New-York tribune., 1919-03-01
Wilkins Murder
Battles Police
Of Long Beach
Chief Tracy Thinks Three
Men Who Beat Doctor and
Slew Wife Are on Island

LONG BEACH. L. l., Feb. 28.-The
murder OF Mrs. Julia wilkins and the
assault and robbery of her husband
DR.. Walter wilkins, in the DOORWAY of
their cottage last night by three bur
glars, who made their escape, mystifed
the Nassau County police to-day.
lhreo wine glasses, an empty brandy
bottle, machnist's hammer with
which Mrs. Wilkins was beaten to
death, and a cloth covered piece of lead
pipe, which felled the doctor. are all
the evidence the police had gathered
as basis for possible detection OF the
criminals.
District Attorney Charles K. Weeks
said at Mineola that examination of
hngerprints would be made at once.
Chief OF Police Patrick Tracy, OF Long
beach, is OF the opinion that tho man
who attacked DR.. Wilkins and robbed
him or about $500 worth Of valuahlea
u the only experienced burglar. The
others he declared. aro green and have
aided tho "leadcr" because OF their
apparent knowledge Of the district
surrounding tho resort.
Woman Struck Twelve Times
The body Of Mrs. Wilklna waa ex.
smined at an inquest held by Lieuten.
ant Colonel Morohead and Major NefY
OF tha United States army baas hos
pital here. Tho woman was found To
nave suffered severe fractures Of tho
skull from twelve heavy blows of the
hammer.
DR.. wilkins rested In the COTTAGE In
olive Street, called "The Birds' para-
disc" because of the numerous bird
boxes about the caves.
The doctor, who is SIXTY years n,a
pointed to a battered derby hat and
said, THAT saved me from fracture
OF the skull" and he told the following.
MY wife and I arrived here last
night at 9:o6. We walked from tho
station. When we reached the house 7
opened the storm door. Nv w;fe wa.
right in back of me. opened the next
door, and as did saw figure fit
across the hall. Some one is in here
saio to my wife. I think they are
sneak tnleyes- You run out and call for
probably have followed me into the
house. She went back, and I came in
and closed the door.
Felled by Burglar
Just then man with grav can
pulled down over his head struck ma
WITH something heavy and stunned me.
fell on my left side and another man
came from the breakfast room and
both of them began going through NV NV
pockets. heard my wife screaming
for help outside. One man said, Dick,
5ou better go outside and look afte r
fhat, and tbs shorter burglar went
out while the one that struck me had
oyerpowered me and succeeded in get
ting my watch and scarf pin and a
wallet with about $40 in it,"
He found his wife lying beaten and
dying on the brick walk He went to
the home Of Justice Of the Peace Cas-
aus Coleman, and finding tho house
closed, went TO the home Of Max Mcy-
cr. the nearest neighbor. Mrs. Rudolph
Duisberg, who lives there, summoned
the police by telephone
provost guxfd named Sceley, who
yas on duty at the county bridge, which
10 the only possible escape from the
island by automobile, said there
were no vehicles passing between and
10 O'Clock. After that hour every one
Ess thoroughly searched BY the guards.
The only tram out Of Long Beach
which the escaped man could have taken
~as the 1i:2z. This train uaa searched
throughout by police and detectives
and provost guards.
One theory is that the men are in
hiding on the island. Several empty
cottages we're searched TO day.
DR.. wilkins was in the habit Of
going 10 Manhattan every day He
has an Office at ig4 West j65th street
He owng three apartment properties
In New York. The couple were we'll
known at tho beach.
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