Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-25
Chiropractor, Fearing Blame,
Says He Tried to Hide
Suicide in Office.
ADMISSIONS ARE MADE
IN FRENZY OF TERROR
Declares Milliner, Disappointed in
Love, Took Poison While Wait
ing for Treatment.
BY the Associated Press.


PHILADELPHIA. January ga
David NJ. Marshall, a chiropractor. to-
day confessed that he had dismem-
bered the body of Miss Anna May
Dietrich after she had committed sui
eide by taking poison in his Office.
Stoutly maintaining his innocence
of her death, Marshall said she had
come TO his office for treatment and
that while he was out to get some
thing to eat she took poison. Fearing
he would be charged with her death,
he decided to dispose of the body.
Marshall told the Delaware County
authorities that she had been disap-
pointed in a love affair by a wealthy
New York man named Nichols. In
vestiSation showed that Miss Catha-
tlne :. GirlinS. the milliner who EN-
ployed Miss Dietrich, had heard her
speak of man named Nichols.
Marshall broke down after a tense
and dramatic series Of questions, Civ
ing in complete detail how he dis.
membered the body and disposed OF
the different parts.
Body Found I'm Woods.
Miss Dietrich's body. with the head
and legs missing, was found in a
cluInp of woods near Media, seven
miles from Philadelphia. last We'd
nesday. An hour later the legs were
discovered nearby The head was
found last Saturday under a railroad
treStle at Bywood, just over the
western city line of Philadelphia.
The police still have TO solve the
problem of whether Miss Dietrich
committed suicide. A preliminary eX.
animation of the body last week failed
to establish the cause of death. No
trace of poison was found. In view
of Marshalls statement that she had
taken d fatal drug caused the au-
thorities to prepare to make another
and more complete autopsy.
After his confession Marshal was
taken to a restaurant. where he ate
hearty breakfast. Later ne made
a formal-confession in the presence
of a stenographer.
Marshall is about ~ years olt. tall
and gaunt in appearance. He has a
wife and a young child,
4 brief half hour before he broke
down and confessed Marshall had
bent over and looked straight into
the disficured face of the woman. IL,
the Media morgue. and had said: ~
YOU that | am guiltless.
Confession Frantic.
The confession made in the office
of District Attorney William Taylor.
at Media. came in tumblins. frantic
words after the chiropractor had
been cross examined for four hours.
He was taken to Media from his
1,o,,o Rvxynpi HEIGHTS which
overlooks the ravine where the young
womans head was found wedged
under a railroad trestle Saturday,
and where yesterday searchers came
upon remains of the clothing she had
bought last Tuesday, the day she dis
appeared. to wear TO Il dance the fol-
lowing night.
Marshall had gibly answered q
multitude of questions. in the district
attorneys office. in his own nome. in
his Philadelphia Offices and in the
presence of the mutiiated body at
the morgue-
Marshall had been left alone with
Mr.. Taylor.
Mr. Taylor" he began suddenly.
after a 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 another
pause.
Admits Part i'm Crime.
Il did it," he cried suddenly. Il
don't know why did it was fran
tic with fear"
Then he began the brief story of
the woman's death and the dismem-
berment and disposition Of her body.
II met the girl Tuesday night out
side my office on 17th street in Phil
adelphia," he began. She said she
did not feel very well. I proposed
that she go up to my off1ce-1 told
her the door was unlocked-and lie
down. l said l was going out to get
something to eat.
Il was gone about an hour. When
l came back I went to my office. but
Continued on Page 2 Column p