The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-21
WILKINS INDICTED
FOR W|FE-MURDER

| Mineola, ". Y, March 20-Dr Wal
ter Keene wilkins, the wealthy ply
stefan; prominent in New York and
Long Island social circles is in the
Nassau county Jail here tonight, held
without bail An Indictment was
found late today charging him with
the murder of his wife. Mrs Julia
Wilkins. She was brutally slain at
their country home at Long Beach
the night of February 81. The ham
mer with which she was killed bore
finger prints which detectives claim
ed to have identified as having been
made by her husband to whom a
late will not legally executed. de-
vised her property, estimated as
worth from 100000 to 100000.
| Events moved swiftly today for tho
accused physician. whose spectacular
arrest last night in the Pennsylvania
station caused sensation. He was
brought from Manhattan to Nassau
county and taken direct to Long
! Beach for arrangement before his
long time friend, Justice of the Peace
Coleman.
! Neighbors who had known Mrs.
wilkins for years and had called both
: the murdered woman and her hus-
band friends. crowded the stuffy lit
tie court room in which the arrange
ment was held,
| Justice Coleman advised the defen-
dant OF his rights after the com
plant, charging first degree murder.
had been read. Louis X, F'riess. DR.,
wilkins attorney, said his client
would waive examination, and the ac-
cused mans old friend then did tho
only thing possible under the law
held him for the grand jury.
! Evidence Is Damaging.
The grand jury was even then in
session, considering the Wilkins case
but its findings were not reported TO
Supreme Court Justice SeeSer until
later. Its members were hearing tes-
timony respecting the discovery OF
finger prints on the hammer which.
II was alleged, were identical with
those of the physician; of the fact
that cord. similar to that binding the
newspaper wrapping on the hammer s
handle. had been found in DIR. VIII
kins country home; that piece of
lead pipe like the piece found by the
f1iurdertd nbtndns ist.tis" gses3 r&aSsd' hog u
discovered in his town house; that
the pipe had contained paper torn
from an issue of the New Era, Long
Island publication, and that the news
paper wrapped about the hammer
came from same publication. The
grand jury was also informed that
DR.. wilkins had fled, from the county
and that his arrest followed a search
covering the entire east and which
was becoming countrywide.
Or. wilkins was brought mere from
Long Beach in an automobile. closely
guarded by detectives. He appeared
confident that he will be cleared OF
1.-The charge. He said:
| II am absolutely innocent of this
Icrime and / defy the authorities to
ito prove the contrary. Jufit and
were very happy together We never
iquarrellcd In our whole married left.
Our relations were agrecable--beauti-
full. cannot make it too emphatic
that had no guilty knowledge of this
crime. It Is impossible for any one
to think that / murdered my wife. She
was my best friend. She was good
housekeeper and a good nurse and she
looked after my every want"
! District Attorney Charles r.
Weeks md Detective William J.
Burns submitted the physician to a
long examination in Mr.. Meeks' Of
flee after his arrival here. DR. VIII
kins had said, at the time of his ar
rest, that he would tell everything
! to District Attorney Weeks, but
neither the prosecuting officer nor
Burns would disclose the revelations
| If any, made to them by the accused