The New York herald., 1921-06-25
BARTLETT SLAYER
CAUGHT and ADMITS
Crime, SAY POLICE
Lawrence Kobell, a Pole,
Turned Over to Hampstead
Authorities by Wife.
MURDERED FOR LOOT
Prisoner Said to Have De-
MED Any Other Purpose
in Lonely Mansion.
GOT IDEA FROM BOYS
Articles Stolen From House
Sold in Jamaica Shops,
Authorities Assert.

Lawrence Kobell, a Pole, living in
the Beach avenue section Of Hemp
stead. L. l., was arrested late last
night, and according to a statement
early this morning by Chief Phineas A.
Seaman Of the Hampstead police de-
partment. confessed to the murder of
Mrs. Minnie S. Bartlett last Wednes
day morning in her home on the Lyn-
brook road, near Hampstead. He de-
MED, however, that he had assaulted
her. and told the police that he COM
mitted the crime because he thought
Mrs. Bartlett had a great deal Of
money hidden In the house.
Chief Seaman said that Kobell was
arrested on information furnished by
his wife and by her brother-in-law
Marin Gogopsky Of Fifth street. New
Hyde Park, L. I. He said that the
crime had preyed on Kobell's mind,
and that finally he told Mrs. Kobell
what he had done. She went at once
and told her prother-Yn-law, and on
Gogopsky's advice both of them went
to Hampstead yesterday afternoon and
told District Attorney Charles R.
Weeks and Chief of Police Seaman
The Chief, with Detective Emil Morse
and Patrolman John Seeley went at
once to the Kobell home and arrested
the man.
Stolen Articles Sold.
According to the statement of the
authorities early this morning Kobell
nefused to talk for some time. but un-
der persistent questioning broke down
and admitted that he had committed
the crime. It was also said that he gave
full details OF the murder and told
where he had sold many Of the articles
which he stole from Mrs. Bartlett's
home. This. he said was at various
shops In Jamaica.
Chief Seamon quoted Kobell as hav-
Ing made this statement while beiag
questioned by himself and by the Dis
trict Attorney:
Il was passing the house that morn
ing when I saw some boys stealing
cherries on the place. / asked them IL
they were not afraid of getting pinched.
They told me that a rich widow lived
in the house alone and that she would
not have them arrested. I looked about
for a time, talking. but did not go
into the house or make any attempt
to do so.
'I went back to the house about II
o'clock that day and told Mrs. Bartlett
that / was man seeking to buy the
vrnA he al
for the place and I told her had only
$4,000. that I would bring my wife and
brother back later in the day.
When l went back to the house about
j o'clock that afternoon / told Mrs.
Bartlett that / would like to have some
money. She seemed frightened. and
told her I would not kill or harm her
If she would give me the money
needed. about $500 She refused to give
me the money and started for the door.
Fought for Her Life.
II put my foot against the door 80
she could not open It. She then screamed
and said she would call the police.
grabbed her by the arms and she
creamed again. l then threw her on
the floor. She kept screaming and fight
ing all the time.
"She had fountain pen IN her hand
and kept trying to open IT, Then ] had
II In my mind to murder her. had a
chisel in my pocket. I struck her with
this. grabbed her by the throat and
she clawed at me. Then hit her again.
She fell on her knees and then on the
floor. rolling over on her face.
II took a ring from her finger,
searched the house and found $3.50 In
cash and a gold watch
II then washed my hands in the
kitchen sink. went out the back way
and through the woods and went home.
where / changed my clothes"
Detective Moore told the reporters
early this morning that he had talked
TO Mrs. Kobell and that she said her
husband had told her he was afraid to
go out Of his house to look for work. ms
he had killed a woman and was fright
ened.