The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-17
NJ [ A R Y
SLAYER
LEADS
HUNT
Officer Was Killed BY Men he
Took Into Auto Buried IN
Roadside Swamp

CHERAW, S. G., July 17.-A
posse Of Federal and local police
officers left here early today with
Mortimer H. King, confessed
slayer Of Major Samuel H. Nc
Leary, for the scene Of the crime
in an effort to recover the body.
Two other posses, from Ashe-
vile and Canton, N. c., also left
early today to search for the body.
Much difficulty in locating Il Is
expected, Is King says ii may
have gone down IN the swamp
mire.
King, IN his confession, ad-
mitted shooting the army officer
when Major McLeary, who only
recently was attached at Camp
Meade, Nd. gave him and 4 COM
panion '.lift" in his automobile.
The body, King said, was hidden
In . swamp alongside the road
ten miles from here. Robbery
was the motive.
Police Seek Companion.
An extensive police search has
also been instituted for the unnamed
companion involved by King in his
confession. The man sought, whose
identity police have withheld, was
seen with King near here on a num-
Der of occasions. He has since
disappeared.
How after Mayor McI.eary had
taken King and his companion into
his car, the former was compelled
by the pair to stop. at the point
Of a pistol. forced rrom the car and
shot to death is related in the con.
fession in the hands OF the police.
Stripped Of VaIuabIes.
After carrying the body into the
brush at the roadside, the confess
sion continues, It was stripped Of
valuables and the two men returned
to the car and drove it to Asheville,
going then toward Canton. They
were unable, however, to cross
Crab Tree Mountain, near Canton.
and returning to the Thickety sec
ton, where the car was intention
ally ditched. they hid Major Nc
Leary's belongings, removed the
license tags Of the machine and fled.
King going to his home.
The arrest of King ended q
fifteen-day search for trace OF
Major McLeary, who disappeared
July2 while enroute to Fort MouI-
trie, s. c., from Fort Leavenworth.
Kan. The army man, an artillery
instructor, had been transferred
and made the trip by automobile.
Police Of three States, army Off
cials and the Department of Justice
agents joined in the search.
Suspected Of knowledge Of the
murder, King was arrested several
days ago. He strongly denied all
guilt and was released when police
failed to fasten the crime on him.
Trapped by Secret Service.
Department OF Justice agents
sent here later searched his home
and King was trapped by the find.
ing of an army shirt of McLseary's
hidden in the house. King was re-
arrested and under a gruelling
cross-examination, he. broke down
and confessed the murder
The shirt which led to Kings con-
fession was identified as McLeary's
through laundry marks 1t had
been taken from the army officers
travelling bags. which were in his
automobile.
King Is deserter from both the
United States army and the marine
corps, according to his own confess
sion.
The confession was made in the
presence OF four men, Charles III.
Powers, OF the Department of Jus.
tice; Chief Of Police III. "a. Sumner.
Of Canton; Major s. w. Williams, Of
Asheville, and Hubert Holloway, OF
the Asheville Citizen.
Had Enviable Record.
Major McLeary was born January
.. 1881, In Texas. While living in
Porto Rico he was appointed q
second lieutenant in the Coast AR.
tillery, September Is, 1908. He be.
came q first lieutenant March rs.
1910, and a captain July 1, 1915,
On December 20, 1917, he was COM
niissioned q major In the Coast Ar.
tillery Corps. national army. He