letter. she thought, was writer
yesterday, although it was undated
1t was announced by army official
that Wornall's identification of Cap
tain " hisler would be taken as con
elusive and that the case would be re
garded as closed. Identification wa
made from photograph