Evening journal., 1921-02-12
WALKER SAYS
HE NEVER SAW
SMITH, FOUND
DEAD IN PARK
fContinued From First Pasel

CONTINUED From First Psge)
seen the man whose body was found
at Brandywine Springs Park.
Walker admitted writing the note
which was found at Oak Grove. but
says he lost his nerve when he went
TO carry out his threat to kill him
self
According to Captain Schragler,
/ Walker said that after deserving his
wife ne walked along the roads. near
Comden and spent the first night In
a quarry Another night he spent
in a. circus wagon and finally
reached this city.
While in Wilmington. Walker said
he decided TO end his life and with
that end I'm view. wrote the suicide
note and left II on a doorstep OF a
home in Elsmere. Boarding a freight
train. he started towards Havre de
Grace. planning 70 jump from the
train as Il passed over the Susque-
hanna river bridge.
When the train drew near tho
structure, however, Walker says he
lost his nerve. and instead OF jump
ing OF the train. he continued on
TO Baltimore.
while in Baltimore he said he
read OF the finding OF the body OF
the man at Brandywine Springs and
also the finding OF his note 10 his
wife. intimating that he would kill
himself. lie then realized that ne
might be charged with having some
thing 20 do with the death or the
man found and decided TO return.
Walker said he spent twenty-four
hours in Baltimore. debating
whether TO return 20 Camden and
tell the police where he had been
and explain his farewell note. He
said he did return but again lost his
nerve. even falling to reveal his
presence TO the authorities.
The fact that Walker was IN Cam
den was learned by his mother-in-
law. who notified the Camden police.
who placed a guard on her home.
When Walker called there he was
taken into custody.
Captain OF Detect ives SchraEler
today said he was confident that
walker had nothing to do with the
] shooting OF Smith or Rigby.
In the meantime Constable George
Wilmington is waiting the arrival
OF Mrs. George Rigby. OF Philadel-
b phia, who has said she thinks Smith.
who married Mrs Ellen Mandin. OF
E the Cedars. was also the husband
e who deserted her several years ago.
In the meantime Mrs. walker
when seen at her home. Camden
said that she thought her husbands
mind was not quite right. She said
: no had been in Wilmington and had
written letter TO her from thii
city stating that he felt III
You see the night he left me,
e she said. Il had gone out 20 do ar
Z errand for my mother. and left fl
o. such a hurry that 7 hadn't time q
tell him where / was going. Whel
came back he had gone, leavini
behind him a note asking forgiven
It ness for the harsh words he had sai'
IS to me the night before and tellini
n me that he wouldn't be back. Tn
y next I heard was that a note sign
q ed by him had been found near IN
c body OF that man in Wilmington.
,- Wien he came back on Wednes
n day night" she continued, ''he toll
u ne that he had gone TO Whining
ton. where he had written the not
Is and left II on doorstep in the hop
ID that the police would find II and Il
" me know. He really intended to XII
Is himself. he said.
- Il don't know what made hir
r change his mind-he didn't tell m
ld lthat-but ne went 20 Baltimore the
a and stayed there about a week q
y. the home OF a Mrs. Brown, wher
Dt he had lived before coming to Can
den. He was there about a week q
so, but he also went to other place
Il forget the names of all OF then
No. he wasn't working, and / don
IL know why he travelled around !
" much--he didn't tell me that eithe
while he was away he wrote
n friend OF his in Washington
he girl-and asked her TO write 20 n
8 and tell me that he was alive, b
%. not TO tell me where he was 81
- did this. saying that she had foui
- out that he wasn't dead. and IN
80 she would do her best TO locate hi
al for me.
- Then wednesday 1 got a lett
y. from my husband from Wiimingto
n, saying that his mind had not be-
- right. but THAT il would be bett
soon. and as soon as II was he won
-. come back TO me. He asked me
A. forgive him for going away, and
a. course I have-I did the minute
:. came back.
- Thinks Mind Affected.
10 Il think" she added. that ma
a. be there is something the mat
he with his mind. for he sometin
as used to talk as IL there were WI
he came back Wednesday he seem
excited guess maybe because
thought I wouldn't forgive him
a.. but he calmed down afterwards a
- was all right He started out y
=. terday to look for a job. bot do
80 know whether he found one or n
~, because I haven't see him sine
a The only knowledge Walker b
: OF the finding OF Smiths body.
- girl said, was gained from the neV
- papers He told me that he
rected 20 be accused OF hav
"a something 10 do with it, she 81
land said he would give himself
10 the police. but he didn't.
didn't tell me anything about
'ho lfffara that tho noliro aav II