The Washington herald., 1919-03-19
countrywide
SEARCH IS ON
FOR WILKINS
Whereabouts Of Alleged
Wife Slayer Battling
Authorities.
NEW WILL GIVES CLUE
Document Bequeaths $500
900 Estate to Dead Wo-
mans Husband.
NEW WILL GIVES CLUE

&ins, wealthy, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
physician, prominent in New York
and Long Island social circles, who is
wanted for the alleged murder Of his
wife at their country estate at Long
Beach. the night of February q, has
set the police Of continent by the
ears, and a countrywide search has
been instituted to enmesh him in the
police dragnet.
No sooner were the police officials
Of Nassau County, the district attor-
ney, the Burns Detective Agency and
the New York police. who took an ac-
tive part in running down clues, con-
vinced that they would find a solution
OF the bafrling murder mystery
through the arrest and close interro-
cation of the slain woman's husband
than they were confronted with an
other ana deeper mystery. DR.. VIII
kins had disappeared, and apparently
without leaving a clue as to his
whereabouts or the direction or means
Of his flight
Omcial Bulletin Sent.
The following ofiiciai bulletin, to-
gether with the physicians photo
graph, has been sent to every nook
and Granny Of the country in which il
Is believed he might have found
refuge.
Wanted for murder.
"Dr. Walter Keene wilkins, for the
murder of his wife. Mrs. Julia Will
kins, at Long Beach, on February 27.
1919.
Fugitive is GA years old, feet s
inches tall, had fiorid complexion, gray
side whiskers. closely trimmed. gray
hair, and when last seen wore dark
clothes and a black derby with a
mourning band"
The difficulty OF the man hunt Is
enhanced by the fact that the fugi-
tive. according to officials belief,
probably took the FIRST occasion to
shave of his side whiskers and mus
tache.
Every possible avenue of escape
from the Metropolitan District has
been PLACED under the strictest police
surveillance, while the city itself is
being combed carefully and systemati-
cally for traces of the physician. The
police are certain that he could not
have left the country either by
cNtaiici vi IOI eEtdIIlelS SalllnK
since he disappeared on Sunday have
been closely watched, and trains have
been watched. and country roads. to
Canada.
They are working on two theories:
First, that he is alive and in hiding: /:
second. that he committed suicide
when It became apparent to him that
his arrest was imminent
A mOtiVa fnr tho 90 hs.
wife could be found. District At
torney Charles r. Weeks, of Mas
sau County, said today, in the fact
that Mrs. wilkins had executed a
new will leaving her 100000 es-
tate TO her husband This, de-
clared NJ. Weeks, he was prepared
to prove by three witnesses who
knew of the new WIFI. although the
document has not yet been pro-
duced. The hiding place of the new
will adds another to the list of mys-
teries in the case.
To DIsinter Body.
Mrs. wilkins body is to be dis
inferred for a second time, Mr.,
Weeks announced today. to clear up
another point in the murder mys-
terry. The purpose Of the second
disinterment is to secure Mrs. Will
kins' finger prints. This was de-
termined upon today, following the
discovery of finger prints believed
to be hers on a piece OF pipe found
near her body after the murder.
DIR. Wilkins assured the authorities
1t had been dropped by one OF the
three robbers who, he declared had
slain his wife and assaulted him.
District Attorney Weeks and the de-
tectives desire to clear UP the ques-
ton as to whether Mrs. wilkins WELD
ed the piece Of pipe In an effort to
defend her life against her husband.
The wilkins town and country
homes were ransacked today. A piece
Of lead pipe was found, similar to
that discovered by the slain woman's
side. Rolled up and thrust within the
pipe was a torn piece of newspaper
recognized as from the New Era, a
publication of Lynbrook. a village near
Long Beach. The hammer with which
Mrs. wilkins was slain also had a
piece Of the New Era wrapped about
part Of its handle.
In a tool box in the Long Beach
country home was discovered a piece
of string, made of sixteen strands,
similar to that found on the ha miner.
81 bill. blood-stained. was disclos-
ed when the detectives search inn
PEELED them to delve even beneath the
mattress kept for the pet dog in
the wilkins home.
The last person with whom DR..
wilkins talked before leaving Nassau
County. 1t was learned today, was
Justice of the Peace Edward t. Neu.
with whom he conversed at Lyn-
brook Sunday morning before, as It
was later learned, he boarded a
train bringing him to the city.
Suspect Was Worried.
He said it, was a terrible thing
to be suspected of numbering the
wife to whom he was devoted" said
Justice Neu. He said that she
had nursed him when he was i'll and
had displayed her affection in a
thousand ways, and that IT was al
most more than he could bear to be
under suspicion of staying her. He
said to me:
"She ard were attacked by rob-
bers who entered our home. One OF
them, referred to by the others as
Dick was the murderer. The others
robbed me while Dick attacked nv
wife outside. He must have had a
hard time when he sought to quiet
Julie, because she was a powerful
woman. She probably gave Dick
a strong fight. I presume she was
struck several blows with q ham,
mer. It was a terrible crime for
anyone to have committed
Arriving at the Brooklyn terminal
of the Long Island Railroad Sunday
morning. DR.. wilkins telephoned TO
his lawyer. Lewis @. Friese, with
whom he made an appointment to
go to District Attorney Weeks home