Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-04-01
JENKINS CONFESSED ON DEATH
BED no MURDER OF CURTIS

Brother and Sister-in-Law Tell OF
Death,bed Statement.
VALIDITY AS EVIDENCE is QUES- ,
TONED HERE.
Lawyers Declare Alleged Confession
No Grounds for New Trial.
Counsel for Walter II. Hines, convict
ed slayer Of Patrolman Washington l.
Curtis, are prepared to lay before the
court "after-discovered evidence fin
ing the blame for the murder on
dead war veteran, it became known yes
terdny.
It Is the name of Curtis II. Jenkins
lowered into his grave one month ago
with military honors that is being
dragged into the mire, while his aged
mother lies Frustrated from his death.
A blood brother and sister-in-law
stand out as his accusers.
That Jenkins on his death-bed as
sumed responsibility for the Curtis
murder is the story told by Mrs. Bes.
sic Jenkins of 1902 cambridge street.
This is corroboratcd, counsel for
Hines declare, by an affidavit from
Fred M. Jenkins Of 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 q new trial for Hines.
SAY 1T HAS NO LEGAL WEIGHT
The announcement Of the alleged
confession on the eve Of the argument
for new trial for Hines, created consid
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-bed confessions and
that accredited to Jenkins, docs not
stand the test, they assert.
Police also gave little creience TO
the story Of Mrs. Jenkins, pointing out
that no motive for the crime had bcrn
given and that the dying youth at tho
time he is alleged to have made the
confession was highly delirious. In
fact, according to neSghbors, Jenkins
from the time lie was brought to his
home unconscious, never regained his
senses. His physician, however, refllS
ed last night to talk on this phase OK
the case. Death resulted from pneu-
monia and meningitis.
J. M. Turner, attorney for Hines,
late yesterday declined to discuss the
case while Louis o. Wendenburg, his
associate, earlier took the same nttt'
tude. Mr.. Turner admitted that he had
an affidavit from Fred Nj. Jenkins DE-.
claring that the man had come - h!'
office and had made his statements in
the presence of disinterested persons.
POLICE START TO CHECA Ur
Police on publication OF the alleged
confession Immediately started 10
check up on It. Their Investigation dis
closed that Fred r. jenkins who "orroD
F., crates his sister-in-law In regard to
murder accusation has lengthy rec
ord. Police Court records show his ar
rest on several charges, while tho
{ names Of two other brothers are to Do
found on the blotter.
Curtis r. Jenkins appears Oh the 20
lico blotter twice since the war, both
times for minor offcnses which result
cd in small fines. None OF the Jenkins
hook police point out have ever been
found carrying a weapon OF any sort.
There is nothing on record to show
\ that Curtis Jenkins had ever had any
dealings with "bootleggers" and rs 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 at any time mention Patrol
man Curtis by name, his words being.
II killed him. Hines didn't"
4 Young Jenkins died on February'23
after suffering for more than a week
with pneumonia and meningitis. He had
been picked up on the street and
/ brought home unconscious. Dr.. Ray
mond G. Hooker was called to attend
him and two trained nurses were EN-
ployed. He was delirious practically
J the whole time he was I'LL. 1t was dur
ing period Of lucidness that he made
his alleged confession, according to
Mrs. Jenkins. This was six days be-
fore the death. Mrs. Jenkins thought
at the time that the words were those
OF a delirious man but changed ler
mind when Fred r. jenkins said that
; Curtis had said practically The same
thing to her.
MRS. JENKINS SPOKE FRANKLY
Mrs. Jenkins spoke frankly and with
apparently no:!.nE ~ crnceal. Sin" said
that on two occasions was the plaintiff
, In suit against the Virginia Railway
and Power Company. She stated that
Wendenburg Of Hines counsel had
been her representative in one suit.
While the alleged confession might
have weight in event Hines is granted
new trial on other grounds. It will
not have any material bearing on the
pending application lawyers assert.
The principle Of evidence on deathbed
confession is too we'll established, they
say this being shown in the Valley case
where the dying statement Of one of
the victims WnS NOT narmittab acoyi-