Evening star., 1926-01-27
ROBBERY BELIEVED
MARSHALL MOTIVE
Chiropractor's Story of
BIackmaiI by Woman He
Killed, Is Doubted.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, January ~
Robbery was the motive behind the
strangling and dismemberment of
Anna May Dietrich by David l.. Mar
shall. chiropractor, in the opinion OF
the authorities working on the case.
They said that the extortion story
told by Marshall in his second con-
fession, in their belief, was mainly
fiction. Relatives of the slain woman
also doubted the blackmail story.
Anna May would not do such a
thing" said Alexander Schulz. brother
in-law Of Miss Dietrich. "She was
thrifty and frugal and perhaps had
more actual cash than the fiend who
took her life. She bore an excellent
reputation and had enough money to
clothe and keep herself as well as the
women with whom she associated"
Marshall the detectives said. had
nothing to be blackmailed for. They
declared their investigation had re-
vealed him to be in dire financial
straits. They also said that Miss Diet
rich was known to have had at least
S15 on her person when last seen and
that she wore two diamond rings and
other jewelry which have not been
accounted for. Mr. Schulz placed the
total value of these at more than $500.
Charged Blackmail.
Marshall in his confession said that
Miss Dietrichs cabaret complex was
proving such a financial strain on
him that he decided to break off
relations and she demanded money,
with threat to tell his wife.
III
shall, awaiting a hearing, warned the
two young detectives guarding him to
keep away from women"
He spoke in quiet, conversational
tones. undisturbed by the cat calls
and boots that came to his ears as
other prisoners in the sixth floor cell
room tried to attract his attention.
Let me tell you both something" p"
he said. You are both young men.
You have your lives before you. Mine
all lies behind me. am not guessing.
know what 1 tell you IS right.
Keep away from women. Espe-
cially If you are married. Don't run
around. Stick to your wives. It's
your only chance. If you start run
ming around the habit will get a hold
OF you and the first thing you know
YOU are caught"
he pduSSu
Couldn't Break Loose.
That's what happened to me-" he
went on. Il started to go around. |
slipped and the first thing l knew
it had a hold on me and l couldn't
break loose. There was always the
threat of disgrace. Well. it came
anyhow.
This woman and I had auarreled,
and before l realized what l was doing
I grabbed her throat and choked her.
She was on the floor when l went out
for a little walk. l came back in
Is minutes and tried to revive her. but
! saw that she was' dead.
Then the picture of disgrace arose
before me. I saw my wife and child
ruined. my profession disgraced and
everything worth while gone from
me. The alternative was to hide the
body-dispose of it. That's what /
tried to do. You know I failed
Marshall urged his guards not to
worry about the possibility Of his
taking his own life.
Shows Way to Commit Suicide.
The detective had removed his
garters, shoe laces, neckties and belt
before he lay down to sleep. Before
retiring Marshall removed an upper
set of false teeth.
DO you see these?" he asked upon
rising today. II could have killed
myself at any time since my impris-
onment by breaking these up and
swallowing them. But l won't do
that. 1 would not try to kill myself
now.
HAS my wife been here to see
rne2" Marshall inouired
When told no one had called for
him his head dropped and the hag-
gard lines on his face deepened.
II suppose that is the way it is
to be- he commented. well, I'm
comfortable"
There was a pause. Marshall NUT
tered something about his little
daughter" 1t was mention of the 12-
year-old child that brought the only
tears to the prisoners eyes yesterday
when he confessed the murder.
Marshall was arraigned later and
formally held without bail for the
action Of the coroner.