The Washington times., 1918-05-18

al a lOlE AUlG-
Hired BY Soldiers.
week ago last Friday night Wer'
res. who Is employed IN the Govern
ment Printing office. and who hires
out his auto after working hours
left his little home at 2TlO Bladens'
burg road to keep an engagement
with two soldiers and two girls, he
told his wife
The wife's premonition OF evil as
Werres departed grew as he failed
20 return home. Not a word was
heard OF werres afte rhe left while
his wife and six year-old baby wait
ed for his return.
Finally. desperate. the wife pub
lished the news OF her husbands dis
appearance, but still no trace OF him
was found.
Car In RIehROad.
Finally. the police search revealed
that Werres' car had been found in
Richmond. Va, and two men in
civilian clothes, who were driving H.,
had been arrested. Suitcasses con-
tanning blood-stained soldiers uni
forms were found in the car, and
Anally the men, Newman and Gamble,
Olmitted they were deserters. They
would not state how the bloodstAins
came on their uniforms.
Under ErusIlinE questioning, how
ever, Newman finally broke down and
-Soafessei 70 the murder sof Werres.
Gamble, Who had maintained silence,
gave In when shown Newman'a con-
,fession. and he, too. narrated the
Story Of the killing Of the jitney
GriVsr
Tie stories OF both men tally In all
ut one respect, and that is a. to
NhO delivered the fatal blow. Each
NlAmes the othar for the blow that
'lEflled WerreA
StOFy Of SOIdIerA-
The story told by the soldiers In
the confessions is as follows:
They had obtained leave from their
esmmand-Company A, 6O1st Engineer
Erps, stationed At Glenburnie, Md
md had gone to Washington
There they met Mrs. Harry Burgess,
Of Laurel, and 1s-yeAr-old mother,
who left her sick baby at home to
60 with Gamble, whom she says she
loves. Another girl who was to have
accompanied the soldiers did not go
on the trip.
The soldiers hired werres, and
after driving about the city for
while, started out toward Alexandria.
After going about three miles south
of Washington, Werres refused to
drive the party any farther and
started to turn back The soldiers
objected, and a quarrel ensued New
man admits be then struck Werres
with a near-beer bottle, rendering him
60 recover. and swore, according to
the soldiers. whereupon they again
attacked him
Differ A. To DetaIIA.
There the sOldiers' stories differ As
70 who struck the blow that killed
Werres Both say he was killed b. a
blow from an iron pipe. smashing the
skull. but both claim the other man
struck the blow.
During the fight in which Werres
NGs slain, the soldiers say. Mrs Bur
CESS had gotten out Of the car and
stood alongside, looking on The body
was lifted from the car by the soldiers
and dragged 20 a point about twenty
five feet from the roadway, where u
was thrown into & crump Of bushes.
after which the soldiers and the won
an drove on to Richmond. The soldiers
changed their uniforms for civilian
clothing which they had bought in
Laurel, Md. They also took some
money and a watch from Werres'
bod after the murder. They told de-
tectives. in their confession. where
they had taken the watch.
Violate Traffic Rules.
Gamble driving. the trio were ar
rested in Richmond for violating
traffic regulations. A search Of the
car revealed the bloody uniforms.
The men were held. but the woman
her home in Laurel Later came the (
that the car the soldiers |
had been driving was. Werres' and the |
Erilling that brought the confession |
Bf murder from the two men fol |
bowed
Detectives Armstrong and Grant. of
he Washington police, who question |
I'd the soldiers, secured the confess 1
MONS. The local detectives were not
given custody OF the men, however. |
rs the crime was committed and the |
stolen in Virginia Sheriff |
Fields. OF Alexandria is today send (
lng deputies 10 get the soldiers.
In the meantime. a party OF Wash I
.ngton police, headeo by inspectors 1
Grant and Evans, are searching the !
eoUntryEids where the murder was |
for Werres' body. An all |
night search has failed to locate /
the remains. Searchlights were used. /
but the search failed. Better results /
are expected with daylight, however.
and the police are confident that the |
body will be discovered today.
MrH. WeFrrs COIIapseN-
Mrs. Werres, wife oNthe slain man, |
whose nervous condition has been |
growing worse as each day passed /
without news Of her husband. col .
l8psed when told Of the confession I
~ the solSierE. Her condition is now .
serious, and she Is under the care OF 4
, physician. She had been positive /
al during Werres' absence that he .