The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-02
LAWYER
/. FOR HIS S12O,
FOUR CONFESS
Detroit HoodIum and Three
Girl Friends Admit
Killing Attorney.
Copyright. 1885. BY United Press
DETP OFT Mich T1I1v 0-MVS.

DETROIT, Mich, July 2.--Mys-
teries of the murder of Howard
Carter Dickinson. New York at
torney and nephew of Chief Justice
Charles Evans Hughes, were def
nitely solved today.
An underworld procurer and three
ladies of the evening conSpired to
kill him for his purse. They face life
terms in the Michigan penitentisry.
Breaking under long questioning,
William c. Schweitzer. 26 who has
lived most of his adult years as
parasite on women, and three of
his girls gave detailed accounts of
the last hours of the professionally
and socially high placed Mr.. Dick
inson. Believing he had large sum
of money. Schweitzer, with the girls
approval, killed him. His purse con-
tanned only Sl20.
Schweitzer will be arraigned today
on a charge o. murder A plea of
guilty was believed likely. Since
Michigan law does not permit the
death penalty for any offense, life
Imprisonment was the worst pos
sible punishment.
5 Girls Also Guilty
His girls. Florence and Loretta
Jackson, sisters, and Jean Miller,
probably will be charged with first
degree murder today. The Misses
Jackson admitted they knew
Schweitzer intended to kill Mr..
Dickinson. Miss Miller, while de-
nying she knew of the intent to
murder, did admit she knew Of the
intent to rob. On the basis Of their
confessions, they are legally guilty
of first degree murder, subject TO
Michigan's most severe penalty
Prosecutor Duncan c. McCrae &C
complished the final denouement of
the murder drama by confronting
the sullen Schweitzer with the de-
tailed confessions Of Miss Miller and
Loretta Jackson.
All che girls had steadfastly insist
ed that, while Schweitzer killed Mr..
Dickinson, they we're not present
when it was done, nor knew it had
been planned. Schweitzer had told
varying stories, insisting at times
that Mr.. Dickinson was killed in self
defense, again that he had killed
himself.
The confessions detailed the fol-
lowing story Of Mr.. Dickinson last
days.
Offered To Buy Drinks
The New York attorney arrived
in Detroit Tuesday to attend to
legal business of the William Yaw-
key estate, Tor which he and his
cousin. Charles Evans Hughes Jr,
were attorneys. He conferred Tues
day with Detroit associates. and
Tuesday evening dined in one of the
public rooms of his hotel, the Book
Cadillac.
Dining at nearby table were
Schweitzer and the Jackson sisters.
Either on his own initiative or III
response to the advances of the
women, Cthey insist they cid notk-
ing to attract him) the 52-year-old
attorney went to their table, intro
duced himself, and offered to buy
drinks.
They had two rounds of cocktails,
then Schweitzer, excused himself
and Mr.. Dickinson and the two girls
went to his room, where they ha6
more drinks. Before they left, Mr..
Dickinson is alleged to have MADE
arrangements for party Wednes-
day night, and included Schweitzer
in his invitation. The girls, return
ing to schweitzer, reported that ho
seemed to have great deal OF
money.
Decided to Kill Victim
schveitzer proposed that they
roll him. He said he had pistol
and would get it. According to the
Misses jackson. Schweitzer giving
them the lie, this conversation took
place:
Loretta jackson: But Bill. can't
we Just tap him on the head?"
Schweitzer NO, we'd get seven
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