New-York tribune., 1919-03-13
Wilkins Death
Mystery Grows;
Body Exlnlrrn1ed
Second Autopsy Made to
Obtain More Details of
Wound; Result Secret
New Evidence l. Hinted
Long Beach Authorities Are
Silent on Their Plans,
but Predict Arrest Soon

MlNEOLA l.. t., March ". The
mystery surrounding the murder Of
Mrs Julin Wilkns ncnr the doorwny
Of her home Mt LouN Bench on I'ebro-
nry II wna intenalhcd to-dny whcn her
body WINS oxhumcd In the Luthornn
Cemetery, Mt Middle Village Quoone
for II socond nutopsy
The body wnp ordered examined
nRnln by District Attorney Woeks, who
wns proscnt when II was lifted from
tho grave. At his side wns Or. Waiter
Kconc wilkins, husband Of the mur-
dered woman, who accompanied her to
their scnshoro home on the night Of
the tragedy and who told the story Of
being attacked by burglars AS he en-
tered the reception hull Of tho house,
scutfle inside and gone out and beat
Mrs. wilkins TO death with hammer.
The doctor regarded the removal Of
the body silently. In the party were
Coroner Edwin 7. New. of Lynbrook;
his physicians, br f. T. Delano and
DR.. A. d. JACQUES; and DR.. Otto II.
Schulz. representing District Attorney
Swami, of New York. who assisted at
the autopsy.
Weeks Silent on Case
District Attorney Weeks declined TO
answer repeated questions if there
were any particular person or persons
under SUSPICION. Late tonight he de-
cllned to discuss the result of the ex-
animation. He said: Il had the BODY
eNhumed and an autopsy performed.
Its result do not know, and would
not comment upon it if ] did know"
According to statements of Carmen
Plant, county detective, and Of Chief
OF Police Patrick Tracy, Of Long
Beach, last week, which promised an
early arrest Of one or more suspected
persons, the exhumntion is believed to
have been necessary to support evi-
dcnce already obtained
The only articles on which the au-
thorlties had based their investigation
were the two blood STAINED weaDons
found near Mrs. Wilkins's body, lead
pipe and a machinist's hammer. and
some finger prints on wine glasses in
side the house.
The police asserted they had def
lnlte clues to the person or persons
who committed the crime, but no ar
rests had been made
First Autopsy in Hospital
The first examination of the bodv
was made the day following the murder
IN the United States General Hospital
at the Hotel Nassau. The autopsy
showed that the skull had been frac-
tured by several heavy blows
To-day's autopsy was made in a vault
OF the cemetery. DR.. Jacques, who as
sisted, declared it was found that the
woman had suffered two penetrating
fractures of the skull One Of these
was at the base and the other at the
right side near the front. The former
seemed to have been made by ham
mer, while the latter appeared to have
been caused by q piece Of pipe or the
fiat side Of a hammer head. It was
also found there were sixteen lacera-
tlons OF the face. DR.. Jacques said the
examination had been made to obtain
more detailed description of the
wounds
The doctors viii make complete
report tomorrow to District Attorney
Weeks
Dr. wilkins left the cemetery and
proceeded to his Office at 164 West
''f>NS III III '7ti'cO, manhattan. Tie has
been uncommunicativc since the
tragedy. After telling the story on
the day after the crime he declined
to discuss it further, referring in
quires TO his counsel.
The doctor has continued TO travel
back and forth between New York and
his Long Beach home on the same
trains which it was customary for him
and his wife to take.
The police declared they had OBJ
tanned no additional evidence. An
early theory advanced charged bur
glars with the crime, but they have re-
ported no development of this belief
A thorough examination of the
house was made. but it was not learned
whether this resulted in any informal
tlon which would lead to an arrest.
Contrary to first reports, the doctor
suffered no injuries other than shock
tie declared the stiffness of his DERBY
hat had broken the blow of a lead pine
which knocked him down in the hall
The case is expected to assume fresh
interest tomorrow, when the action
promised by the police may result from
the findings at the autopsy.