New-York tribune., 1919-03-24
Examination of Blood Spots
Said TO Show First Blows
Were Struck by Assail-
ant Inside the Cottage
Hammer Wrapper Found
Stained Paper Discovered
Tucked Away; Gloves and
Hat Uphold New Theory

LONG BEACH, L. l., March 2s.-"The
first blow of the assailant who mur-
dered Mrs. Julia wilkins at her cottage
here on the night of February 27 was
struck while the woman was inside the
closed doors of the house. with her hat
and gloves already removed
This statement was made confidently
to-day by an expert of the Burns Detec-
tive Agency and was approved by
County Detective Carmen Plant. Both
had made microscopic examination of
several blood spots and tingerprints
found inside the cottage.
Dr.. Walter K. wilkins, husband of
the murdered woman. now being held in
the Mineola county jail on charge of
having murdered his wife, insists he is
lnnocent and declares Mrs. Wilkins was
attacked outside the house by burglar
who felled her with hammer.
The detectives say there is trail of
blood prints throughout the house, but
some OF these were made by the doctors
collie dog Duke, beaten on the night of
the murder. The other prints, they say.
are those of one who bled inside the
reception hall, where the doctor, ac-
cording to his own story, was first at
tackled by two robbers.
1T is alleged that further evidence
has been discovered in piece of
newspaper, part of which was used
to wrap around the handle of the
hammer and length of pipe that
We're used in killing the woman. One
piece was reported found rammed down
INTO a pocket of a discarded pair of
trousers belonging TO the doctor and
another piece fitting it exactly was
found where it had been placed back
of trunk. These had bloody marks
on them, it was said.
Additional details of evidence report
ed Yesterday by the investigators were
the following:
which has been identified as belonging
to Mrs. Wilkins. 1t was in an out Of
the way corner of the house, and it
bore prints of bloody fingers. 1t also
was established that Mrs. wilkins wore
q pair of brown gloves on the night
she was killed. These gloves have been
found inside the house by detectives
There were no stains on them. Her
hat, also found recently, with the hat
pins liked in the manner customary
with women after removing the hat,
also was offered as supporting evidence
or the theory that the woman was at
tackled inside the door.
Prints of blood were discovered
about the door and inside the little
vestlbule In a general direction toward
the brick wall outside, where, the de-
tectives declare, the woman ws beaten
to death with sixteen more blows of
the hammer.
Fingerprint cameras and other spe-
clal apparatus used in the detection of
criminals will be brought to the Will
kins home to-day and the search Will
continue under the direction of both
detectives and a pathologist expert in
the study of blood stains. This will
probably be a physician from the office
of the Chief Medical Examiner in
Manhattan.
The wilkins home is under guard
night and day, and crowd of curious
persons passed by continually to-day
gain. over the little iron fence around
the yard The home was found Uttered
with pictures, books, papers and col
lections of trinkets dating back for
Years. The cellar is piled high with
boxes and rubbish, making the work
OF search difficult.
Two men working for District At
torney Weeks are stationed in the
house. They are hoping to catch some
OF the jargon uttered by a tame par
rot, which so far has said nothing
intelligible but Poor old mani" and
where's the doctor? Occasional out
bursts are spoken in German, which
was taught it by Mrs. wilkins.
Or: wilkins spent the day in his cell
on the first floor of the jail reading
the newspapers and writing letters He
saw no visitors, though several persons
inquired after his health
Charles \. Wysong, counsel for the
doctor, declared the evidence found 80
lar was characterless and would not
count in a trial.