Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-23
W|MbLEY ASSAILS
MURDER CHARGES
IN TWO DROWN|NGS
jailed in Deaths of StepChild
and Wife, He Maintains
Plea of Innocence.
CR0WDER'S CONFESSION
is DECLARED FALSE
Police Threat to Make Him Burn"
Is Believed by Man Reason
for Version He Denies.


in the District Jail, today maintained
his innocence of any conspiracy to
murder his wife and stepdaughter, who
were drowned last Thursday while on a
birthday outing on the Chesapeake g.
Ohio Canal above Chain Bridge.
He and John Crowder, ~, were
charged last night with first-degree
murder and Jailed after q coroner's
Jury ordered them held for the grand
jury in connection with the deaths Of
Mrs. Elizabeth Traylor Wimbley, 26,
and her 3-year-old daughter. Wilma
Traylor.
Calls Others Confession Lies.
"The police told me they would make
me burn for the killing of my wife and
stepdaughtsr," Wimbley said, and 1t
looks like I'm going to burn. But II
do IL will be for an accident.
even Crowder, whose confession Is
g pack Of lies, says the drownings were
Wimbley attributed Crowder's confess
sion to fear that he would be sent to
the electric chair.
Scores Tale Of Capsizing.
"The police, no doubt. told Reds the
same thing they told me. I guess he got
scared and made UP that statement TO
cave his hide.
aThe ridiculous part Of Crowder's con-
fession," Wimbley continued, lis his
statement that the canoe capeized when
he struck It with his knee near the
south bank Of the canal as he was get
ting into 1t. Yet the baby's body was
recovered by police between 30 and 80
feet from the north bank. This would
make It almost impossible for the canoe
TO have turned over near the south
bank. BY the police's own measure
ment, the canal at this point Is II feet
across.
Another thing. his statement that I
would NIX him up for aiding In Gre
nation Of my wife and baby and her
family at Dendron Is ridiculous. IL
stands to reason that anybody who Is
going to help commit a murder is
going to know beforehand Just what |
he Is going to get out OF II. He !
that he was going to be fixed up"
Explains Three Wives.
Wimbley explained his many mar |
Siages-poiice have found he has had |
three wives-by saying he always was |
involved with some woman"
'rTo tell the truth" he said, 81 don't |
know myself why couldn't leave the |
women alone. I always was mixed up !
with some woman.
'But as far as my third wife, Ida !
Mae Graves, the one In Missouri is
concerned, she is absolutely innocent.
She doesn't know thing about my |
wife who drowned-doesnt even know
I've been married before"
Jury Hearing to Wait.
Police announced the case would be
presented TO the grand jury "as soon
as a few loose ends are run down.
whether 1t would be presented to the
present grand Jury or to the new one
converting In october Is pronlematlcal,
It was said.
Capt Edward J. Kelly. assistant chief
of detectives, today praised the work of
the homicide squad in handling the
"The work of Detective sergt. James
r. Springmann and the men OF his
souad-Floyd Truscott. Dennis j.
Murphy. Robert Barrett and George
fDarnall-was most excellent police
work. The men worked night and day !
INCREASINGLY and left no stone unturned
"a their investigation. They are to be
highly commended"
Causes Inquest UprOar.
wimbley threw the inquest into an
uproar. causing Deputy Coroner A. Ma
gruder Macdonald to rap sharply Tor
order, when he interrupted testimony
of Policeman Cleir Culvert OF the sew
enth precinct to shout;
why don't you tell the whole story?
why don't you tell what I said about
murder? Why come here and tell
partial story?"
CsiIyert had testified that wimbley.
on the way down to the morgue in the
precinct patrol wagon, had said, refer
ring TO Crowder:
"I'll make him burn yet"
Culvert was asked by Macdonald TO
tell all of what happened on the ride
TO the morgue. but the policeman said
he recalled no conversation about
murder.
wimbley previously had demanded an
opportunity to take the stand in his
own defense. After being called TO
order by DR.. Macdonald, however, he
changed his mind.
Since I've seen the attitude of some
Of these Officers" he began.
That's enough Of that" Macdonald
tnterpoSed. do you wish to take the
stand yourself? Answer yes or no."
mo" retorted Wimbley. Just leave
me out Of the picture"
II thought had a right to ask Ques-
tions and that's what was doing. I
didn't know I was doing wrong. I
tHOuB1t ~ was my PNASBS " Wv "hob
] did,
Says He Didn't Understand.
DR.. Macdonald reminded winnbley he
was not on trial, that the inquest was
only a hearing.
"Oh," said Wimbley. II didn't under
stand It that way. thought ! was
on trial"
The outburst came shortly after
Crowder's 14-page confession OF VIM
bley's alleged plot to sandbag and burn
to death his wife and her baby and
the family of Patrick II. Tench while
they slept in the Tench home at
Dendron. Va, had been read 70 the
jury at Wimbley's request.
Wimbley demanded the statement be
read In its entirety after Detective
Sergt. James F. Springmann, who had
charge OF the case. had given excerpts
from It,
Make him read the whole state
ment." demanded Wlmbiey. cThen let
me take the stand and tell my story"
The Crowder confession began and
ended with the statement that Crowder
had not been coerced into making the
statement, nor had he been mistreated,
but that he was confesSing voluntarily
and Of hts Town free will"
The document related the story of
how Crowder and Wimbley met Sep
tember IL. began living together q few
days later and started out September
s. for Dendron to bring Mrs Wimbley
a.