The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-05
EX-NAVY MAN HELD
ON TELLING POLICE
HE KILLED WATERS
John Reidy, Deserter, Is
Said to Have Confessed
Staying in Hotel.
HID IN TURKISH BATH
Light on Gang That Preys
on Strangers With Cash in
White Light Region.
CLUES TO OTHER CRIMES
Accused Man Stays From City
q Month and Resumes His
Haunts in Broadway.
CLUES TO OTHER CRIMES

John Reidy, deserter from the
United States Navy, confessed last
night. according to Capt. John Cough
| lin, in charge Of the detective bureau,
that he killed Leeds Vaughan Waters,
grandson of Horace Waters, piano
manufacturer, in the Plymouth Hotel,
| 257 West Thirty-eighth street, in a
drunken brawl on November 8.
Reidy, who told the police he was "a
years old, but looks scarcely IS, was
arrested after his story had leaked out
through men who have made a prac-
tice, the police said, of trimming
wealthy young man on Broadway.
Roland Noak, alias Herbert Kreb, was
arrested with Reidy as material
witness. Both are known to the police
and the stories they told may help to
solve the murder of Frank Barber in
Central Park two weeks ago, Inspector
Coughlin said.
According to Reidy. as the police gave
out the alleged confession, he met
Waters in the subway station at Times
square at o'clock on the morning Of
November g. Waters bought some
drinks in a saloon on Eighth avenue
and they went to the Plymouth Hotel,
where Waters registered as Talbert and
Reidy as James Dunn. After they went
to their room they began to quarrel,
Reidy said, and he hit Waters on the
head with a cane. Waters's head struck
the bedpost as he fell and he died almost
| instantly.
Returns to Broadway HauDts.
Reidy then covered Waterss body
with bed sheet and left the hotel. He
went to East New York, where he lived
for three days in q Turkish bath. After
this he lived in Jersey City until he
thought it safe to return to his Broad
way haunts. The arrest was made by
Detective James J. Finn and Chief In
spector Thomas J. Shehan Of the Naval
Intelligence Service.
Reidy said he had served about two
years In the navy. He enlisted In MIL
waukee and deserted from the battleship
Arizona In New York Navy Yard on
August 10, 1920. Since then. the police
New York preying on strangers whose
acquaintance he made In the white light
district
He and others. according to the po-
lice, have made a profitable living In
this way They confessed to robbing
men whom they had accompanied to
hotels of as much as $1,000. Inspector
Coughlin said. Reidy took So from
Waters after he killed him, Coughlin
said the prisoner admitted.
The scufie between Waters and Reidy
caused a commotion in the Plymouth
Hotel and clerk went to the door of
their room few minutes after Waters
was killed. Reidy told the clerk there
would be no more noise and he left
without investigating. Waters's body
was found the following morning.
Handwriting Is Identified.
The Identification OF Reidy as James
Dunn. who registered at the Plymouth
With Waters. was made by John Carey.
clerk of the hotel. Reidy's handwriting
was compared with the signature in the
register and completed the evidence
against him, the police said.
Waters was reputed to be million
aire. His body was identified by Ben
jamin r. Vaughan, a cousin. who said
Waters was about to go to England,
where he was accustomed to pass the
winter. He came to New York from
Bronxville on election day to get the
election returns. Vaughan said
Mr.. Waters lived with his mother.
Mrs. Horace Waters, at the Gramatan
Hotel, Bronxvllle The news of his
death was communicated to her by Mall
colin r. Lowell, stock broker and presi-
dent OF the william A. Mills Brass Com
pany who Is friend OF the Waters
family
Mr.. Waters was well known In Palm
Beach and i'm London. In 1895 he mar
ried Elizabeth L. Blanc. better known as
Baroness Blanc. an actress considered
then one OF the most beautiful women in
Philadelphia. They lived together for
thirty-one days. when young Mrs. Wa
ters returned TO the stage. subsequently
obtaining a divorce.
The Waters family home was at East
Greenwich. X. T.. but Mr.. Waters was
little known there, most of his time
being given to travel. His father was
one OF the leading piano manufacturers
of the country. The family IL one OF tn,
oldest and best known In Rhode Island
The Detective Bureau was elated last
night, not only because the Waters mys-
terry had been cleared but also from the
fact that through the statements Of
Reidy and Noak they hope TO solve some
Of the other crimes that have been COM
mItted in this city recently. Reidy Is
charged with homicide. Noak Is being
held as material witness.
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