The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-18
CHAPLIN SURRENDERS
ANDDEFENDS CRIME
Editor Processes Financial
Rnin-Didn't Want Wife
to BECOME Pauper.
SAYS HE IDOLIZED HER
Used Revolver Waldo Gave to
Him-Defence Will Be
Insanity.

Charles r Chaplin, city editor OF the
Evening World who killed his wife on
Monday morning while she lay asleep in
their apartment in the Hotel Cumber
land, surrendered to the authorities yes
terday. and to-day the Grand Jury will
be asked to indict him for murder in the
first degree
In notes which he wrote ~ the time
ne killed his wife he had announce bis
intention of taking his own Me as well
as hers. Instead. after waiting day
and a night, he gave himself up at the
West Sixty-eighth street police station
HIS defence will be insanity--that he did
not know the nature and quality OF his
act or know that 1t was wrong. When
Chaplin was arraigned he entered the
formal plea OF not guilty and was sent
to the Tombs.
He talked yesterday with District At
torney Swami, Assistant District Attrs-
ney Magee and Capt. Arthur Carey OF
the homicide bureau, explaining. II could
not bear to let my wife know the trouble
was :n." and telling them Of his money
difficulties during the last ten years.
Lived Beyond His Means.
He told them that he had received
. substantial newspaper salary, but had
lived always In excess OF II. trading on
his connection with the Worfd and on
his distant relationship. to the late Rus
sell Sage. OF whom he was q grand.
nephew on the maternal side. Invest
meru which he made turned bottom up
and Mr. Sage died without mentioning
him In his win After he had received
an Inheritance from his fs,he' and lost
that. too In speculation he began 20
borrow from his friends, number OF
whom advance him considerable sums
He killed his wife with a revolver
given to him by Rhinelander Waldo
when the latter was Police Commits
sioner. He says he began to plan heI
death and his suicide four years age
when he knew he was ruined and must
be exposed Once he bought a cemetery
plot In Washington and had his and heI
names engraved upon a tombstone there
Again he took her to Maine 20 kill her.
When finally he shot her rs she lay
asleep he had not the fortitude to Kill
himself also He made a careful retreat
from his hotel, and after prowling al
night in a park crept to a police station
in the morning and turned himself ir
because lit seemed the only honorable
thing TO do"
Here II Chapin's Story.
This is his story:
II love my wife That's why I killed
her.
- couldn't kill myself and leave hel
here frendless, penniless and alone e
live a pauper and die to be buried ir
the Potter's Fbr
IT started to xiii her four years ago
In
lot III a cemetery there and had 9
tombstone erected to our memory anc
arranged that we would be buried "
the same grave-but didn't kill hel
then. But used the same revolver Il
kill her yesterday that intended using
In Washington.
II idolized my wife: she was the onl,
thing loved. We lived together thirty
nine years. For the last twenty year,
she has been in very delicate health.
loved her the more for that. She wa.
my life, my religion and the only th,nl
1 lived for. It was because Of this tina
killed her. that intended killing my
self--to Keep her from knowing tn,
man l am.
Hounded by Creditors.
ct had borrowed money from every
body. I was being bounded. hounde;
by brokers. bounded by friends. and
was afraid she would learn. / feared
exposure. disgrace, and the loss OF m,
position: for I had gotten money upor
the representation OF myself as hial
salaried editor of the Evening World.
got money by representing myself as al
heir OF Russell Sage-and couldn'
pay II back. Ruin stared me In tn,
face I couldn't bear to let her know
SO killed her.
'I brooded over my troubles. And
decided the best thing to DO Was for m,
to kill myself. This was IN June.
went up into Maine to do II. But afte
thought II over I decided II would b,
unfair for me 10 leave her all alone II
the world. She had no relatives. w,
were married in Milwaukee. She was al
actress. remained in Maine TN week
and when I came home I got an auto
matte revolver and took IT home I,
Hotel Cumberland. But II wouldn'
work: tried II.
1.-TWO weeks ago took another vaca
ton. My head hurt. I couldn't SLEEP
Ny troubles were ever present. Sunda
Mrs. Chaplin and I swan at Brighton
Beach. We came home. left her II
the hotel l went to the World offic
and got the revolver that Waldo CAV
me and returned to the hotel.
Tells of shooting.
1--WE retired in twin beds, Mrs. Chapil
facing me. had the revolver under tn
cover. / lay awake for hours, waitin
for her to turn over. to turn her bacl
TO me so that could shoot her withou
her knowing it. She did turn over a
about I clock. monday morning).
got up and shot her behind the right eaI
She did not die then but lived for hal
an hour. suffering the utmost agony unit
her last breath.
"At O'Clock the hall boy brought IN
morning papers and some ice. / too
them at the door. The maid called
little later. l told her that Mrs. Chapi
had been up late and did not wish t
be disturbed until after lunch. Then
sat down and wrote letter to Stimso,
and a letter to Don c. Seitz, telling hin
that had killed my wife and that
would be dead by the time he got tn
letter put a stamp on II and maile
It. Stimsons letter l placed on a tabl
In the apartment.
Then I dressed myself. put on
light gray summer suit and derby hal
wore my tortoise shell trimmed glasse
with a ribbon In them. wrote on
card. Don't disturb and pinned Il I
the outside of the apartment door,
Meets Carruthers in Elevator.
II met Frank Carruthers in the ele
vator, We said good morning and lef
him to go to the desk. I told the cler
not to ring the telephone because Mr..
Chaplin did not wish to be disturbed.
Then l went to the barbers and wa
.A, al oil l..