The sun., 1919-01-19

cars and walking about, and arrived in
Richmond Hill in the evening He says
he found the old automobile spring lying
in a lot and that the notion of striking
some woman down with IL entered his
mind irresistibly. About half an hour
after he picked II up he met Miss Rid
dell and as he passed her struck her on
the head and after dragging her to the
lot where she was found struck her
second time.
Against o'Donnelrs story stand the
fact OF his mental incapacity-for men
tai invalids often have the delusion OF
having committed crime-and the state
ment of his wife. who says that on the
night of the murder he and she were at
work in the Waterman fountain pen fac
tory at AZ Fletcher street. Manhattan.
O'Donnell was employed as n night
Waterman there a few days ago and on
Wednesday night. she says, she accom-
pani<l him to his work and stayed with
him for his tour OF duty, because she
wanted him to keep the place perma-
nently and was afraid he might have an
epileptic seizure which would cost him
the post. She says positively that he
worked until nearly nine o'clock on
Wednesday night and the time clock at
the establishment, which the police con-
suited yesterday, bears out her state
ment The clock. however, merely shows
that IL was used properly. not who used
II. She admits. though, that he was
given to wandering when his sickness
was on him and says that after Wednes-
day night she did not see him again.
A number of the police are convinced
or claim to be convinced by Mrs O'Don-
nell's story Capt. Carey said last night
that he believed that tho mans confess
sion so far proved nothing when set
against the evidence OF the time clock.
He stated that a settlement worker. 60
far nameless In the case had told him
that she saw O'Donnell about the pen
factory about the time Miss Riddell was
killed.
Curious Persons Visit scene.
or course the man. II he Is imagining
II all, might have learned much OF the
murder in Richmond Hill through the
newspapers and might have visited its
scene before yesterday. A number of
curious persons have been walking over
the ground and inspecting the scene
generally since the murder and O'Don-
nell, X under a delusion. might have
been among them.
The crime has caused much flying of
rumors and considcra BILE hysteria in its
neighborhood. Mrs. Thomas Blackhall,
wife OF policeman. has told story OF
having ben followed and Hccosted, and
yesterday Mrs. Dora Annapole, wife OF
a fruit dealer in the neighborhood. told
another story OF having been throttled
and dragged into some bushes. the at
tack being defeated only by the sudden
slammlng OF the door OF a nearby house,
as though some one were about to come
out on the street.
The last story IL being investigated
and extra police have been assigned to
the section. Deputy Commissioner Leach
says also he is going TO have number
OF police dogs put In training as assist
ants TO patrolmen on thin" posts. and
tonight or tomorrow night there will be
a meeting OF neighborhood citizens. who
subsequently VIII call on Commissioner
Eurlght for better police protection.
In the Jamaica Magistrate court yes
terday Charles Storner and Charles
HIM were held for an assault on Mrs.
Herbold OF Evergreens. She was at
tackled on Thursday night. but was saved
from serious injury by the arrival OF
her husband and party of ne!ghbors.
O'Donnell Denies Sons Guilt.
Michael O'Donnell. father OF the man
who has confessed the Riddell murder,
arrived at his home late last night and
said that II IS impossible that his son
committed the murder.
He has been an epileptic since he was
a child" said the father. ''and his disease
ia due to BRAN pressure from fall.
Unfortunately he drinks when the dis
ease takes him and In one way his ar
rest will be the best thing that ever hap
pened him. When he RECEIVERS from his
drinking spell he will find what a serious
position he has put himself in and cut
out the liquor.
He is queer, Of course. He regis
tered for the draft from my home in
stead OF his own and although he has a
wife and children did not claim exemp-
ton. He was taken into the army. but
discharged as soon as the doctors found
out his ailment.
Il don't believe he knows where Rich
mond Hill Is But he does go almost
anywhere when he Is ail!ng. just like he
turned up In Yonkers Last summer
after he was let out of the army he had
, fit. was taken TO Bellevue, and after
his discharge instead OF coming home
| walked to New Haven. where one OF my