The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-05
Self-Styled Son of Senator New
Surrenders as Slayer.
Brings Body of Dead Girl to
Station in Car.
DID IT TO SAVE GIRLS HONOR?
Man Declares She Was In
Delicate Condition.
Harry New Quietly Tells Of
Killing Frieda Lesser.

Los Angeles, July 5.-Harry S. New,
who says he is the son of United States
Senator Harry S. New of Indiana by a
divorced wife, today sat quietly in a
cell at the city Jail telling how he
murdered Miss Frieda Lesser, whom
he was to have married tonight.
When Miss Lesser told him, as they
sat in News sedan on the dark
Topango canyon road near Burbank
last night, that she would go TO the
operating table instead OF the altar, in
order that she would not become the
mother of his child. he shot her New
voluntarily told the police,
New declared Miss Lesser never had
told him much of her parents. but
that he thought her father was Emil
Lesser. who was supposed to have
! committed suicide two years ago at
Venice. Cal, while being sought ror
| violation of the espionage act. De-
partment of justice agents said they
are still searching for man named
J Emil Lesser. who was reported to
have killed himself two years ago.
I've killed her." he nervously but
| quietly told the police who met New
in his sedan as it stopped In front of
| headquarters.
Detectives peered into the rear COM
|
there, beneath a robe, lay the body OF
Miss Lesser. A big bullet hole thru
the right temple had caused her death.
This is the gun" New half sobbed,
/ as the police carried-the body from the
car. He handed over .3S colt auto
matte.
Inside the police station. New told
detectives he and Miss Lesser had left
last night for a ride thru Topango
canyon. At n spot where the road was
l Ia = oex 81
Miss Lesser to become his wife. She
refused.
Acted I'm Fit of Temper.
/ An argument followed. New said,
and in a fit of temper, he told the po-
lice, he shot the girl whom he sought
4 Realizing he had killed his sweet
heart, New said he moved the body
from the seat beside him where she
had died, placed it in the back of the
car, carefully covered it with a robe
and drove with all speed down the
miles Of dark road. thru fitting shad-
ows from the moonlight, to Los Ar
geles, where he gave himself up to the
police. He reached the police station
just before daylight.
Miss Lesser was n beautiful bru-
nette, with luxurious dark brown hair.
She was aged 20.
New is from Glendale. Cal. He is
booked for murder and held without
bond.
After a few hours of quiet in the
police station, all nervousness seemed
to leave New and he unfolded what
the police said was the most remark
able story ever told them.
New declared to police and news
paper men that he had planned to
marry Miss Lesser tonight and had
made all arrangements for a wedding
trip to Fresno, Cal.
SAYS He's Senator News Son
! New told the police that he is the
son of United Senator Harry S. New
of Indiana, by a divorced wife. now
Mrs Lulu Burger. He said he has
been living with his mother and his
sister, Edna Clancy New, at Glendale.
: Cal. He said his mother was divorced
from Senator New fifteen years ago
: and now is visiting n-Indianap polls
! and staying at the Hotel Linden there.
Il Girl In Delicate Condition.
Last night he said. Miss Lesser con-
Eded to him that she could not marry
him now on account of her condition
and that she was going to undergo an
operation.
i New declared the operation would
have been a reflection upon the honor
: of the girl he loved and that he could
not tolerate 1t. Rather, he said, he
: would see her dead and he shot her.
Attended Notre Dame University.
New gave his age as 81. lie SAID ne
was a member of the Black Horse
2 troop of Culver Military academy
/, when he was in school. and later at
tended Notre Dame university.
e For several years, New said that hi
E and his mother and sister have beeE
E living at Glendale. Cal. and added
: that since his mother had been sep
= arated from United States Senator
n New fifteen years ago. he and his sis
. ter had supported their mother.
s Senator New Refuses to Talk.
Y Washington. July ST cannot dis
i cuss the matter" Senator Harry s
New, of Indiana. declared today wheT
r asked what he knew OF the man ar
i rested in Los Angeles for murder Civ
: ing the name of Harry S. New. ant
:. | claiming to be the senator's son.