The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-21
NASSAU JURORS
INDICT WILKINS
AS WIFESLAYER
Doctor Pleads Not Guilty to
Murder in First Degree
and Goes to Jail.
TRIAL PROBABLY IN MAY
Shaved OFF His Side Whiskers
to Elude Detectives on Way
to Surrender.

After listening for two days to evi-
dence to connect DR.. Walter X. wilkins
with the killing of his wife at their
home at Lcng Beach, L. l.. February II.
the Nassau county Grand Jury returned
an Indictment yesterday charging him
with murder in the first degree. 1t Is
the plan to place DR.. Wilkins on trial
at MineoIa at tho May term of the
Supreme Court
The indictment was found after DR..
guilty to a charge of murder lodged
against him at Long Beach. From Police
Headquarters in this city. where he was
locked UP Wednesday night following
his arrest in the Pennsylvania Station.
he was taken to Long Beach yesterday
morning and arraigned before Justice Of
the Peace Coleman. Tho arraignment
lasted only a few minutes and at its
end he was taken to Mineola. where he
will remain in Jail until his trial. His
arraignment at Long Beach was necee-
sary only because Justice Coleman. who
issued the warrant for his arrest. has
no jurisdiction outside of his village
limits.
In q brief statement yesterday DR..
wilkins repeated his frequently made
denial that he had any hand in his wife Q
death, saying: 81 have never had an
accusation made against me In my life
before until these devilish charges came
up" He stated also that his single rea-
son for leaving this city last Sunday
vas that he wanted to consult his step
daughter in Washington before submit
Ntno Ia oh n IL yain n
said, after he had gone as far as Balti-
more, having concluded that It would
be improper to draw her into the case.
His stepdaughter, Mrs. F. r. Shepherd.
known on the stage as Odette Tyler. Is
the daughter OF his second wife. She
has been at Los Angeles. Cal. for the
last six weeks.
wysong to Defend wilkins.
At his arraignment at Long Beach
Or. wilkins was represented by his law
yer. Lewis q. Friess, who returned to
Mineola with him. While they were
waiting there for the Grand Jury to
lnish it's deliberations, they announced
that Charles N. wyeong. formerly Dis
trict Attorney of Nassau county. had
been retained as special counsel and
would conduct DR.. Wilkinss defence at
his trial. He will enter a plea Of not
guilty to-day. when DR.. wilkins 10 called
70 plead to the Indictment against him.
After his arrangement at Long Beach
and before being taken to Mineola DR..
wilkins was allowed to 20 to his Long
Beach homo, change the clothes he had
on and obtain other clothing to take
TO jail with him. When he was searched
before being put in a cell he had only
two 81 bills and some small change.
He also had the hypodermic syringe and
ha nf OF nj Lob
found in his pocket when he was ar
rested. He explained that he has taken
strychnlne for several years as a heart
stimulant
The retention of Mr.. wysong as Will
kins's counsel yesterday ended a long
course OF questioning to which the doc
tor was subjected by William ]. Burns.
the detective. who as an employee OF
Nassau county has been investigating
Mrs. Wilkins's death. Burns radlated all
the mystery OF his craft when asked
what the interview had developed, re-
ferring his questioners to District At
torney Weeks. But Mr.. Weeks said:
"'For myself I didn't ask the doctor a
thing Burns did and with the doctor 8
ported to me he certainly didn't get
much"
wilkins Is Himself Again.
The elderly and shaven physician was
very much his own man by the time
Burns took him In hand yesterday. He
had had a bath. a tranquil luncheon
and was attired In fresh raiment He
had had also a moment or two alone
with Lewis @. Fricss. the lawyer who
has represented him thus far, and had
been appraised by Mr.. Weeks of a full
understanding of his rights.
He was quite frank in explaining 10
Mr.. Weeks his motive in having
sheared away the notable white side
whiskers which have been his pride and
adornment for more than fifteen years
81 had them taken of In Baltimore. &"
he said, after had concluded to come
to Mineola and surrender myself to you
The newspapers that read In Baltimore
described me very fully and LAID
especial emphasis on my side whiskers
As I was going back anyway I decided
that ] preferred to ride alone rather
than In the company of detectives. so
went to barbers and was shaved.
felt certain none Of Mr.. Burnss mer
would have the subtlety to recognize m.
clean shaver. and as the event proved
none did.
AS for these Burns men. they hav.
had the free run OF my house for tn,
last couple OF weeks. suppose 1t Is q
detectives business to find evidenc,
wherever he goes. ] certainly neve,
stood In the way ot their finding any
thing that the house contains"
None of the Burns men visible on tn,
landscape about Mineola yesterday haC
any explanation OF how Or. Wilkins wa,
able to slip through their tolls when h.
reached the Pennsylvania Station from
Baltimore on Wednesday night.