New-York tribune., 1921-04-11
Harris Admits
ElWcll Murder
Story Is False

|
MS he was being handcufrcd while leav-
ing the office of the District Attorney,
where he made his reputation.
"They don't belong on me now. l
guess" he commented with smile.
"But I guess that is all right"
Detective Henry p. Oswald, of New
York, who has examined Harris al
most continuously for two days, OBJ
taiend the first admission of mac
curacy from Harris early this morn
ing At that time Harris was con-
fronted by his wife He told Oswald
that his wife was in Ney York at the
time of the murder and not st. Cathe-
rines. as he had previously main
tanned. Oswald forced this admission
from Harris sitter he had proved that
Mrs. Harris had presented her hus-
band with two pairs Of socks June 12,
the doy before her husbands twenty
second birthday.
The final breakdown came in the
afternoon after Oswald and Moore had
demanded that he tell the truth Harris
finally shook his head in doubtful man
ner, and with q hopeless wave Of the
hand declared:
"Well, may as we'll tell you the
truth, and the is that there is no truth
in my confession" >
When Harris and his wife were
brought together for the first time
earlier in the day they greeted each
other in the District Attorneys office
with smiles and low "hello." They
smiled occasionally, and Harris shuf1ed
his feet much as the questioning pro-
ceeded.
Mrs. Harris insisted her narrative Of
his doings and habits in New York were
correct, and when he would interrupt
with Jessie, why, don't you know"
she would break in with, "Benny, how
can you say that? Don't you know"
etc.
An intimation that he was being
trapped came when he was confronted
with his movements on the night of
June 10 and the day of June II, the
date O., the Elwell murder. Mrs. Harris
insisted she was in New York at the
time. Harris said she was not. Finally
Mrs. Harris recalled she bought some
socks for her husband on June 12, the
dhy before his birthday She recalled
they were black and brown and that
she had purchased them in a Columbus
Avenue haberdashery.
Begins to Change Story
Eyes, l remember now," said Harris.
"The fact is, while I didn't have any
thing to do with the actual murder, l
really know something about it. Jerry
and Mrs. Fairchild and Bill! Duncan
and others made the proposition to me.
they were real people, but l wouldn't
have anything to do with them"
he maintained this stand all during
the morning quizzing
During the afternoon, however. he
began to weaken. He assented to vital
points here and there. Mrs. Harris re-
called to him that on a certain day
when he claimed he was lunching with
and Big Bill Duncan" and
Breton Hall Hotel he was actually |
eating with her at restaurant at |
Sixth Avenue and Fortieth Street. He
had described in elaborate detail how
he and his colleagues had entered the
fashionable dining hall and how "Mrs. |
Fairchild" had bowed here and there in
&C acknowledgement to couples seated at
various tables.
Admits Wife Told Truth
"Why, Benny" remarked his wife to
Harris's repetition of the story. chow
can You ay that? Don't you remember
we had a sandwich and coffee at the
Automat that very night?"
Harris then admitted that his wife
was right.
When was your birthday, Harris ?"
" Wd4Us
June 49,"
did your wife give you any present
on your last birthday?"
Harris glanced at his wife and said:
Yes, l think she gave me couple
CT pairs of socks"
And that was after or before the
Elwell murder?"
1T must have been after"
but you say that your wife was 1T
1T New York with you at the time?
ne looked puzzled. He shook his
head in doubtful manner.
All Just Bunk, He Says
Look here, Harris," broke in Os-
wald, "you didn't have anything to do
with this matter and you know it. If |
you know anything about it it is your
duty t. come forward with the truth
IN justice 70 yourself and to the peo-
pie"
"Well, I might as we'll tell the truth"