Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-24
TUCKER IS INDICTED.
ON MURDER CHARGE.
BY DISTRICT JURY.
Suspect Accused of Stran-
Cling Umbrella Member in
1926 in Home Here.
WARRANT WILL BE SENT
LOS ANGELES BY PLANE
Four Witnesses Testify-Finger-
prints Tally With Those
at Crime Scene.

George Tucker, held in Los Angeles
for the killing here five years ago of
Miss Emma Kirk, 68-year-old umbrella
member, today was indicted for first
degree murder by the District grand
jury. Justice Peyton Gordan of Dis
trict Supreme Court Immediately served
a bench warrant for fuckers arrest.
The indictment is in two counts.
One charges that Tucker killed the
woman by Suffocating her with her
shawl The other that he strangled
her to death with his hands
The bill was returned less than "a
hours after local police had announced
that Tucker definitely was linked with
the crime by his finger prints, which
tailed with those found on Miss Kinks
eyeglasses in her home, 819 r street.
copy of the prints and two confess
sions which Tucker signed and later
repudiated, were received here yesterday
afternoon. AS soon as 1t was deter
mined that the prints tailed, Chief OF
Detectives Shelby announced that the
case would be brought before the grand
Jury at once.
The case was presented by William H.
Collins, assistant United States attor-
ney. The confessions and finger prints
were offered in evidence, and testimony
taken from four witnesses.
Sergt. Fred Sandberg, in charge OF
the Identification Bp reau at headquar-
tiers. identified the dngerprints, while
She other witnesses kere Lieut.. Dennis
I. Cullinane and Cart. Edward ]. Kelly,
chief of the homicide squad, and Police
man John Poole, who were the hrst ofn-
GERS arriving on the scene OF the kill
ing, which took place January %, 1926,
and DR.. Herbert E. Martyr, who, as
deputy coroner, performed the autopsy
Los Angeles Hearing.
Inspector Shelby said the indictment
and the warrant for Tucker would be
sent by airmail to Los Angeles to eX-
pedite procedure. A removal hearing
will be held in the California city, and
the accused returned to washington In
custody of deputy marshals.
Shelby said also that as soon as
Tucker arrived he would take new
prints to compare with those on the
! eyeglasses as q matter Of precaution.
The two confessions, which Tucker
later repudiated, were made on March
10 and 10. One covers five typewriter
pages and the other three. They are
in the form of questions and answers.
In answer to the question, Can you
give us any details as TO how you COM
r1itted this crime?" Tucker Is quoted
as replying: Eyes, it's very clear in
my mind knocked at the door and
this old lady came to the door and
opened it, and stepped in. grabbed
her by the throat and choked her"
fuckers interrogation then asked him
II he used q piece of cord to "tie her
up in any way" To this question Tuck
er replied that he could not say, ex-
planning that he had been drinking.
He added, however, that he could not
have been very drunk because he was
able to get around all right
AmpIIfed Next Day.
The questions Los Angeles authorities
put to Tucker on the morning of March
l9 and his answers were as follows:
do you recall making a statement
yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Tucker, re-
garding having killed woman in
Washington, D. CT"
Yes"
Now, we have dispatch stating
that woman, Emma Kirk, age about
10. was murdered in Washington
January, 1926, at $40 r street. Do you
know whether or not this is the case
you have reference tor"
DO you recall the name of the
victim as being Emma Kirk?"
Il do now. Yes"
"And the address as being 8l9 r
street, Washington, d. c."
Had Piece of String.
ST can't say as to the street number,
but that's the neighborhood"
Can you give us any details as to
how you committed this crime?"
Yes; it is very clear in my mind. I
knocked at the door and this old lady
opened it and stepped in. grabbed
her by the throat and choked her"
rs there anything else you could
state about it?"
That's all there was to It,"
did you use a string TO tie her up
in any way?"
IT had a piece Of string but whether
I used it around her throat or hands /
don't know. But did have piece Of
string; I remember that"
do you know why It was that you
committed this act?"
mo. I wish TO God did"
"Were you alone at that timer"
Eyes"
Were you under the influence Of
liquor?"
Il had been drinking, but couldn't
have been awfully drunk because I
found my way around"
Where did you live or what was
your address at the time the crime was
I think I was at the Arlington
Hotel"
was this crime committed at night
timer"
Yes"
About what time of night?"
THAT l don't remember, but 1t was,
would say, before midnight sometime.
Where had you been just prior 70 the
murder?"
That don't remember, but EVIL
. IDENTIFY got home"
Thought She Was Dead.
"At the time you left this woman's
home. did you know she was dead?"
Il was under the impression she
was"
what made you think that?"
"AI of a sudden I realized what had
happened and just like woke up or
something"
did your parents live in Washing
ton, d. c., at this timer"
MY parents are dead and have been
you now have wife and child?"
"Yes"
'Is there any other statement you
care TO make concerning this case?"
EMO. Nothing / can say"
saThe statements made by you have
been free and voluntary"
"No cffer Of reward nor hope Of i'm
nnunity offered?"
Nothing"
"No force or violence used to obtain
the statement"
mo" ,.,. u4..o