New-York tribune., 1921-03-15
Brick Worker Confesses
Attacking Perth Amboy
Woman After Drinking
Nearly 4 Pints of Liquor
Closely Guarded
After Mob Threats
Sold Victims Watch for
$3.50; Gave Diamond
Rings TO His Landlady


The mystery concerning the assault
and murder of Mrs. Edith Marshall
Wilson, Perth Amboy organist, whose
mutilsted body was found within
twenty. feet of her own home early
Sunday morning, was solved late this
afternoon when George Washington
Knight, twenty-five years old, negro
brick worker from Clifwood, n. J..
confessed the crime.
News OF the arrest and subsequent
confession Of Knight aroused the popu-
stion to such a frenzy that only quick
and efficient work by the police pre-
vented mob violence. Knight, heavily
shacked, was rushed to the county jail
at New Brunswick in an automobile
within ten minutes after making the
confession. A double guard was placed
around the Jail tonight and all negroes
have been warned by the police to re-
main indoors.
Conductor Causes Arrest
The arrest of Knight, which came
within forty-eight hours after the
crime was committed is due largely
to the efforts of Howard Hausen. a
streetcar conductor on the electric line
running between Perth Amboy and
Cliffwood. Hausen, after reading an
account OF the crime in New York
newspapers this morning. remembered
having seen a disheveled and blood
spattered negro boarding a car at II: 10
o'clock Saturday night in Perth Amboy.
He also remembered that the negro
90. eff at CliFwood. Hausen went to
Ash Mount, Chief of Police at Key
port, \. j., and asked that a search be
made in Cliffwood. knight WAS found
in boarding house an hour later. At
he time OF his arrest he was still wear
ing the same clothing that he wore Sat-
urday, and many blood splotches were
visible. He made no effort at resist
;ace when taken into custody by Chief
Mount.
According to the confession which
Knight made to Chief Of Police Nels
ionnesen Of Perth Amboy, Detectives
Long and Murray and to Harvey Will
SON. husband of the dead woman, Mrs.
Wilson died Of shock and heart failure
'oilowlng his attack upon her. knight
SAID that he went to Perth Amboy about
o'clock Saturday night with three
otner negroes, all brick workers in
tlfwood. After reaching the city he
said they went to place in Main
street, where they procured four pints
OF gun. An argument over some change
followed the drinking of the gin and
the quartet separated, three of the
,x,l i
Ahlgnr going south on High Street. He
said that he turned east at Center
street and stopped in a dark spot near
,ae scene of the murder. 1t was while
ne was standing there that Mrs Will
son approached from the west. He said
she hcil the umbrella low over her
ace 10 keep out the rain and that she
did not see him.
Stole Rings and Watch
As Knight finished his confession
and signed his name to a written State ts'o
Ment drawn up by Arthur Graham,
c'ty clerk Of Perth Amboy, he was
galm He walked steadily through the
.anes OF the increasing crowd to the
@su'omoniIe which stood at the curb IN
.'oh' OIL police headquarters waiting to
''Ie MN to the New Brunswick Jail.
AFTER he had been taken to New
en.run!swlck, Prosecutor Joseph T.,
SSsfckler hurried there to talk to him.
ccnorty after arriving Prosecutor
s.rcAler wrung further confession
rnonl tne prisoner concerning two dia-
mOnd rings and wrist watch which
were removed from the body. The
.,nss Knight gave to his boarding
mistress, Mrs. Alice Harris, in Clif,
@ooa and the watch was sold to Benia-
m'n Vranshaw, of Keyport. When the
sonce sought to recover the jewelry
Wy found Mrs. Harris wearing the
m"gS' winch are valued at about s40O
ana discovered that Cranshaw had
ls, pawned the wrist watch in Keyport
St.er as obtaining it from Knight. Gran
y lnaw told the police that he paid
Nilight $3.50 for the watch.
might said he wanted $3.50 to
~ssot saoot craps when he sold me the
mstch," said Cranshaw upon turnine
Sier the pawn ticket for it. II gave
'ost it later" '''' "'
Anight formerly lived in Newnort
Tsws' Va, and came to Cliffwood Ia 81
irusemoer. lie was employed as
,rsN ,,rosnNgSnoreman, but recently went to
"OfS IN the brick factory at Cliffwood
Continued on nan. savs,>