The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-17
Declared City Editor of the
New York World
As He Gave Himself Up, Ac.
.cording to Police.
HAD mo REASON WHATEVER"
He Told the PatrOlman Who
Questioned Him.
Had Wandered Streets for Four
Nights, He Said.

New York, Sept 17.-Admitting
that he killed his wife. but declaring
that he had no recollection of the
deed. according to the police, Charles
z. Chaplin. city editor of the New York
Evening World, walked into the West
6Sth street station here early today
and gave himself up. He declared that
all memory of his crime had passed
from him until he purchased a morn
ing paper and read that the police
were searching for him.
Rambling almost incoherently in
his talk with detectives, Chaplin at
lions and at other times assumed a
hanged expression and plunged into
the depths of quivery melanchoiia. 1t
was hardly dawn today when he ap-
peared at the police station. II want
to see the captain" he said to the
lieutenant, but when he was informed
that the captain was asleep, he de-
clared himself to be Charles e. Cha
pin.
81 killed my wife yesterday morn
ing in the Cumberland hotel" he said.
the police declare.
The full story 81 the crime apd of
man who has been declared to have
one of the keenest brains in the news
paper business, did not come out, but
Chaplin said he had tried to take his
own life. Bits of the tragedy were
picked from statements made as
Chaplin talked with a station patrol
man after the captain and detective
had finished questioning him. He
hsld his head down while he was be-
ing booked" at the station until he
1T oil n 10
head snapped up and he answered
proudly:
Editor" He declared he didn't
want to see anyone. Particularly he
drew the line against newspaper men.
Sat With Head in Hands.
Then he went to the captains office.
where he sat with his head in his
hands at times, at other times pacing
up and down the rooms, his arms
moving about wildly.
who are you?" asked the station
patrolman.
I'm Mr.. Chaplin. I killed my wife"
he replied, the police allege. The rest
of the scene was described as follows:
The patrolman asked "how?"
with this"-he pulled six cham
bered revolver from his pocket. One
chamber had been exploded. AS the
patrolman examined the weapon, Cha
pin reached into another pocket.
ed an automatic pistol.
Why Did You XIII Her?
why did you kill herr" asked the
patrolman.
He flung his arms over his head and
replied: mo reason whatever"
Asked where he had been, Chaplin
declared he did not know. He said
that for four nights he had not slept.
He had wandered about town, he
declar ed, on subway and elevated
trains. He said he went to Prospect
park yesterday and aimed the revolt
yer at his head. but saw a policeman
and did not shoot. Later, he said. he
fired shot when the policeman went
away.
But only one cartridge has been
exploded" the policeman exclaimed.
mo, no." Chaplin declared. There
must be another. I fired that shot"
Then Chaplin said he bought a
morning paper, read of the search for
himself and is said to have recalled
that he had killed his wife. according
to the police.
Mrs. Chaplin Found Dead.
Mrs. Chaplin was found dead in her
bed some hours after her husband
had left their room. He told friends
: she was ill, but when Don C. Seitz.
business manager of the World re-
ceived letter from Chaplin saying he
was going to kill both wife and himself
the Chaplin room was entered. Two
notes were found, one of them saying
that Chaplin had killed his wife as
she lay asleep and intended killing
himself.
Mrs. Chaplin was Miss Nellie Bebie,
of Chicago. The couple were married
thirty-nine years ago. Chaplin had
been city editor of the World for many
years, and was one of the best known
newspaper men in the country.
Chaplin later gave statement to
Assistant District Attorney Magee in
which he traced his movements after
he had shot his wife.
He resolved four years ago to kill
himself. he said, but changed his mind
when his financial affairs began to be
Strengthened out.
Decided to Kill Self and Wife.
He said that yesterday he fully made
UP his mind to kill his wife and him
self and attempted to shoot Mrs. Cha
however, failed to work. He then got
a revolver which had been given him
by former Police Commissioner Waldo
and shot her. He said he then went
downstairs on an elevator, was shaved
and had breakfast in the hotel.
Then he went to the subway, rode
down and wandered about town until
he found himself in Prospect park
Brooklyn, where he sat down on g
from his pocket and was going t.
shoot himself when he saw a police
man and placed the weapon back If
his pocket. Then he fell asleep an6
awakened to buy morning newspaper
and learn that he was wanted. Cha
pin, 1t Is understood, was one of tht
heirs to the estate of Russell Sage.