New-York tribune., 1919-03-21

suspicious, but all Of them can be
explained and they will. But I got
sick and tired of the never ending
questioning why did you do this?"
and "Why did you. do that?" and l
determined to go away | wanted to
get rid of everything because l was
convinced that sooner or later l would
be arrested on some kind of charge.
Saw Story in Newspapers
"After had read in the newspapers
that my daughter was in Washington
| knew that detectives would be watch
ing for me there, so I went to Balti-
more and had my hair trimmed and
my beard shaved. I knew Mr.. Weeks
was investigating the case before the
grand Jury and | wanted to tell my
whole story there. | will do 1t now II
they will let me"
On his arrival at Mineola, DR.. Will
kips was changed and shaken man com
pared with the respected physician OF
Long Beach who was called mere on
Saturday to tell the story OF his wi1e's
murder. His face seemed shrunken'
and it was with difficulty the ofiiclais
RECOGNIZED him as the same rugged
physician they had sympathized with
so much when his story was first told.
He walked into the Office of Mr.. Weeks
and was turned over to detectives for
examination.
Calls Accusation "Devilish"
Later he said to reporters
Before the world and before the
God that is above us ! swear that
am innocent Of my wife's death. This
is a devilish charge. | have loved her
all my life and she has loved me. l am
innocent, and everybody knows it. We
were companions. We never had a cross
word in our lives. | defy any detective
or any one else to produce any one who
can say that my wife and ever had
a eros sword.
81 do not know of any marriage that
was IS happy as mine. There is alb
solutely no reason for bringing this
charge against me. 1t is a great blow
to me, but intend to fight it and
prove that great wrong has been
done me-"
Louis G.. Friess said while waiting
for the doctor:
q certainly do not believe that DR..
Wilkins has any guilty knowledge re-
garding his wife's death. That he is
innocent of any such thing and that
he will be indicated l am sure.
Discusses Flight Motive
CDR. Wilkins apparently believed,
following the severe cross eXamina-
tion by District Attorney Weeks on
Saturday, that he might be arrested in
connection with the case. | suppose
he wanted to be prepared to defend
himself properly, and he may have
decided to go TO Washington to see
his step-daughter to arrange financial
matters so that everything in conrlec-
tion with any necessary defence could
be taken care of. That is the only rea-
son that ] can think of that would
prompt such an act"
District Attorney Weeks was not in
clined to discuss the case with news
paper men tonight. He said that
everything in connection with the al
legged trip of the physician to Baltimore
had not been cleared up.
Glow did he explain his leaving the
jurisdiction of the state after his
promise to you that he would not ?"
asked the Tribune reporter.
ooh, that is one of the things he has
not explained" replied Mr.. Weeks.
No Details as to Trip
"Where did he stop in Baltimore i?
Have you been able to check up his
story there ?" was asked.
"No, he refuses to tell US anything
about that"
"Will there be any further arrests in
the case?"
"That will depend entirely on devel-
opments," " answered the prosecutor.
Mr.. Weeks said that he had another
murder case to Try in May, but ex-
pected to be ready with the wilkins
case before the end of the court term.