The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-14
CALMLY SAYS HE
 BURNED Z BODIES
Eccentric Aurora, III., Florist Accuses Dead Man Of Try
 ing To Poison Him
By JAMES MCLEAN

(Leased Wire to The Age-Heraid.)
 AURORA, Ill.,, Jan. 13.-Warren J. Lincoln, distant cousin of President Abraham Lincoln. has confessed to the murder of his wife and to burn ing her body and that of Byron l.. Shoup, his brother-in-law, Aurora po- lice announced late Sunday after Lin- coin had been questioned for several hours.
 LincoIn's wife shot and killed Shoup, after he had attempted to poison Lincoln, the nan said. An gered by this, Lincoln claims he beat his wife over the head with poker until she died.
 What the hell was I to do them the man in confessing asked J. Bruce Arnell, assistant states attorney.
 T cut off their arms and legs and burned the bodies in the firsbox or my greenhouse boiler" he continued.
 Lincoln said he raked the ashes went to a motion picture show. Leav- ing the theatre, he went to tho river and threw watches and tewelry worn by his wife and brother-in-law into the water.
 Tn. double killing occurred late months before Lincoln's mysterious disappearance. which led to search for Mrs. Lincoln and Snoup on sus- picion of having murdered him.
 Lincoln was arrested in Chicago Sunday night on technical charge of obtaining money under false pre- lenses from his wife's family.
 Detectives had become convinced that the mans strange disappearance. his return and second disappearance recently, combined with evidence to indicate that he was really a shrew c character who had manufactured the plot to cover his own crime. They believed. however. that Lincoln had killed both his wife and Shoup.
 The plot of the alleged beating and abduction of the man presented all appearances of "setup:" Detec- story was false and that he was GOV ering his own crime. have felt for several months. The night shirt found on the bloody trail had been torn off him, he said: police found 1t had been cut with scissors. He kidnapped. but returned in June wearing suit of his own clothes Advertisements in Chicago papers tending to show Mrs. Lincoln was In Seattle, preparing to sail on trir around the world. were found false and traced to Lincoln.
 These details furnished detectives with story of the tragedy which they based their questions upon Sun day, and Lincoln confessed.
 o O O
 Eccentric Florist.
 The eccentric florist, who once studied law in hope of following In the footsteps of his illustrious kins- man, disappeared from his home here April 30. Everything pointed to his murder on an old Indian trail be- hind the greenhouse by Mrs. Lincoln and Shoup.
 Along the trail Lincoln's blood stained nightshirt and night cap and a woman's glove were found. Evi- dence indicated he had been mur- sdcred with a club and the body dragged to a hothouse. Cards found about the scene of the supposed tragedy bore the words, Milo Du- rand, private detective; criminal tracing speciality" Investigation failed to reveal the existence of such a person. and detectives became con vinced that Lincoln was also Durand the first conclusion that led to the unravelling of the plot of his queer pr. Jekyl-Mr. Hyde.
 For 40 days nationwide search was conducted for Lincoln's supposed slayers Then the man returned to his home just as mysteriously as he had left. A fantastic tale of having been beaten and kidnapped by his wife and her brother, of having been held prisoner by a dope ring in Chi cago. and of his escape from their power was told police.
 o o O
 Arrested In Chicago.
 At the time of Lincoln's supposed murder. his brother, Edward, and his