New-York tribune., 1919-01-19
AEibi Refutes
Confession of
Riddell SLAYER
Man EeIls Detailed Story of
Richmond Hill killing;
Found To Be Unbalanced
-Arraigned for Murder
Police Satisfied He Is Not
Guilty, but Detain Him
Temporarily at Jamaica

PatricA O'Donnell, porter. steppcd
out of his prosaic work day world
a. broomS, mons and scrub brushes
e 'orday and named himself as the
Of Mary Elizabeth Riddell
in Richmond Hill last Wednesday even
ne.
TO the police of Yonhers he calmly
teld now. while wandering through the
park-iike streets of Richmond Hill, he
picked up a broken piece of iron and
sccretcd it beneath his coat. Then he
told of meeting Miss Riddell in the
gathering dusk. Of a blew upon the
head, her collapse and of his trip
.:'rouqh vacant lot. dragging the un
conscious girl behind him.
Not detail was lacking. Rc pct-
red the coat, hat and general appear
ance of his victim. He vsualized "the
wooded, pretty. park-like" streets of
Richmond Hill in manner that CON
vinced the listening detectives that
there could b. no mistake.
"On Way to Chair" He Says
The porter wound a chain of incrimi
mating evidence about himself that
would have baf1ed the most adroit
iawyer who might have attempted to
eXtricate him. To use his own words,
. he was on the way to the electric
chair
Then the unexpected occurred. At
tempts to verify some Of the minor
details of the porter's confession" re-
vcaled an alibi that proved conclusvely
ne could have had nothing to do with
the Richmond Hill murder. Witnesses,
time cards, payroll and other indisput-
able evidence showed that he was on
duty in the plant of tho Waterman
Fountain Pen Company, 40 Fletcher
street, at the hour he insisted he had
been wandering the streets of Rich
mond Hill.
CDonnel TO be victim of auto-hyp
nosis. a mental condition found in less
exaggerated form when any crime mys-
terry $ the subject of wide discuss ion.
o Donnell had read. talked and thought
of the crime until his mind became
foggy as to his own part in the stu
alton.
Found Wandering in Road
O'Donnel first came under the scru-
tiny Of the police Friday evening. He
was walking aimlessly in Central Ave
nue. near Tuckahoc Road. Yonkers.
hen he attracted the attention of Pa
'rolman Michael Giimartin. The pc
ceman questioned the man, Who NUT
tered ovasive replies and otherwise
aroused his suspicion. Gilmartin, re
Wondering that the Riddel murder was
believed to have been committed by a
man OF low order Of intelligence a
moron in the language of the alien
ists decided to take his prisoner to
the detective bureau.
Under the questioning of Lieutenant
Cooper, of the Ionkers Detective Blu
Heau, O'Donnell said nothing about the
murder Friday evening. Yesterday
morning. however, the lieutenant sud
denly exhibited a newspaper picture OF
the Riddell girl and handed it to the
prisoner.
Did you Kill her." demanded the
police official
yes, did," was the unexpected
reply.
lieutenant Cooper asked O'Donnen
70 tell all about the crime
81 viii II can see you alone said
the prisoner. If you'll tell those other
policemen 10 go out Of the room.
Makes Complete Confession
The other police retired and, slowly.
as If trying to recall exact details of
an exciting experience, parts Of which
Rad escaped him, O'Donnell made this
confession:
II am thirty years old and live at
20 Lexington Avenue with my wife and
Two children. On Tuesday night, Jan
nary Il, 1919. ! Went % 90 % my
fathers house 1OO5ic Dckalb Ave
nue., Brooklyn. Wednesday morning at
about II O'Clock, having spent the night
previous walking about the streets.
eos TO my fathers house at ~. noon
Wednesday. January Is, ! left my
1athers house, walked around the
streets little while and then took q
Dehalb Avenue car and obtained q
ransfer. I think | have it in my
pocket stlil-No, | guess have lost il
action Of going through pockcts) a.
did not use II.
! took some trolley car to Rich
mond HlN. getting 70 Richmond Hill
At about o'clock. walked around
hlcnmond Hill toward wooded park
Ike section and was walking nm =
street that had a cement sidewalk on
y waen girl dressed with q long coat
and wearing large dark hat came
waking along the same street toward,
mp -
Il had found Il piece Of iron in one