Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-22

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recovered the baby's body; two doctors.
who pronounced the pair dead; two
members of the Fire Rescue Squad, who
attempted to revive Mrs. Winbley, and
two seventh precinct patrolmen, who
made ofhctal reports on the tragic end
ing of Mrs. Wimbleys birthday outing
on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
Crowder, a 24-year-old former taxi
driver who has confessed he overturned
the canoe with Mrs Wimbley and her
daughter in it, although insisting it
was accidental" returned to Washing
ton early today after retracing with
detectives the route he and Wimbley
took to Dendron, Va, last Tuesday to
bring back the woman and baby for
the party that ended in their death.
His story of Wimbley's plot to sand
bag and burn to death his wife, step
daughter and his wife's parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Patrick Henry Tench, while
they slept checked in virtually every
detail, according to Detective Sergt.
James A. Springmanr, who has charge
Of the case.
Amplihes Confession.
During the trip, Crowder amplified
his confession by saying that, Just be-
fore Mrs. Wimbley and her baby were
Reservoir, Wimbley said to him: "You
know what you're here for? You're
here to upset that canoe"
The reason he did not object he told
police, was because Wimbley had q gun
and he was afraid of him.
On the way to Dendron, 100 miles
from here, Crowder took police to the
gasoline station at Richmond.
While at the gas station he said he
NM < -
line in a can, which they were to have
used to set fire to the home Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Tench.
Gas station attendants identifIed
Crowder and verified his story that the
pair came to the station, told Of a truck
having run out of gas down the road
and gave So deposit on the can.
At Derndon, Crowder faced Mr.. and
Mrs. Tench and repeated his statement
about Wimbley coming to his room late
Tuesday night, after every one else had
retired, to discuss the plot to sandbag
the family and burn their house.
Dramatic Meeting.
It was dramatic meeting. Seated
in the little farm house parlor oppo-
site the grief-stricken mother and
nocturnal visit, Wimbley asked him II
he was. going through with this"
Mrs. Tench, who tainted upon hear
ing of the death Of her daughter and
grandchild, recalled that she had heard
some one moving about the house after
we had gone to bed"
She did not accuse Crowder,e hardly
speaking to him, but when she referred
to Wimbley. her son-in-law, she was
bitter.
IT hope they get him." she remarked
to Detective Springmann.
'WouId String Him Up.~
eff they had him down here they
would string him up" she added, ac-
cording to police.
Another part Of Crowder's confession
that Wimbley had torn strips from
a cloth covering a seat of the automo-
bile they rented for the trip to Dendron
for making the big sandbag-was cor
roborated by Detective Sergt. Floyd
Truscott. He said clerk at the drive
tt-yourself place, where the pair rented
the car, recalled white cloth covering
having been on the front seat.
1t was placed there, the clerk said, to
protect the white linen clothing OF a
man who had used the car. Truscott
also confirmed Crowder's statement
that Wimbley had tempered with his
drivers permit so that 1t could not be
determined definitely whether 1t had
expired.