The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-04-08
HARRIS WAS WILD YOUTH
 SAY POLICE
Wife Says He Is Crazy Whitman to Determine Action Today - Women Put Under Surveillance.

"A wild ypungster who might have visions,' was the way the Bridgeport police today described Roy Harris, l formerly of Bridgeport. who when arrested in Buffalo, Wednesday, con- fessed complicity in the murder of Joseph B Elwen of New York city. Harris was known to the local po- lice when a boy, and although said to be a rather unruly young man, one escaipade involved the forging of two checks for $5 or $10, for which liar ris was given a suspended sntence in the George Junior Republic, in Litch- field.
 Police officials disclaimed all knowledge of William Duncan, the man Harris accuses of firing the shot which killed the New York million aire.
 | Relatives of Harris in this city, re- today, saying that they wished to have nothing more to do with the matter. The police would not say whether they believed the man has
 Buffalo, April s.-Whle her hus- band under griEing of shrewd crin- iologists maintains that he is one of two paid assaSsins of Joseph E. FL Mrs. Roy Harris, in her cell at the South Division street station main- ta.ins that he is not guilty but just "crasy.''
 New York, April s.--SpeciaI Assis- ant District Attorney Charles s. Whit man today admitted that several wo- men whose names have figured prom inently in the investigation into the killing of Joseph B. Elwell have been placed under police surveillance at his direction since the arrest and con fessior of Roy Harris at Buffalo.
 Whitman denied reports circulated last night, however, to the effect that he had received the true name of Mrs. Fairchild'' mentioned by liar ris in his confession Whitman re- persons he has had placed under sur veillance.
 Whitman stated that definite de- cision as to whether Harris is to De brought to New York has not yet been reached
 Buffalo. April s-Whi1e many hours of questioning have brought out dls- crepancies in the story of the murder as told by Harris, none of these are of sufficient importance to Justify the police to discard his tale as wholly false. -..-
 Detective Sergeant Oswald was in c1ined to doubt the genuineness of the confession. Chief among the discrep- ancies which has brought out were: The location of the. .Elwen home in list street instead of roth street; the time of the murder; fixed by Harris O A. places of Harris and his alleged pal Duncan while they were awaiting the return of E1weH and certain inac- curacies in the description of the in terior of the house.
 Perhaps one of the most important points brought out by Oswald and one which would tend to give weight to the confession was the. statement by Harris that he and his companion smoked cigarettes of certain brand 11-iv, in f0r of cigarettes were found on the floor by detectives after the murder While they were said to be of the brand Harris claimed they were smoking, about their make because they were smoked so close that none of the name remained on the wrappers
 Harris declares that he opened up on the murder question as soon as he was arrested because he thought he that he had received only two in- stalments, one of the $50 and the other of s450 in place of the $2,5oo which he had been promised for his participation in the affair.
 Did you ever intend to shoot FL weIl?" he was asked.
 Never" said Harris emphatical1y. 'T just wanted to get the money and then blow. I first suggested that we quit the job as soon as the $500 had been paid on account
 After we got into Elwells house I again suggested that we beat it but Duncan said:
 "'You don't know the kind of peo- pie you are dealing with That fel. low Jerry will be within gunshot if you go out now"
 Harris said he was bitterly up braided by Duncan following the shooting because of his failure to shoot Elwell as he went up and down stairs after coming in He was so busy answering Duncan's slurs that he forgot to ask any questions about the murder, he said
 Today he again reviewed every DIG ture of all persons thus far mention ed in the New York police inTesuga- tion of the Elwel1 murder.
 .-None of these resemble Mrs Fair child" he insisted.
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