The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-11
love Cult IS
LINKED WITH
WITCH DEATH
Young Mother, Graduate of
Wellesley, ConfesSeS
Staying SpinSter.
JEALOUSY is BLAMED
Neighbors Claim Radio Set,
Sold by Husband,
Caused Rift.
By United Press

by CntC6G FT6SS
WILKEs-BARRE, Pa, April IL
Another chapter in Luzerne coun-
tvs witch craft" murder mystery
was expected today when Mrs
Frances Tomsen, 20, Pittsburgh
graduate of Wellesley college and
mother Of three children, is ar
raigned for the Staying of Miss Min
ME E. Dilley. T6-year-old spirster-
recluse Of Forty Fort.
Rested since she made her al
legged confession to the crime in the
same room where Miss billy wa:
battered and hacked to death, Mrs
Thomson awaited the court hear
ing with the same calm she dis
played when arrested in Pittsburgh
Wednesday night.
She was visited in her cell by At
torney John banda of this city, re-
tanned to defend her by friends and
local graduates of Wellesley.
Woman Lawyer to Aid
Dando will be assisted by Miss
Louise Mcbride, Pittsburgh woman
lawyer, who has been retained by
Wellesley women in the western
part OF the state.
District Attorney Thomas NJ.
Lewis has prepared an array of evil
dence to indicate that Mrs. Thom-
sen, who once lived across the street
from the home in which she killed
the rich spinster, suspected Miss
Dilley of attempting to form a love
cult.
In her first questioning after be-
ing arrested, Mrs. Thomson accused
Miss Dilley of having invited the
prisoners husband to have been the
head of this cult
Sent Threatening Letters
It was this fear that her husbands
affections were being alienated that
led Mrs. Thomson to send Miss Dill
ley q series of threatening letters,
the district Attorneys office an
nouneed. The letters, it was under
stood, il1timated taht the aged
spinster had witch powers and
that she had an occulate influence
over Thomson.
Neighbors Of Miss Dilley, however,
commended today taht the cause of
Mrs. Thomsen's jealousy for the
aged woman was a home made
radio set.
Three years ago the. Thomsens
lived across the street from the
large house where Miss Dilley re-
sided. Mrs. Thomson then was an
English instructor in the Forty Fort
Borough schools, while her husband
made and sold radio sets.
Aroused by Frequent Visits
One OF the sets was bought by
Miss Dilley. On frequent occasions
the rich spinster telephoned Thorn
sen to say that the radio needed
adjustment. Thomsen's frequent
visits to the spinster's home so
aroused Mrs. Thomson that domes-
tic trouble developed in her own
home.
Noticeably a woman of culture
and refinement, Mrs. Thomson has
amazed local police authorities by
her iron will. Brought here from
Pittsburgh Thursday night she was
questioned for many hours at the
district attorneys Office. She ap-
peared fresh and composed when
taken to the house where the muir
der had been committed exactly
one week before.
In her alleged confession the
prisoner admitted she carried a
breadknife concealed in her UNI
brella when she went to Miss
Dilley's home. Despite this, she in
sisted that she came from Pitts
burgh to visit the spinster in order
to make friends.
Self Defense Is Claimed
The prisoner declared that Miss
Dilley resented the visit.
'I killed her in self defense said
Mrs. Thomson, repeatedly. She
failed to state definitely, however
that Miss Dilley had first attacked
her. The prisoner felled the
spinsters with a ginger ale bottle
and cut her throat with the bread
knife.
A pair Of red glass beads found in
the house was identified by the
prisoner as hers. She said they hac
fallen of while graphing with the
victim.