New-York tribune., 1919-06-20
Bits of Paper
Important Link
In Wilkins Case
Found in Various Places
About House of Tragedy,
They Fit Into One Sheet
and Bear Date January 20
Another Part on Hammer
Woman Testifies She Sent
Lynbrook Era to Doctors
Wife Months Before Crime

w III Il ClVAOuIllS DCl Orc Urine
Staff Correspondence
MINEOLA, June 18.-In the course
afternoon, what is claimed to be
strong piece of evidence against DR..
Walter Keene Wilkins. on trial charged
with the murder of his wife, was de-
veloped. District Attorney Weeks had
several scraps of paper pasted in sheet
form. They fitted with exactitude, and
form part of an issue of "The Lynbrook
Era" dated January 29
Carman Plant, county detective, was
on the witness stand at the time. He
identified piece of paper found under
the bed in DR.. Wilkins ROOM He
pointed to his own initials on another
piece which he had found thrust be-
hind chair upstairs. Allen O.. Myers,
chief Investigator for the Burns De-
tective Agency, identified two pieces
of paper which he had found in the
pocket Of pair of gray trousers be-
longing to DR.. wilkins.
Piece Wrapped About Hammer
A further piece Of paper produced
for indentifcation had been wrapped
around the hammer which killed Mrs
Wilkins. When assembled, the scraps
picked up here and there furnished
one of the most interesting pieces of
evidence that have yet come up in the
trial.
Counsel for the defence endeavored
to prove that the bits of paper were
"planted," but did not make much
headway The editor of "The Lyn-
brook Era" testified that neither DR..
nor Mrs. Wilkins was on his mailing
list. Mrs. Frances Herman, who keeps
store at East Rockaway, testified that
she had sent copies of "The Era' to
Mrs. wilkins since October, 1918. She
sent the last copy the day after Mrs.
Wilkins was murdered, she said Oc-
casionally she would hand the paper to
DR.. Wilkins as he worked in his gar
den, she said.
This directly .contradicted statements
of the defendant that he never read
"The Lynbrook Era" or had it in his
house.
May Be Night Sessions
The examination of Plant, from
whom more sensational testimony is
expected, continues tomorrow morn
ing. The case is proceeding so slowly
that Justice David F. Manning threat
ems to hold night sessions. The court
room was so crowded to-day that
scores of persons were turned away.
Plant told of a conversation he had
with DR.. Wilkins shortly after the
murder. Suspicion of the doctors
guilt was then voiced for the rst time
in his presence. The witness testified
that DR.. Wilkins said at the time:
"Why should I kill my wife? l could
have no motive. l would be better off
if she had lived. l handled her estate
and collected the rents for her. Now
that she is dead, have nothing"
Then Allen Myers, who was present,
chimed in that if there were no will
there could be no motive for the kill
ing, asserted the witness. Thereupon
Louis G. Friess said he could produce
will and took the defendant, Myers
and the witness to safety deposit box
owned by Mrs. Wilkins and later to
DR.. Wilkins's New York home, but the
search was fruitless, said Mr.. Plant.
The Will Finally Produced
Finally. on March 10, a will drawn
up in 1915 was produced from a trunk
by the defendant several days after
that same trunk had been searched by
the witness, according to his own test-
mony.
conversation with DR.. wilkins
after he was put in Jail was recalled
by Plant. The defendant indicated that
conversation with Friess about the will
had alarmed him, said the witness. In
fact, he frankly blamed Friess for his
sudden disappearance. When his pho
tograph was distributed broadcast he
was afraid he would be caught anyway,
SO he thought it better to return volun-
tarily, the defendant told Plant.
Louis Baumgarten, clerk in the
Hotel Joyce, Baltimore, where DR..
Wilkins registered under an assumed
name after he fled from NeI. York,
was called to the stand. District At
torney Weeks showed him a sheet from
the hotel register dated March 16 and
said:
"Do you see the name Randolph C.
Howe, Petersburg, Va, on that sheet ?"
he inquired.
eyes," replied the witness.
There Is a Resemblance
"Was that name put there in your
presence?"
"Yes"
"Look at the defendant here Is that
the man."
There is some resemblance"
Here Justice Manning intervened and
asked the defendant to stand up. DR..
wilkins hesitated for moment, then
jumped to his feet.
eyes, there is strong resem-
blance," said the witness hesitatingly.
Hes perfectly right" observed DR..
Wilkins.
Charles Klein, a Long Beach fur
mace tender, was another witness YES
terday. Charles N. Wysong, of coun-
sci for the defence, sought to sub
stantate the story Of the burglars bv
the testimony of witnesses that lights