South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-23
81 NfARGERY r..

NEW YORK. July ga the
best laid plans OF mice and men aft
gang agley." the carefully contrived
designs OF the murderer are prac-
tically certain 20 contain some
slip-a tiny flaw. a Forgotten hand
kerchief. mark on clothing. or other
clue 20 the crime.
In the proud state Of Virginia
some years ago. Henry Clay Beattie,
ve~y tired OF hts wife owing 20 his
infatuation for a young woman.
Beulah Binford. took Mrs. Beattie
out autom obiing one evening. He
returned with her dead body. his
own clothing blood sea ked. High
waymen had held him up and shot
- wife. according 20 his story OF
De occurrence. But Henry Clay's
cousin was able 20 say that he had
procured the previous week for the
others convenience, a shotgun and
bullets
Beattie was finally executed for
first degree murder.
DR.. Walter Keene Wilkins. this
time last year. on a foundation of
circumstanual evidence. was tried
and convicted OF the murder OF his
wife. He told story OF burglars
at hts Long Beach home, who struck
death. Finger prints on a piece OF
pipe, bits OF newspaper clinging 10
that metal and other bits of paper
dovetailing into the first were found
carefully slowed away under a mat
tress. These were part OF the evi-
dence that caused wilkins arrest.
After the burglary that resulted
IN his wife's death wilkins ran away,
but came back. After the verdict.
while waitinf I'm Jail for the day Of
HIS enforced death he hanged him
self.
was told not long ago that be
fore his suicide wilkins confessed
his guilt.
The latest exhibition OF a delin-
Quent husband essaying murder,
while Offering the burglar theory
10 the authorities TO explain his
crime. is that OF Lieut. Carl Wan
dcrer. OF Chicago. who finally con-
1essed 10 the killing of his wife. soon
10 be a mother.
Wanderer. so present dispatches
say. is in love with a 16-year-old
girl. and this love" possibly. may
be the incentive that led the former
war hero to commit his crime.
Wanderer and Beattie killed for
love Of women other than their law
ful wives. wilkins killed 10 gain
possession Of Mrs wilkins money.
But does crime always come TO
light?
Positive answer comes from q
woman district attorney. whose daily
experience IN dealing with criminals
has led her TO form certain conclu-
sions. This is Miss Helen p. Nc
CormiclS, who is assistant to the
district attorney Of Kings county.
New York.
Miss Mccormick has youth and
enthusiasm. Her work is charac-
terized by clear thinking and keen
insight into character. and instead
OF being a slave TO theories she is
bic 70 remodel them to work for
her.
mo matter how astute the Grim
inal.' she said. there is usually
some contingency that ne cannot
foresee or overlook. and IT IS that
which proves his undoing.
do criminals return 20 the scene
of their crime? Baybe not 10 the
actual scene: but TO their old haunts.
emphaticaIly yes,
1T is a psychological fact that
their former environments. or per
haps some spot connected remotely
or otherwise with the crime. holds
a certain fascination for them which
they are unable to resist, and sue
cumbing. leave themselves liable 10
detection.
Criminals are like bad pennies
they always turn up.
do criminals leave some clue be
hind?
"Yes-in almost every case. and