New Britain herald., 1926-03-13
CONFESSES MURDER
 OF MRS. NESBITT
Husband Tells Of Putting Body
 in Bathtub


 fessed he killed his wife, Frances , Drake Nesbitt, who was found dead l in a bathtub, three weeks ago to- day. He said they had been quar- 1 rcling lover everything" The confession came after five hours of questioning in the Nesbitt home, according to Ora Slater, Cin- cinnati private detective. He said Nesbitt broke down completely and made q clean breast of 1t. Nesbtt, according to Slater. declared he did not know with what he hit his wife. The murder occurred Friday morning after Nesbitt and his wife had arisen. "We had quarreled ever since we were married" Slater quoted Nesbitt as having said. "We quarreled Thursday night and we got up Friday in the same mood. I got mad. and hit Frances in the face with my fist. Then everything got red. have only a hay re- Inenlbrance of what happened after that"
 Put Body III 3auituO
 Nesbitt, however, did say that he remembered taking the body and placing it in the bathtub after which he washed his hands and combed his hair. A single strand of blood stained hair was found In q comb, in the Nesbitt home and furnished one Of the clues which officials had worked on.
 It was then. he said, that he took his blue paiamas which were miss ing from tho homo 10 the basement and burned them In the furnace. Afterwards he came back upstairs and straightened up the furniture. For three weeks the Nesoitt mur- der has presented a baffling mystery 10 officials who worked to unearth a tangible clue.
 The point had almost been reach cd where everyone concerned be lieved the murder would remain un' solved forever.
 Ncstitt himself has been tho mos active in pretended attempts to TUT down clues.
 He had never been accused Of th' murder, and today was the first tlm' he had been questioned at am l.nath. At the coroners inquest h answered questions apparently III straightforward manner and th coroner's verdict as rendered at tn close was that Mrs, Nesbitt mad dle' from concession of the brain, the re suit of having been struck by an un known instrument ill the hands ol person unknown.
 Ncsbltt retained l.. II. Shipmal | lawyer. shortly after his Wlic body vas found and the latter pre- vented officials from Guestionin Nesb;tt the day of his wife funeral.
 Detective Plays Trump Card
 During the first two weeks Of 'A ;"vnstigation. theory after theor w.. advanced and discarded. Tt dav, Slater determined to play n trump card. He had everything the Ntsbitt home arranged just If WAS three weeks ago when th body was found Then l2e too Ncsbitt there. He told him ! wanted q final interview to dcto' mine if q last effort would not r sule in 9 clue being nncarthel, wns during this interview th' Ncsbitt confessed.
 From the start, Nrsbitt h2 maintained he left his wife the dS of the tragedy sleeping in bed. ! said he kissed her goodbye al lclt a note for her to fix dampe on the furnace.
 He went 10 Dayton, O., then. aI had said that ho had arranged f his wife to meet him there i'll Il evening. He had said that "h' she failed to show up, hr had b come alarmed and hurried home
 A week ago, Troy business m said they wtrr dissatisfied with T suits and obtained q private dete tle. Slater was called in.
 Considered Ideal Marriage
 The Neshitts were known as ideally happy couplu h"re. Bo graduates Of Ohio State uniVfrSii they were popular in th" socf life of Troy and were among 1 most active members ot the Tr Country clui. Roth wore athl"t ,Ncsbitt winning | football letter college and Mrs NeSritL two tc his championships. No one Nn' they quarrelcd.
 They prospcred enough 10 buy home. This was considered just q other example ot tho success their marie g".
 Tho pair Of blue pajamas was key which unlocked the mystery
 The garments were missing frt tho Ncshitt home after Mrs. NJ bitt's body vas found. NcsIitt h said hr Gil nct know where tt were bat rrvn;isS Brown, who, W his vie stayed at ;he Nesbitt ho' Wednesday evening preceding murder. declared Noshitt had we Inc patamas that night. Nesbitt lis testimony af the Coroner'S
 q.rsf, had sni,i that i." diG Urur patamas that evening.
 This sct officials to thinking, z started th"n on the right tr after series Of false starts l hnrn mal".