Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-04-01
JENKINS CONFESSED ON DEATH
BED TO MURDER OF CURTIS

Il
Brother and Sister-in-Law Tell OIL
Dcathbcd Statement.
VALIDITY AS EVIDENCE is CUES
TONED HERE.
Lawyers Declare Alleged Confession
No Grounds for New Trial.
Counsel for Walter X. Hines. convict
cd slayer Of PatrOlman washington l.
Curtis. arc prepared to lay before tne
court "aftcr.discovcred evidence fin
ing the blame for tho murdcr on
dead war veteran, it became known yes
tcrdny..
1t Is the name of Curtis II. Jenkins
lowered into his grave one month aG"
with military honors that is BENG
dragged into the mirc, while his agcd
mother lies Frustrated from bis death.
A blood brother and sistcr-in'law
stand out as his accuscrs.
That Jenkins on his death-bcd as
sumcd responsibility for the Curtis
murder, is the story told by Mrs. BeS'
sic Jenkins of 2602 cambridge street.
This is corrobornted. counsel for
Hines declare, by an nttidaVit from
Fred NJ jenkins Oh Chesterfield Coun'
ty, the dead veterans brother. Both
statements will be introduced. it is
now planned when Judge Ernest II.
Wells of Hastings Court Part II. hears
arguments for a new trial for Hines.
SAY IT HAS NO LEGAL WEIGHT
The announcement Of the alleged
confession on the eve Of the argument
for new trial for Hines. created COnsld
cradle comment. although prominent
criminal attorneys were quick to de-
clare that it would have no leGal
weight. The law clearly defines the
scope Of death-bcd confessions and
that accredited to jenkins. docs not
, stand the test. they assert.
Police also gave little crcaenre 10
the story Of Mrs Jenkins, pointing out
that no motive for the crime had Lcrn
given and that the dying yGutl, at Tie
time he is alleged TO have made the
confession was highly delirious. III
fact, according to neighbors, Jenkins
from the time lie was brought to his
home unconscious, never regained his
senses. His physician. however, refuS
ed last night to talk OH this phase OK
the case. Death resulted from pneu'
monia and meningitis.
j. NJ. Turner, attorney for Hines,
, late yesterday declined to discuss the
case while Louis o. Wendenburg. his
associate, earlier took the same atti'
tude. Mr.. Turner admitted that he hal
an affidavit from Fred NJ. Jenkins Dc.
claring that the man had come - h!''
office and had made his statements in
the presence Of DISTINGUISHED pcrSnns.
POLICE START TO CHECN VI
Police on publication OF the alleged
confession Immediately started to
check up on 4: Their investigation dis
closed that Fred Il. jenkins wllu "n"ror
CRATES his sistcr-in-law In regard TO
murder accusation has Il lengthy rec
ord. Police Court records show his III
rest OH several charges, while tnI
names Of two other brothers are TO ID
found OH the blotter.
Curtis r. Jenkins appears on the pc
licc blOttcr twice since the war, both
times for minor offcnScS which result
cd in small fines. None OF the jenkins
hook police point out have ever been
found carrying n weapon OF any sort
There is nothing on record to show
that Curtis Jenkins had ever had any
dealings with "hootleggers" and ms far
as the police can learn he was never Iii
, innate with Hines.
Mrs. Jenkins when seen late yester
day again asserted that her brother-in
law had said that he had killed a man
He did not ut any time mention Patrol
man Curtis by name, his words being
II killed him. Hines didn't"
Young Jenkins died on February q
after suffering for more than a weeS
with pneumonia and meningitis. He hal
been picked up on the street and
brought home unconscious. DR.. Ray
mond C. Hooker was called to attend
him and two trained nurses We're en-
= ployed. Hc was delirious practically
the whole time he was i'll. 1t was dIl
ing a period Of lucidness that he made
his alleged confession, according tt
Mrs. Jenkins. This was six days be
fore the death. Mrs. Jenkins thought
at the time that the words were those
mind when Fred r. Jenkin, said that
Curtis had said practically The same
thing to her.
MRS. JENKINS SPOKE FRANKLY
Mrs. Jenkins spoke frankly and witt
apparently no:.t. n -: crn"oal. Sh" sal;
that on two occasions was the plaintif
B., in suit against the Virginia Railway
and Power Company. She stated tha
Wendenburg OF Hines counsel ha;
been her representative in one suit
While the alleged confession might
have weight in event Hines is granted
a new trial on other grounds, It will
not have any material bearing Oh thu
pending application lawyers assert
The principle of evidence OH deathbet
confession is too well established, the!
say this being shown in the Valley cas-,
where the dying statement OF one o
the victims was not permitted aSCYi