The Washington times., 1920-07-16
SOME EF[AW IN
lEVERYSLAY|NG
Cleverest Schemers Overlook
Something Simple That
Causes Downfall.
By mARGERY REX.

By mARGERY REX.
NEW YORK, July 15.-If the best
laid plans of mice and men "aft
gang agley" the carefully contriyed
designs OF murderer are practically
certain to contain some slip--a tiny
fiaw, a forgotten handkerchief, mark
or. clothing, or other clue TO the
crime.
-- In the proud State OF Virginia
some years ago, Henry Clay Beattie,
very tired OF his wife owing TO his
tnfatuation for young woman.
BeuIah Binford, took Mrs. Beattie out
automobiling one evening. He re-
turned with her dead body, his own
clothing blood-soaked. Highway
men had held him up and shot his
wife, according to his story of the
occurrence. But Henry Clay's cousin
was able to say that he had procured
the previous week for the others con-
venience, a shotgun and bullets.
3 Beattie was finally executed for
nrst degree murder.
DR.. Walter Keene wilkins, this
time last year, on foundation OF
oircumstantial evidence, was tried
and convicted of the murder of his
wife-. He told a story OF burglars at
his Long Beach home who struck
him, but beat Mrs. Julia wilkins to
= death Finger prints on a piece OF
pipe. bits of newspaper clinging to
that metal and other bits OF paper
dovetailling neatly into the first, were
found carefully slowed away under
q mattress. These were part OF the
evidence that caused wilkins arrest.
After the burglary" that resulted in
his wife's death, wilkins ran away.
bnt came, back. After the verdict,
while waiting In jail for the day OF
his enforced death, he hanged him
self, ,,.,... ....
was told not long ago that before
his suicide, wilkins confessed his
MONEY AND LOVE POTIONS.
The latest exhibition of delinquent
husband esaaying murder. while offer
ing the burglar" theory to the au-
thorities to explain his crime, is that
of Lieutenant Carl Wanderer Of Chi
cago. who finally confessed to the
killing of his wife, soon to be a
mother.
.wanderer. SO present dispatc tches
say. is In love with a sixteen-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 to gain pos
session Of Mrs. wilkins money.
But does crime always come to
light?
Positive answer comes from a
woman district attorney, whose daily
experience in dealing with criminals
has led her to form certain conclu-
sions. This is Miss Helen p. McCor-
mick, who is assistant to the district
attorney OF Kings county.
Miss Mccormick has yOuth and en-
thusiasn. Her work is characterized
by clear thinking, apd. keen insight
into character, and instead OF being
slave to theories she is able to re-
model Them to work for her.
MISS McCORMICK's CONCLUSIONS.
'No matter how astute the crimi-
nal," she said today, there is usually
some contingency that, he: cannot
foresee or overlooks, and 1t Is that
which proves his undoing.
However, the detection OF crimes
and criminals is not quite as smooth
and easy an affair as it would appear
to the casual reader of our modern
detective stories.
"The daring and fearless Sherlock
Holmes has his equal in many Of our
best New York detectives.
"But unlike Sherlock, the profess
sional detective has to meet and over
come real difficulties as involved as
all human affairs are, and he cannot
rely on the skillful author to save
him at any cost in the last chapter.
THE pursuit and apprehension of
criminals has always appealed
strongly to the popular taste.
"This is conscious, or unconscious
response on the part OF the public, to
the danger to their lives and property
involved in the anti-social acts perpe-
trated by evildoers.
"Do criminals return to the scene
Of their crime? Maybe not to the
actual scene, but their old haunts
cmphatically yes!
"It is q psychological fact that
their former environment, or perhaps
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 to
detection.
ALWAYS LEAVE SOME CLUE a.
-.Criminals are like bad pennies
they always turn up.
'Do criminals leave some clue be-
hind?
"Yes-in almost every case and
whatever the nature of the clue may
be, whether a womans side cmob, the
laundry marks on some piece of wear
ing apparel, finger prints on window
sill or door, or what not--there will
be something that will afford the