The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-28
WILKINS FOUND
GUILTY OF FIRST
DEGREE MURDER
Jury, Out Nearly % Hours,
Makes Futile Plea for
Mercy.
PRISONER REMAINS CALM
Later Says Jury Did Its Duty,
but "Detectives Framed
Me-"
PRISONER REMAINS CALM

DR.. Walter Keene Wilkins was found
guilty Of murder in the first degree
yesterday afternoon by the jury be-
fore Justice Manning at Mineola
which had heard his trial on an indict-
ment charging him with the murder
of his wife Mrs. Julia Wilkins, at their
Long Beach home on the night of
February 27.
The jury brought in its verdict at
3:3S o'clock, after having deliberated
since 5:15 o'clock the previous eve-
ming. The jurors made a strong
recommendation for mercy. but Justice
Manning pointed out that the law al
lows the court no choice after a con-
viction Of murder in the first degree
but to impose the death penalty.
The jury was out longer than any
jury in the history Of the Nassau
county courts. The FIRST ballot, taken
a few minutes after the jurors went
to their room, showed, 1t is said, Ave
for conviction, four for acquittal and
three not voting. Throughout the
long period Of deliberation the major
ity Of the jury stood out steadily for
remaining jurors around to their way
of thinking. 1t is understood that II
took seven hours to convince the
twelfth man that the aged physician
was guilty.
Calmest Man in Court.
Dr. Wilkins was the calmest man in
the court room when the foreman of the
Jury, Arthur Parres, announced the ver-
dict. Justice Manning was plainly ner-
vous when he was summoned from his
chambers by the notification that the
jury was returning. and the foreman
also was fiustered. DR.. wilkins. how
ever, stood calmly to hear the findings.
with no indication that he was affected
one way or the other by it. After the
clerk Of the court had polled the jury
and found all members present he asked
Parres IL they had agreed upon u ver-
dict Parres replied that they had.
what is your verdict?" asked the
clerk.
Guilty as charged in the Indictment
replied Parres. His voice was low.
hardly audible beyond where the clerk
stood.
DO you mean guilty of murder in the
first degrec?" asked the clerk.
Murder in the first degree. with a
recommendation to the court for mercy
replied Parres.
There was tense silence in the
court room for an instant. All eyes
turned to the aged physician. who stood
stolidly beside his counsel. The mus
cles OF DR.. wilkins's mouth twitched
slightly and he lowered his head, bu,
beyond that he gave no indication that
the verdict had had any effect on him
Justice Manning denied a motion to sci
aside the verdict and then addressed
the jury:
II am sorry that cannot comply with
the recommendation for mercy asked for
by the jury. But for first degree murder
there Is but one penalty that can i'm
pose. Only the Governor can take VI
the matter OF mercy"
BIames the Detectives.
Wnen the clerk OF the court look Dr
Wilkinss pedigree the physician an
swered calmly. in a strong voice, withou,
the slightest trace OF hesitation or nerv.
BUSINESS. He was then taken into an
adjoining room. where finger prints were
made. The only statement he made al
that time was this
THE jury did its duty. but the de-
tectives framed me-"
Later, however, after he had conferred
with his attorney, Charles N. Wysong
the physician made this statement:
81 am absolutely innocent. / never
harmed hair on her head. She was
universally generous to me. Whenever
we had a steak she always insisted that
have the tenderloin. There was never
anything but love between us. An awful
mistake has been made. am stunned. "
Mr. Wysong said he would appeal the
case to the Court OF Appeals, and falling
in that would ask for executive clemency
II am absolutely convinced OF Dr. WI
kinss innocence" he said This has
been a miscarriage OF Justice, do not
believe the jury understood its full func-
tion when IT found for murder in the
first degree and gave a strong recon-
mendation for mercy. I believe no man
with guilty conscience could have
stood up and taken his medicine as this
old man did"
Justice Manning announced that Dr.
wilkins would be sentenced next Tues
day morning at 10 o'clock.
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