Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-30
DIR. WILKINS ENDS
LIFE WITH ROPE
Man Convicted of Numbering His
Wife Outwits Watchfulness
of Guard.
PLACE MOOSE ARoUT NECK
Cut Down Immediately, but Pull
motor Fails to Restore
Heartbcats.
PLACE MOOSE ARoUT NECK

/ SS''Sh'e' "u1cn was 10 nave Deen pro-
nounccd on Tuesday, committed suicide
; IN the Jail here tonight by hanging.
The aged physician. who was con-
| vicsed by the jury Friday afternoon
| after the jurors had deliberated the
| record length for Nassau County of
twenty-five hours, obtained rope in
| some manner and probably concealed
III. II oemeath his clothing before asking
guards-John Mills and william liam Hen. NJ
efude noose ,bqew ae so isshisned hi
fastened the end of the rope to pipe,
kicked away the pail upon which he
guards discovered him
nm Inc noise made BY the pail attracted
! inmediately cut down the swaying
body and found the pulse still beating.
| They applied first aid. at the same time
same hurriedly. and Dr.. Cieghorn, The
5aii physician. was on the scene within
PHYSICIANS, be summoned from Nassau
| Hospital, but short distance away.
ana requested to fetch pulmotor.
Kicks Pail From Under Him.
Kicked the pail from under him Less
/ than ten minutes later the pulmotor
wa Was S,a being used. but with little appre-
,hey 6Wliet'n WarK ssved avs b. the doctors
| II
few minutes aftcrward.
-, ThtrouEhout the afternoon the aged
mTrdeFee nnir f,e bhhsiiy us wrote letters. 1t VAS
his last messages that he EXPRESSED
MS wish to go 70 the bathroom.
lieved 10 have been taken 1 to prevent s ee
the very thing which took place. DR..
wilkins snv nnrSn was s,.,o too old and indrm for
that he might try TO escape, but thai
he he might 4 sh attempt to take his own life.
! claimed. was unjust was common be-
uet. II was thought that If guilty. as
snek sne jury H had had pronouneed him. he would
tha, if Innocent. as he vehementiy h aI
esser,fs esS ,sa he DSr wop!d seek 70
the shortest possible means
Attorney to Make Statement.
defendss faIses n :: WNvy;iSe,ng, the lawyer who
nn that alter an the dsry had
conyicted, was notifed by by the @ officers Ses
clients suicide. He on said dome' he of wohId hs
start start at once for the Jail and would would
iearnns nsxs Homs ase ffo%ment fae,s to make after
1t was declared that a rigid inves-
t,igation would be made as to why why
! pass from under the eyes OF his guards
the special instructions to guard against st
county. authorities wish TO- learn hoW tnS
the prisoner could obtain a rope while
| uhder double guard.
Neck Broken by Fall.
Dr. wilkins neck was broken by the
lall OF his heavy body, ii was discov-
cred by the physicians later
| Dr: wilkins maintained his claim of
| innocence in at least one OF the fonr
letters written by him during the
afternoon. Coroner Jones gave out a
! brief quotation from two Of the let
After reiterating his claim that he
did not murder his wife. the convicted
State by Carmen Plant. county deteee
tive. and delivered to Sing Sing Prison.
Besides it will save Justice Mannine
looking into my face when he tells me
nave had a fair trial
/ ~ am absolutely innocent OF this
crime which the Indictment charges
The Ths letter letter containing the lines
quoted above was addressed to p
ns nHseaiy. 10 Ocean Parkway. Brooklyn.
the letter was ten pages in length. and
rnIt III ~ she convicted man reviewed the
trial. and referred in Observation-Disclosures
terms to certain Of the witnesses
Sends Letter to Sheriff.
tbe one shr,,S OF the letters e was addressed to
body he orematsd. There's % $50 'ie ie
my eiothes which you can use for this
purpose, the writer said
Two of the letters were inclosed IN
small envelopes, both of which we're
plIieed psieed BY nth the writer in a larger en-
to Port Washington. Long island
tH,piscopai HpM ops clergyman, believed to be
WiIi. WeTi i6s George F. Groves. who visited Dr.
CONVECTION, in company with Charles
| n. Wysong.
| Prepares for His Pet.
One OF the letters inclosed in small
abeth Muller. M adossed formse TOM to Mrs. ELI Elz
neighbor of the Wiikinses. Who ImCY now
| resides at Monticello. ". i. In that
Letter hnss he he asked her to look after his
the name Of the other addressee was
MOI Dr. reyea1ed WiIsi by Coroner Jones.
an autopsy Will be performed tomor-
NJ Rsrner "a Drs aSsy SSronsrg Gleghg1n and Harry
would hold the Inquest es some time haea this ns
week. the date to be announced to-
and Pr. Wilkins claim Of Innocence in
me ne letter written just before death,
AttST1sY Wsins CHARLES Weeks who
am surprised at the suicide. 4
Ca can 40 40 nothing except report the facts
10 Justice Manning"
Motor Parties Visit Jail
During the day many motoring mar
CURED if they might see or talk with
Or. wilkins. Women were the most
persistent In this respect. All these
requests were refused.
The convicted physician was report
ed In good spirits' early in tho day.
showing no traces of the strain of the
trial. His counsel. Charles wysons,
announced that he WAS preparfng AZ,
appeal, and IL this failed the matter
would be laid before Governor Smith
for executive action. -S"
Rope Was New On.: - Il
It was revealed tonight that thA
rope with which the suicide was acs
, complished was now. Apparently il
had been purchased and provided ID
the convicted man. for the purpose for
which 1t was used. y fft31fEs u ;,
Just how the rope could have been
passed to him without oopnivance BY
the guards who were ordered to watch