New-York tribune., 1921-10-11
. Wild Man i'm
Girl Murder
Case Crilled
Italian Wanderer Declares
He Was Never in Madison,
and Boy Cannot Identify
Him as Stranger He Saw
May Drop Kluxen Charge
Police Against Prosecution
of Youth Held in Kill
ing of Janet3e Lawrence

MORRlSTOWN, N. j., Oct. 1O.-The
murder of eleven-year-ol Janette Law
renee, who was stabbed to death last
thursday in rough, wooded piece of
ground near her home in the nearby
town of Madison, was, at late hour
tonight, still mystery.
Frank Felice, an Italian. who was
tkeen into custody early to- day by the
police at Glea Ridge. N. j., on the
charge of lettering, was brought here
this afternoon and questioned for sew
erel hours by County Prosecutor ohm
Mills and county detectives. Felice is
sand to have been acting ~ueer'-- lust
prior to his arrest, and it was throught
possible that he might be the wild
looking" man seen in Madison by a
boy, John Early shortly after the mlur-
der.
MIR. Mills, after he had ouestic ned
the man for some time with the aid of
an Interpreter, said that he had learned
nothing that would connect him with
the crime Felice denied that he had
ever been in Madison. Early could
not identify him.
On Trail of Lunatic
While the police were questioning
Fcice county detectives were depart
ing for Stamford, Conn. to invests gate
4 maniac who was said 10 be held or
them by the Stamford police. This
man was said to have admitted being
in Madison.
A dispatch to The Tribune from,
Stamford last night said the police
there knew nothing of any lunatic who
was suspected in the murder of Janette
Lawrence.
In all probability the case of the
state against Francis KluXen 3D., who
was released on bail after his arrest
in connection with the case, will not
be brought to the attention Of the
morrow. Sheriff E. Byram declared
this afternoon that if he had his way
the charge against the boy never would
be presented to the grand jury. Prose
cutor Mills said that he did not at
preseat have sufficient facts to engage
TIE attention Of that body.
The Town Council Of Madison, at
whose instigation Francis was arrested.
viii persist in their investigation of
the boy, ard have hired private de-
tective to work for them. 1t was
learned to-day that a member of the
council who opposed admitting Francis
~ Ddil dt inc nearing laSJ saturday,
did so on the advice of the detective
Just how much progress this de-
tective has made is not revealed. When
asked about it to-day, he said: "There
is absolutely nothing to give out"
He was on his way to Mr. Mills's
Office at the time, where Feice was
being examined.
Prisoner Heavily Bearded
Felice has an untrimmed black beard
that covers the lower part of his face
like a bandage. The upper part Of his
face is brick red.
According to his statement to the
police, he came here from California
and was on his way home to his wife
and family in Italy. While he was ar
ranging for his passage some one
stabbed him and stole his savings from
him in a cheap boarding house on the
New York waterfront. He had been on
the road ever since, living the life of a
tramp. He is being held for further
investigation.
Lieutenant William Ryan, Of Mad-
son. received a letter to-day from
Philadelphia, in which the writer de-
clared he had killed Janette Lawrence
The Philadelphia police have been no.
titled. The communication is not con-
sidcred seriously here.