The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-25
Man ADMITS
DISMEMBERING
WOMAN BODY
Chir0practOr in Philadelphia
Confesses Crime After
Long Grilling
SAYS SHE TOOK POISON
II Don't know Why l Did 1t, "
the Man Says, 81 Was
Frantic With Fear"
SAYS SHE TOOK POISON

Philadelphia, Pa, Jan. 2o.- 1P) :
David L. Marshall, a chiropractor. TO
day confessed that he had dlsmc nj,
bcrcd the body of Miss Anna Ma,
Dietrich after she had COMMITTED
suicide by taking poison in his oil
flee.
Stoutly maintaining his innOcenc,
Of her death, Marshall said she hat
come to his office tor treatment ant
that while he was out to get some
thing to cat, she took poison. l'car
ing he would be charged with hcl
death, he decided to dispose o, tht
body.
Disappointed In Love
Marshall told the Delaware count,
authorities that she had been disap
pointed in love affair by wcalth,
New York man named Nichols. In
vestigation showed that Miss Cath
arinc S. Girling, the milliner, whe
employed Miss Dietrich, had heart
her speak Of man named Nichols.
Marshall broke down after tens.
and dramatic series Of questions, CIV
ing in complete detail how he dis
membered the body and disposed o1
the different parts.
Will Conduct An Autopsy
The police still have to solve the
problem Of whether Miss Dietrich
committed suicide. An examination
of the body last week failed to es
tablish the cause Of death. In view
Of Marshall's statement that she hat
taken fatal drug, authorities pre-
pared to make another and more
complete autopsy.
Alter his confession, Marshall was
taken to a restaurant where he ate /;
hearty breakfast.
Marshall is about AZ years old
tall and gaunt in appearance. II,
has Il wife and young child.
A brief half hour before he broke
down and confessed, Marshall hat
bent over and looked straight int
the disfigured face of the woman, IL
the Media mOrgue, and had said;
~ wish she could speak she woul,
tell you that I am guiltless."
Ihe confession, made in the office
Of District Attorney William Taylor
at Media, came in tumbling, frantic
words, after the chiropractor hat
been cross examined for four hours
Arrested At His Home
He was taken No Media from his
home in Bywood Heights, which over.
looks the ravine where the young
woman's head was found wedged un
der railroad trestle Saturday, ane
where yesterday searchers came upor
remains Of the clothing she hat
bought last Tuesday, the day she dis
appeared, to wear to dance the
following night.
Marshall had glibly answered a
multitude Of questions in the district
attorneys office, in his home. in his
Philadelphia office and in the pres
cnce of the mutilated body at the
morgue.
Marshall had been left alone with
District Attorney Taylor.
Tells The story,
"Mr. Taylor" he began suddenly
after tense silence Of five minutes
II want you to promise me one thing
that you will take care of my wife
and child" Then there was anoth-
CIR pause.
II did it." he cried suddenly. 81
don't know why | did it--I was fran
tic with fear"
Then. he began the brief story Of
the wOman's death and the dismcm-
bering and disposition Of her body
Met Girl Outside His Office
II met the girl Tuesday night out
side my office on 18th street in Phil
adclphia," he began. "She said she
did hot feel very well. / proposed
that she 60 up to my office--I told
her the door was unlocked-and lie
down. I said was going out to get
something to eat.
II was gone about an hour. When
came back I went to my office, but
I did not see Miss Dietrich. She
was in the bath room.
II sat down and read for 10 or Is
minutes. Then knocked on the
door Of the bath room and she did
not answer, 1 pushed in the door,
which was fastened with catch.
Tried To Revive Her
II found Miss Dietrich on teh floor
in q heap. unconscious. picked her
up and carried her to the operating
table in my office. l tried to revive
her but could not. L worked on her
until she died.
.Then 1 became frightened and
panicy. ! didn't know what to do.
have wife and child and feared
would be blamed for her death.
II kept the body all that night in
my office. Early next morning !
came back and then cut of the head
and legs with q hacksaw and b knife.
"On Wednesday night distributed
the body. 4 forgot the head. having
left it in my Office, when took away
the body and legs. remembered it
Thursday morning and took pa
per that bore the date of Septe mber
II, 1924, and wrapped it up and then
Continued on page three)