Evening star., 1918-05-20
Confessed Murderers of Jit-
ney Driver Sing to Pass
Time in Jail.
WOMAN COMPANION
EQUALLY UNMOVED
Mrs. Burgess Gets No Word From
Her Husband. Who Was
Here Sunday.

Occupants of a single cell in the
crowded Alexandria county, Va, Jail
at Fort Myer Heights, Charles E.
Gamble and Robert L. Newman, con-
fessed slayers of John P. Werres, gov
ernmcnt printing Office employe and
jitney driver, are showing absolutely
no outward indications of worry over
what may happen to them as result
of what they did to Werres ON the
lonely Virginia road Friday night,
May TO- Much of their time is spent
conversing with other prisoners and
singing songs, the warden of the Jail
suggesting they probably knew no
hymns to sing yesterday.
In cell in the female ward is Mrs.
Catherine Burgess, friend of CANDLES,
who was arrested at her home in Lau-
rel, Nd, because she was with the
men when they killed Wcrres.
Mrs. Burgess. it was said at the
Jail this morning, has fully recovered
from her nervousness experienced
Saturday afternoon when her COM
panions in the murder car were
brought to the prison and she was
permitted to- see them and when she
displayed interest only in Gamble.
Woman Calm, Too.
Warden Crack says she shows no
more signs of worry over the affair
than her male companions. She no
longer is able to see or converse
with them, and, so far as could be
learned this morning, had made no
requests of the warden to be per-
mitted to dc. SO. No outsiders have
been permitted to see the prisoners
since Saturday afternoon. Warden
Crack said, and it is his intention
to obey instructions not to permit any
interviews.
Not many curious persons were about
the county prison yesterday. where the
quiet of the day was only broken by
an occasional song heard in the male
portion of the building, Newman and
Gamble doing much of the singing.
Neither of the men or their female
companion has signified the slightest
intimation of wanting to hear from
home or wanting the advice of counsel.
County authorities, however are. Ger
tain members of their families will be
on hand next month to make a fight
to save them from the electric chair
Commonwealth's Attorney Ball and
Inspector Clifford l.. Grant, chief of
detectives. today said they would send
word to the families of their incar-
ceration. 1t will not be necessary to
notify relatives of Mrs. Burgess, how
ever, as her mother knows where
she is. Z.
Husband Does Not Visit.
Harry Burgess. a marine stationed at
Quantico, husband Of the woman in the
case" was in this city Saturday night
and yesterday. but il was sald at the
Jail that he had not been there, nor had
any message been received from him
Just what he will do as the investigation
and trial of the case progresses is not
known His wife repeats the statement
siders the tie between her husband and
herself as being broken. Statements of
persons investigating the murder are
that she expected to live with Gamble
when they reached Texas, their INTENDED
destination when they were overtaken
by police in Richmond.
It is the intention OF the common
wealth's attorney to bring the case to
the attention of the grand jury when
that body convenes. on June II. and
dI,t t,-;o oP he ooc mi he
asked. That the Indictment of the
men and their female companion on
charges Of first-degree murder will be
asked was the statement of Mr.. Ball
this morning. He recalled the wom-
ans statement that she heard the
murder planned, witnessed its execu-
tion and remained with the men until
they were separated from her by the
Richmond police. Even then, he re-
marked, She made no statement of the
killing. nor did she do SO until De-
tective Evans told of what Newman
was reported to have said about her
friend Gamble
To Continue Inquiry.
Sworn statements made by the men
while under arrest In Richmond, it is
stated, are not entirely satisfactory to
Mr.. Ball. Neither is the statement of the
woman. and this afternoon he arranged
10 question tntHl iUFlHtT TeSdTulOR the
trip in the murder car from the time, IL
left this city until 1t was stopped in
Richmond by 4 policeman. In the sworn
statements neither man accuses the other
of having used the piece Of iron pipe
taken from a radiator of the -hptei In
which the murder was planned, hut since
| they left Richmond. il is declared, each
charged the other with having used It.
tseeming to believe the use Of a near
beer bottle was a less serious onense
Just which judge will try the case is
not certain. 1t is reported that Judge
J. Il. T. Thornton contemplates sub
mitting his resignation to the gov
ernor within the next few days, and
should such action be taken 1t will be
necessary to summon a Judge from
another circuit When counsel appears
| to represent the prisoners, 1t is stated
they may ask for a change of venue
Such action would merely remove the
trial to another county and cause a
| short delay. Should change be
granted the delay probably would be
a short one. as Commonwealth's At
torney Ball would ask for a special
term of the court to try il immedi.
! ately.
To Warn Prisoners.
| This morning the commemorative
| attorney said he would see the prison.