The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-04-29
Elder SAYS
HE DID NOT
MURDER Girl

Betrayal of Choir
Singer in East
ny Carl. VICTOR LITTLE
HooPESrO>. III, April ga
John q. Wymau wealthy retired
farmer and church elder. con
fr~sesi today he betrayed Ger.
srude Hanna. choir girI. who was
found murdered In the basement
ef the United Presbyterian par
scnaxe here.
Hut l didn't kin her" shouted
Wyman. Before God, I say
didnf.-
Wymsn. IS years 81 age and
hsxgard. after two days Of con-
slant cunning. stuck 20 that
story until dawn. when he was
let 70 In custody Of the police. No
charges have been lodged against
the man.
1--WE turned him loose with hounds
on his track. . was the explanation OF
Charles -. Knox. sheriff OF Nermil.
Ton county.
Il don't want 20 be turned loose. !"
wyman begged. Il wouldn't think
Of going anywhere In Hoopeston
without a policeman"
The third degree was given Wy.
man turnout tho night by sheriff
Knox and John n. Lewman. states
-.. rra~ ffwfs.1 nra.a ssorr>.
spondent was allowed 20 be prcsent
mt this examination. which was held
In a dlngy. stuff room above the
fire station.
MAN AND GIRL
ATTENDED CHURCH
Il met Gertrude wyman began.
when We attended church together
years ago. We were friends even
then
But she went 20 Chicago to live.
after which met another woman.
whom | afterwards married. That
was two years ago. Mrs. Wyman
died since
wyman sat erect IN his chair as
he told his story. leaning slightly
forward and gave the appearance Of
being eager to answer whatever
questions might he put TO him.
sone sunday Gertrude came back
to Hcopeston. met her at the
church and We took long stroll In
the country.
II confessed my love 90 her. but
she told me 20 forget II.
's.I am no longer worthy OF you
al. saia: and started 10 tell mo Of
her fnfsdecds IN ChicsEo--that abe
had been tempted and had fallen
IT stopped her. I said Gertrude,
" matters not what you have done.
No r,atter how bad you have been. I
have been nheHy times worse
REPEATS DENIAL
or KILLING GIRL
1T was shortly after this that
went 10 live with her folks wa.
tempted and 30 was she. Last octo-
Der we fell.
II wanted to marry her. but she re.
fused.
"We severed relations.
That's all know. Before God.
repeat. I didn't kill the girl"
You remind me Of Tom Tucker,
who got kicked out OF he'll for lying.
shouted the states attorney. Cues,
toned az 10 his whereabouts since
April 1. many minor discrepancies
app@ared in wyman's story.
wyrnan mentioned many nearby
town. where he said he had been.
You said YOU were in DanvIile
"A 4 ..
said. Your friends there didn't see
you"
welt. was there. all right" was
wyman's response.
Sheriff Knox interrupted: Grace.
sister Of Cerfrude. told me that the
dead girl pleaded with you 10 marry
her when she found out about her
condition"
1T ISN'T true wynan responded.
CONFRONTED BY
GIRLS SISTER
Knox jumped up and shouted:
wen. well find out"
Wyman rocked back and forth
against the wall IN his siraightback
chair. The sheriff entered with
Grace and W. r. Hanna. the girls
father. During the intensely drs.
matte scene which followed. wyman
kept his eyes glued on the floor.
Grace. year or two younger than
her dead sister. a school teacher and
quite attractive. pointed an accusing
finger az Wyman.
you did ~" she screeched. After
Gertrude pleaded and begged with
YOU 10 marry her. you. a pillar OF the
church. refusedt'
Tho young school teacher raised
her two clenched fists high above her
head and cried for the truth.
Please, n you killed my sister. tell
u.s." she begged. My mother IL dy.
ing at home"
wyman repeated in droning
voice: Before God. didn't. before
God. 7 didn't"
SAYS HE WANTED
TO MARRY GIRL
Didn't Gertrude plead with you
for an engagement ring. and didn't
she threaten TO bring lou into court
10 force you 10 acknowledge the
child7" Grace demanded.
IT wanted 10 marry her" he con.
trsdicted.
Didn't she play the game square
with your" asked Lewman
Yes"
Did you think you were better
than she?"
wen. she was as good as J." was
the mans reply.
"What?" shot the attorney. good
az you. after all OF the things you