Evening star., 1923-03-25
SEEK BLACKMAILER
AS ACTUAL SLAYER
IN MODELS MURDER

CONTINUED from First Page)
tion with the crime and that neither
would be arrested.
Revelation IL Spectacular.
Mr.. Pecora's naming OF Mitchell and
Jackson was spectacular.
This morning he announced repeat
edly that he would continue to shield
their identity for the sake of Mar
shall's" family.
Then the name of Mr.. Mitchell went
the rounds OF newspaper offices. Still
Mr.. Pecora would not talk.
Then newspaper printed the name.
Mr.. Pecora remained silent. but OIL
colt added to the mystery by assert
ing that a great wrong had been done
Mitchell and that his client would
right the wrong"
It was learned that Olcott was pre-
pairing a statement.
PecOra's Statement.
At this point Mr. Pecora again was
presented with a copy of the newspa-
per naming Mitchell and he confirmed
the identification in the following
statement:
When Mr.. Mitchell. through his
attorney, Nelson Olcott, expressed
desire on Friday. March 16. the day
following the murder Of Miss Kee-
nan, to be interviewed by the authori-
ties, he requested that the interview
be held at the place other than police
headquarters in order that he might
avoid what was considered to be un-
due notoriety in connection with the
case.
When this request was made TO
me / Immediately telephoned TO In
specor Coughlin, in charge of the de-
tective division of police headquar-
ters, who, with Capt. Carey of the
homicide department, was actively
directing the investigation of Miss
Keenan's death. They saw no objec-
tion to questioning Mitchell at the
district attorneys office the follow
ing morning and arrangements for
such an interview were thereupon
made.
Hence on Saturday. March II,
Mr.. Mitchell, accompanied by a man
heretofore known as Wilson, but
who in reality Is New York lawyer
office and were questioned at con-
siderable length by Inspector Cough
lin, Capt. Carey and myself Both
Mr.. Mitchell and Mr. jackson at
that time had every desire to be
frank and truthful and we were all
satisfied with their attitude.
Withhoids Information Given.
The information which they gave
US then obviously cannot at this
time be fully disclosed, in view of
the fact that the police are still
hard at work investigating the
crime.
There was nothing, however. in
the information which Mr.. Mitchell
and Mr.. Jackson gave US which in
dicated that either of them was in
the slightest degree involved in the
crime Both Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.
Jackson revealed their identities to
Inspector Coughlin. Capt. Carey and
myself at this interview last Satur-
day. They requested, however, for
the sake of their families, that their
identities be concealed until such time
as it might become necessary in the
interest of the public good to have
them made known"
Request Seemed Reasonable.
This request" Mr.. Pecora's formal
statement continued. then seemed TO
me. and still seems to me, to have
officials who were present agreed
with me that no possible harm could
be done by granting the request.
1T especially seemed to me that the
only tangible results that could fol-
low the giving of any publicity to
their true identities would be to in
fiict needless pain, humiliation and
suffering upon the respective families
of Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. jackson.
Sought to Save Families.
"In connection with the making of
Mitchell and Mr.. Jackson the fact
that ultimately their identities would
have to become public because OF the
exigencies Of the case. Both OF them
recognized this element and indicated
every desire and Willingness. in such
event, to have their identities become
public.
Solely for the sake of their fam
lilies, not one member of whom had
been guilty of the slightest act Of
indiscretion. and to spare them the
suffering that would be inevitable
upon this revelation of Identities of
Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. Jackson. l have
up to the present time declined TO
reveal their identities. The reyela-
tion. however. has been made from
a source unknown to me and there
is nothing further / can do to stay
the humiliation and distress that will
be visited upon members
of their families"
MITCHELL DENIES REPORT