New-York tribune., 1919-03-21
Dr.. Wilkins Indicted
AS Slayer of Wife

him that he noticed the dogs. Then
he bent, and in ha1fhearted manner
brushed the animals head, saying:
Duke, Duke, poor old man.
The monkey and parrot, which were
the property of his wife, We're given
no notice at all. Frequently the parrot
shouts: "Poor old man, Poor old man,'
The pets are being taken care Of by
Chief of Police Tracey, of Long Beach,
DR.. wilkins was taken before the
regular lineup at Manhattan Police
Headquarters this morning. After the
masked detectives had looked him over
he was delivered into the custody of
Detectives Plant and Meyers. The trio
motored to Long Beach, where the ac-
cused physician was arraigned before
his old friend and neighbor, Justice
of the Peace Cassius M. Coleman.
Curiosity Seekers Excluded
The arraignment took place in the
village hail. and every precaution was
taken to keep the curious crowd that
gathered from annoying the prisoner.
Chief of Police Tracey allowed only
those who had business in the court
! to be present.
Wearing the same black suit he wore
three weeks ago to-day, when his wife
was murdered, DR.. Wilkins stepped be-
fore the court. He held the rail for
was warned of his rights and the
charge was read to him. The com
plant, which was sworn out by Do
tective Plant. charged Dr. Wilkins with
"wilful and felonious murder Of his
wife by striking her on the head with
hammer"
Louis G.. Friess, attorney for the ac-
cused, entered a plea of not guilty
for his client, and he was committed
to the county Jail without bail. Mr.
Friess was waiting for his client at
Long Beach when the latter arrived
with the detectives. He rushed over
to him and said:
"How are you, DR.. wilkins? l am
very glad to see you"
Greets Attorney With Smile
The doctor looked up and with a
forced smile took the hand of his at
torney, who was his almost constant
companion after the murder, and re-
/ Piled:
"You caused me lot of trouble by
not showing up last night"
The lawyer explained that it was
quite impossible for him to- reach the
Pennsylvania Station in tine to catch
the o'clock train after he had re-
ceived the telephone message on
Wednesday night. They then proceeded
to the arraignment.
When the prisoner left police head
quarters he had his effects in a
bundle. There were found a vial of
strychnine tablets, some morphine
tablets and hypodcrmic syringe. He
explained TO Plant that he used these
in moderation for his health and was
allowed to take one of the strychnine
tablets, as he complained of feeling
i'll.
Twice on the way to Long Beach he
asked about his dogs and indicated
much concern as to their welfare
During the trip the doctor complained
of the cold, which, he said, chilled him
through mis- thin topcoat.
Tells of His Flight
He told the detectives of his flight
but not m detail. He said that in a
telephone conversation with his attor-
ney on Sunday he was informed that
new evidence had been found threaten
! ing to involve him in the murder of his
wife. 1
Mr. Friess, he said asked him to 90
to Port Washington and talk the mat
ter over with Prosecutor Weeks. He
continued:
II went to Baltimore on Sunday
morning, after having received this
telephone message; from my attorney,
/ Mr.. Fress. He told me to meet him
and to go with him TO- the home of
District Attorney Weeks. Fricss
seemed very much agitated and ner-
vous and his agitation gave me reason
to believe that something serious
would happen.
"Friess had told me that certain evi-
dence had been found thot pointed to
me, and when | had thought this over
decided to go to my daughter in
Washington.
while on tho train I thought the
matter over and decided not to bring
my troubles to my daughter who is
very nicely married. ! stayed in Bal
tinore md ycster1hy, whom | saw my
picture iu the papers md knew that
Nr. Weeks wanted me. tclegrnphod
BIN that was ready to place myself
IN big hands"
May Have Hidden Here
The doctor declined 10 tell the Off
eials whore he had stopped in Balti-
more, which strengthened the theory
among some detectives on The case that
he had been hidden in Now York. He
stated in answer to questions that he
had shaved Off his whiskers because
he did not want to be arrested before
he gave himself up to Mr.. Weeks. The
doctor would not go into detail re-
\ garding tho removal Of his whiskcrs,
( bnt it was noticed that several long
gray hairs we're still on his face. This
made the detectives think he had
shaved himself.
4 When the prisoner was brought back
TO his own home he was asked by the
h detectives about the suit he wore. He
I said that it was the same one he had on
three weeks ago when his wife was
murdered. When informed that Mr..