San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-10
SAYS He SLEW
MANWH0 HELD
. H|MPR|S0NER
Detective Held on Kidnap-
ing Charge-Slayer
Tells Weird Story.
POLICE QUIZ OTHERS
Principal in Case Says Alb
ductors Were Ready to
Operate on Him.
Louisville, Ky. March 1o.-wil.

Louisville, Ky, March 1O.-Wil-
liam Gates. 81, surrendered and con-
fessed to the Staying of Richard lHea
ton. Frank Cordell, a private detective
of Indianapolis, was arrested in that
city on a charge of kidnapping. and
several other persons were questioned
by the police Sunday in connection
with the Staying Saturday night of
Heaton. who, police say, had held
Gates prisoner two days and nights
with the intention Of performing an
operation upon him. r.'
In his confession, Gates told of his
seizure in Heaton's office Thursday
night, of being taken 10 "A house in
Thirty-fourth street and bound to a
mattress that had been pegged to the
floor in a room that evidently had
been prepared for an operating room.
An old fashioned .41-caliber Der
ringer, overlooked by his captors and
forgotten by him in the excitement.
brought death to Heaton and escape
TO Gates last night while Mrs. Heatoa,
over whom the trouble is said TO have
arisen, was on the first floor of the
house innocent, the police believe. of
the charges her husband had made
against her.
Accused of Kidnapping.
COrdell was arrested on n charge of
kidnapping, it being alleged he aided
Heaton in seizing Gates and removing
him to the house, which, according
to the police, was rented n short time
before for the purpose Heaton had IN
mind.
Heyde Conrad, a theaterf organist
and friend of Heaton; W. A. Fisher
Heaton's partner in merchandise
brokerage business, and Mrs. Moore.
employee of Chicago detective agency.
also were questioned. Conrad said ne
spent Thursday night in the house,
unaware Of Gates presence. Fisher
said he stood guard over Gates Fri
day, without being aware of his iden-
tity. and Mrs. Moore said she had
been employed by Heaton to watch
Mrs. Heaton, but, finding nothing
questionable in her actions. had writ
ten a note the day of the Staying.
quitting her assignment. All three
were released, Mrs. Moore returning
TO Chicago.
Was Insanely jealous.
: Police expressed the belief last
night that Heaton was insanely jeal-
Gus and stated that Gates was one of
four or five men whose names he had
mentioned in connection with Mrs.
Heaton. Police have been unable to
locate any man, except Gates. said
to have been mentioned by Heatop.
and added that they have not been
able to prove relations between Gates
and Mrs. Heaton were other than that
of friendship.
Gates formerly was employed by
Heaton. Frank Cordell. indianapolis
private detective, told the Louisville
Courier-Journal over the telephone
from Indianapolis, before his arrest.
that he aided Heaton-pr Brooks
the name Heatpn had given him when
he employed him last week--to kid,
nap Gates.
Cordell, according to the newspaper.
admitted that he was in Brooks
warehouse Thursday night when Hea-
ton came in. and said that Heaton
said: Lets get him. He stole some
stuff from me-" Cordell and Heaton
grabbed Gates and handcuffed him.
They took him TO the Thirty-fourth
street house and he left. returning 10
indianapolis. He said he was acting
as a friend" rather than as de-
tectiye.
Employed by Heaton.
A Mrs. Moore, Chicago detective
agency operative, told of being en-
ployed by Heaton, who gave the name
of Rivers" to watch his wife. After
two weeks she had obtained nothing
detrimental to Mrs. Heaton's char
acter and so informed Heaton in
note in which she also resigned.
Elaborate preparations had been
made for the operation. according TO
the police Anaesthetcs. surgical in
struments. bandages. sulphuric acid. n
hatcbet and a hand axe being found
in the room.
In addition three large boxes and
a quantity of rubber sheeting were
present. These. coupled with the pres
ence of the Ratchet and axe, both OF
which had been sharpened, led the.
police to believe that. these prepara-
tons were made TO dispose of the
body. in the event the operation
proved fatal
Police said last night that Gates
felt the Derringer for the first time
Thursday night when Heaton ]oosened
his clothing before administering the
anaesthetic. The first chance he had
to use it came Saturday night whea
Heaton was preparing TO again fasten
him down TO the mattress alter hav-