The Washington times., 1925-03-07

.'Iron Woman" Breaks Down
When Sonny" Tells Truth.
Did II to Save Her
D. InternatlOnaI News servIce.

BY international News Service.
LOS ANGELES, CAL, March z.
Harold "Sonny" Willis, fifteen
year-old son of Mrs. Margaret B.
Willis, under life sentence for the
Staying of Doctor Benjamin B.
Baldwin, confessed today he killed
the physician.
According to the authorities,
the youth related his story to his
aunt, Mrs. Virginia Nelson.
District ATTORNEY Asa keyes
launched an investigation of the
startling story told. by the con-,
victed woman's son.
Shielded by Mother.
Breaking the seal of silence, he de-
ciared, was imposed upon him by his
mother who, he said, was willing TO
immediate herself on the altar of JUS
tice to avoid duplicating him in The
crime. the youth barred what he as
serted were the facts of the Staying
which gained nationwide notoriety
as the mystery trunk murder
why did he tell? Oh, why
didn't he keep silent?" Mrs. Willis
sobbed in her Jail cell.
He is your son and would not
let you make the great sacrifice
of going to prison for life," one
of the matrons answered Mrs. Will
lis.
Did It to Save Mother.
Young Willis confession stated
that he killed the physician when
he found him struggling with his
mother on the floor of the Willis
home.
The boy confessed:
II had just come home from
school. 1t was between half-past
8 and o'clock. AS I came in.
! found mama on the floor strug-
Cling with Doctor Baldwin. She
was fighting him off. When I got
in she said, Sonny, come over and
help me- the doctor hit me and
mama shouted get the gun in
the closet in the little hand bag,
quick, and give it to me- l ran
In the closet and got the gun-a
.32 Remington that l have shot
many times on hunting trips, but
L
shot him myself"
The body of the physician, found
murdered here last April, had been
stuffed into a trunk and hurled over
q canyon cliff.
AS result of the boys dramatic
recital. steps were on foot today to
bring about a complete reopening of
the historic case.
Appeal to Governor.
An appeal is to be carried to Gov
ernor Friend w. Richardson by Mrs.
Willis sister, Mrs. Virginia Nelson,
asking for his Intervention, if neces.
gary, to gain the convicted woman
@ rehearing.
AS the first move of the bitter
legal campaign which promises In
become one of the most spectacular
in the annals of Los Angeles courts,
an attempt was begun to have Mrs.
Willis kept ini her cell in the county
Jail, pending a full investigation OF
her sons story, instead of being
sent to San Quentin to begin serving
her life sentence.
Mother Breaks Down.
The confession of the self-assertCd
youthful slayer succeeded in break.
ing down the phenomenal composurt
of his mother, who gained the so.
briequet OF 1.-The woman Of iron anC
steel" during the weary weeks IN
which she fought desperately for
her life on the witness stand. Scarce
ly a ripple of emotion played Over
her cool, intelligent features when
she stood up to receive the sentence
which shut her off from the rest
OF the world. The news, however.
of her sons act, threw her into a
hysterical state.
"Oh, why did he tell, why did n
teII?" she moaned ove~ and over b..
tween gusts of sobbing that shook
her frame.