Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-01-19
STARTLING CRIME
OF ARMY OFFICER
Looted Bank, Killed -Four and
Committed Suicide.
TRAGEDY At CAMP FUNSTON
Made His Way Into Tho Bank, Forced
One OF The Men To Tie The Hands
OF The Others And Then At
tackled All With An Ak.

Camp Funston, Kans.-1dentiication
Of Captain Lewis R. Whistler by Kear-
ney Wornall, the sole survivor OF i've
men who were attacked by an Army
captain bent on robbery of the camp
bank. as the man who had perpe-
trated the crime, and Captain Whis-
ler'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
questioning army officers the story
Ct the tragedy in which the Captain
lad killed, with an axe, four men,
iAcluding 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 headquarters to
have their finger prints taken. 1t
was then that the shots from Captain
Whisler's Office were heard.
A note was found with the body.
1t was written to woman whose
name the authorities have refused to
divulge. It said:
II have been thinking of commit
ting suicide for long time, but
have never had good reason. Yes
terday went out and made myself
a reason"
The room in which Captain Whis-
ler's body was found was smeared
with bloodspots. Two blood-soaked
towels were found in the room and
the table was spotted with 1t.
Army officials declined to say
whether any of the money which the
robber is supposed to have obtained
was found in Captain Whisler's room.
Wornall told the authorities that the
murderer was an army captain whose
face he recognized and who, he said,
was a close friend of Winters, head
Of the Army Bank.
Wornall, in describing the tragedy
said a man came to the door of the
bank about $3.50 o'clock and raped
mistakenly. He was admitted, and
covering the five men with his re-
volver, forced Wornall to tie tho hands
of the four men, after which he tied
Wornall's hands. The man then pro-
ceeded to Loot the bank safe and had
reached the door when Winter said
to Wornall: "You recognize him.
don't you?" Wornall answered that
he did.
The murderer turned to Winters
and said:
you know me, do you?"
II sure do, you black scoundrel,'
was Winters reply.
Wornall says at this point the man
hesitated, and then suddenly leaped
at them, swinging his hand az. He
struck the helpless men down, one by
one. Wornall was the last struck
When he recovered consciousness he
managed to unite his hands made
his way into the open air, where he
was discovered by sentry.
Carl Ohe!sons father Kansas City
contractor, who is building a new
bank building at the camp went to
the bank about the time the muir
ders were committed. He found the
door locked and called out to Winters
The murderer must have answered the
Winters for he told Ohelson to return
When Ohelson insisted that the mat
ter was important he says a voice re
Piled: please 60 away, I'll come t.
the bank and talk with you in just 8
few minutes" Ohelson said he ther
left.
Just how much money the robbie,
| obtained was not announced.