The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1933-11-24
DR. WyNEKOOP CONFESSES AFTER SLIP DURING GRLLNC
WOMAN PHYSICIAN SAYS SHE SHOT HER
SONS WIFE BECAUSE SHE WAS
IN BAD HEALTH

and / were incompatible q
month after we were married
and my mother knew was
unhappy because Of this"
Asked Her to Confess
Police said that in the presence
of several police officers, Earle
cried out to his mother:
IF you did it, mother, please
confess"
The authorities said the son
had rushed across the room,
Snuggled his head against his
mothers neck and made his
appeal that she tell everything"
Earle was crying bitter tears,
police said, but DR.. Wynekoop
was calm at this stage. In quiet
tones she answered:
81 didn't kill her. 1 know
all the evidence points against
me but l didn't kill her, Earle"
Battered down by the grinding
ordeal, the harassed youth finally
jumped from a chair in Capt.
Thomas Duffy's private office at
the Fillmore police station and
exclaimed, said police:
II will sign an irOn-clad con.
fessiOn to save the one I
fear. ="
He did not complete the SEN
tence.
But police said Immediately
that they surmised Earle intended
to shield one of the occupants Of
the musty old office-home where
Rheta was shot to death.
i Said Son Was Innocent
DR.. Wynekoop. first informed at
the Racine Avenue annex station
that her son had confessed"
threw her hands to her head and
exclaimed:
"My poor boy! My poor,
poor boy! He couldn't have
done 1t, for he was out of town.
A mothers sacrifice Is no
greater than that Of such .
child, who offers himself to
save that mother, even though
falsely accused"
Dry.eyed but obviously near the
end Of her great fortitude, the
gray-haired doctor said:
This is the happiest moment
Of my life. l never knew Earle
for what he really is"
Marital Woes Barred
At one point in the questioning,
police said, they believed the 49,
year-old husband was about to
make important statements "a in
connection with the Staying 4 Of
his wife but instead he plunged
into q discussion Of his marital
life with the pretty violinist he
met and wooed in Indianapolis.
Wynekoop told police:
Perhaps it would be better.
if you bring mother in and
question US when we are to-
gether."
When the mother and son were
brought together, Earle was
quoted by police as having said :
Il know. mother, that IL you
killed Rheta, you did it be-
cause you love me-"
The pale-faced physician then
said, according to the authori.
ties:
But, Earle. did not kill
Rheta."
Mother Near Collapse
Taken to the Fillmore Station
to hear police read the statement
made by her son, DR.. Wynekoop
slumped in the arms Of two
policemen as she was led to
Captain Duffy's office. Her
small black hat was crushed on
one side Of her head. Her
Wrinkled face was care-worn and
weary.
In a chair in the office sat
Earle. He was completely un.
nerved. He seemed unwilling to
AAAI 4IlO CJC0 W AAS HlOILICI D. ak'
though there was no reproach in
the doctors glance. Police, physi.
clans. criminal experts and an as.
sistant States attorney watched
every move of the mother and son.
Almost Immediately police be-
gan to read the partial comics
sion"
At the first words, DR.. Wyne.
koop's gray head dropped and she
seemed about to collapse com
pletely. Detectives rushed to her
side to hold her UP.
Soon after the reading Of the
confession Earle was led to an
adjoining private office and was
closeted with DR.. Harry Hoffman,
Of the Criminal Courts behavior
clinic.
other authorities continued
their grim, relentless questioning
of the mother. Her former COM
posed attitude was gone. She