The Washington times., 1921-10-26
I'd COURT ADMITS DIR. HADIEYS CONFESSION OF SLAYN

which Il made out. the Commonwealth
did not attempt TO prove that Dr.
Hadley was In any way responsible
for the disappearance OF records In the
War Department at washington re-
latins TO his enlistment and service n
the medical corps OF the army during
the world war.
These papers disappeared Just about
the time he obtained an honorable dis
charge from the service early In he
cember, 1918, about two weeks after
his wife disappeared from her board
ing house In this city.
That the motive for doing away
with his wife was love for Gladys
Mercer, the army nurse stationed al
West Hampton, who collapsed In
court yesterday after testifying as ~
her relations with him, was fuliy es'
tablished, is the confident belief TO-DAY
OF Commonwealth Attorney Beverley.
The statement alleged 10 have been
made by DIR. Hadley to the police at
Denver, Col, confessing that he MUIR
dered his wife near Richmond during
the winter of 1918, was read late yes
terday.
Defense Fights Confession"
The alleged confession was admitted
as evidence only after a stiff fight
put up by the defense to have II
ruled out.
In the statement. which, II Is said,
DR.. Hadley made OF his own free VIII
and affirmed before notary public,
he declared that he killed his wife be-
cause his life had been made miserable
by another physician, who, he said'
followed him from place to place.
BY misrepresentation and lying, the
statement says, this man succeeded In
harassing DR.. Hadley. until the latter
attempted to shoot him, just before
the time when he threw the drugged
and unconscious body OF his wife into
the James river.
Names q Dr. Griffin.
The statement says that the perse-
cutor was DIR. Griffin. who. the
authorities say, is DR.. j. A. Griffin. Of
Hollywood, Cal This man, 1t is said.
in a telegram declared that, although
he had formerly been connected with
DR.. Hadley professionally. he has seen
neither him nor his wife since 1916.
He was In France, 1t is said, at the
time when the supposed murder Of
Mrs. Hadley took place here.
Testifying as one of the witnesses
for the prosecution yesterday, Mrs.
Gladys Zobelle, of New York, formerly
Miss Gladys Mercer, a nurse at West
Hampton Hospital here, collapsed on
the witness stand and was taken to
an anteroom in a hysterical condition.
Half an hour later she was recalled
to the stand. In a highly nervous
condition she testified until she was
excused, having another breakdown
after.
Letters to Nurse Read.
The collapse OF the former army
nurse, who has closely associated with
Dr.. Hadley at the local institution.
came when letters DR.. Hadley is
alleged to have written to her were
by Commonwealth's At
torney Beverly. Mrs. Zobelle testified
that she and DR.. Hadley were engaged
with the understanding that the
latter's wife was going to procure
divorce The letters, Mr.. Beverly de-
clared, bore out her statemeu euts.
Throughout the trial Mrs. Elmira
HadIey. mother of the accused man,
sat almost directly behind him.
The courtroom was crowded all day,
there being an unusually large num-
ber of women present during the after
noon.
Coroner on Stand.
DIR. ]. Fulmer Bright, the county
coroner, said that the body was in sucn
a condition when found as to make 1t
to tell whether or not there
had been any violence. He said that
Ir his opinion death was due to drown
ing and that he believed there had
been foul play.
NJ. c. Epps, colored, said that he had
helped a man, whom he positively iden-
titled as DIR. Hadley, push a canoe
into the river on the night when Mrs.
Hadley was last seen.
Mrs. J. w. Gill, formerly Miss
Clark, with whose mother Mrs. Had
ley lived in this city, testified that
on the day his wife disappeared DR..
Hadley came to the house and said
that she had gone away on an auto
mobile "trip.