Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-11
MRS. MURRAY TAKES
RESPONSIBILITY FOR
MURDER or HUSBAND
In Witnessed Conversation At
Jail Gives Details.

A4nhiuE Slt was bGlH- uEdl
only by John Bowler, self-confesscd
murderer OF Garfield II. Miller. Ha-
gerstown taxicab driver, a fellow
convict in the local jail, Mrs. w, y.
Murray gave evidence Friday night
according to the police. which in
volved a confession that she admin
istered the strychnine which is al
lased TO have resulted in the death
# her husband. ". 4. Murray. at his
t0me in this city on March IS The
tatements also involved w A r.
bowman arrested with Mrs. Murray
md being held with her charged
With the murder, to the extent that
lie bought the stryehnine in Sykes
Vile, Md. before he and the Nun
rays came To this city, and that he
was aware she was administering
the poison to her husband in his
food. The conversation in which
the damaging evidence was given
was overheard by Jailer George Jack
and Turnkey Joe Lord, OF the Jail
who are making affidavits covering
what they heard, and these will be
used as evidence in the prosecution
The information dropped in the
conversation also constituted a sord-
id story of common law relations be.
tween Mrs. Murray and Bowman, 1t
is said the details Of which were re
Voting.
The confession was unconscious
on the part Of Mrs. Murray, It was
said, who thought she was speaking
only to Bowler. The latter, whose
cell is so placed on the same floor
with that OF Mrs. Murray as to
make it possible for him to speak
With her had formed a speaking &C
auaintance with her, and the Friday
evening they were conversing cas-
dally when Mrs. Murray dropped
remark that she had actually admin
istered the poison. Bowler, quickly
grasping the situation. secretly
dropped note to the jailers and
asked them to come within hearing
distance while he piled her with
leading questions. This they did.
carefully noting the answers. Mrs.
Murray was easily lead into expand
ing her story of guilt by Bowler.
She said. according to the officers,
that the poison had been purchased
in Sykesyille and that she had been
administering it to Murray in his
food. The effect. apparently, was to
bring on spells of sickness which he
/ took to be acute INDIGESTION and
about which he frequently complain
ed to fellow mill employees but
which were in reality only the eff
fects of small bits Of poison. II is
understood also that she said the
children in the Murray home had
once taken the poison from its rest
/ ing place. Just what amount Of the
poison was purchased was not dis
closed. although it is pointed out
that it must have been considerable
inasmuch as it Was used over some
period of time and she is alleged to
lhave given it in considerable doses.
She Is alleged to have said that she
gave tho final dose on the night Of
his deal aFtcr the physician, call
ed in To troat bin for Indigestion,
lhad prescribed some cold water, and
i it was in this water that the final
dose was given.
She is alleged to have declared
that, after she has arranged with
sistnr to take care of the smallest
Hrhild who is now with her in the
hail. she will he ready to 80 through
anvthing FOR the sake Of Bowman.
The statements made at the Jail
ronfict. it was pointed out, with her
previous statements in which she
placed the blame on Bowman for
hdministpring the poison.
Sykesvile People Here.
Yesterday afternoon States At
ornev Elmer Thompson, Arch
thompson and Mr.. Melville, former
of this city hut now working in
ykesville. conferred with Prosecu-
ing Attorney Hannis on the case,
reporting evidence which has devel-
ped in Svkesville.
TIE formal hearing for Mrs. Muir
az end Bowman VIII probably be
eld tomorrow afternoon or evening
cfore Justice Wolf it was said this
corning Both will be charged with
he murder, although lie only evil
ence so far against Bowman is that
turrav died under suspicion circum-
ances which involve the use OF
Erycrn' "a. and that re purchased
NNbme sly, aiuo 1 ,'vkesyille. Mrs
urrav's against him as
IL one who admin ICED the poison
believed nullfed n effect by the
ateneuts which she made at the
il on Friday in which size Is alleg-
to have taken the blame upon
Erself.