Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-25
Nude Woman Found
CIubbed 10 DEATH;
Maniac Is Blamed
Victim Was Divorced
Wife Of Cousin
Of Doris Duke
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HORSHAM, Pa, Sept. 25-The
Staying of an attractive 35-year -old
mother of twin sons in an unoccu-
pied farmhouse near this Eastern
Pennsylvania hamlet was attributed
today to "a maniac"
The auburn haired victim, Mrs
Ethel NJ Atkins, divorced wife
Of relative of the wealthy
Duke family, was found Sprawled
on a stairway of the two-anda-
half-story building last night, clad
only in stockings and one slipper,
her head and face crushed by heavy
blows.
She was identified by her hus-
band, James A. Atkins, who was
quoted later as saying his wife's
first husband was a cousin of Doris
Duke Cromwell. wife of James H. R.
Cromwell, formed United States
Minister to Canada. Police said
he told them he was unable to ex-
plain her presence in the house,
nearly 20 miles from the Atkins
home, in Philadelphia.
ut looks like the work of a
maniac" declared District Attorney
Frederick G. Smile of Montgomery
County.
Bloodstained Club Found.
The Staying was discovered by
John Bready, owner of the farm
house, while showing it 10 pros
pective tenants. The house had not
been occupied for several months.
In a room at the head of the
stairs lay a splintered. blood stained
club about 3 feet long. Blood had
splattered the walls and floor
A blue, polka dot dress and slip
we're crumpled in the dust of the
living room downstairs. On the
woman's finger was wedding ring
inscribed: u. F. A. TO E. M. A., Sep
TENDER 80, 1885"
Dr. John c. Simpson, coroner's
physician, said. after an examna-
ton, he believed she was killed
some time yesterday 1t was not
determined Immediately whether
she had been criminally assaulted.
The Atkins have lived in Phila-
delphia since their marriage They
have twin sons, Johnny and Jimmy,
about 3l2 years old.
Neighbors IN Philadelphia said
they had not seen Mrs. Atkins since
last Friday.
Linked to Duke Family.
District Attorney Smile said Mr.
Atkins declared in a statement that
his wife had been married to John
Cicero Angler of Durham. N c.. a
relative of the wealthy Duke family.
He added that he was told in
telephone converse ton with Mrs
John c. Angler at Durham that her
son, John Cicero. had been married
to an Ethel Craft in Philadelphia
about 1920.
The district attorney said both
Mr. Atkins and Mrs. Angler declared
the slain woman had three children
by her previous marriage.
Mr.. Smillie said Mrs. Angler told
him:
The three children are now with
me The oldest. John. is not quite
1s. Then there is a girl. Ida Duke,
II, and another boy. Newton. 10"
Mr. Smillie said he had also
reached young Angler by telephone
and that the latter confirmed his
marriage to an Ethel Craft. then a
waitress, in 1920. He said, Mr. Smillie
continued, that they separated sew
eral years ago. that he had secured
final divorce decree in the Phila-
delphia courts. and had not seen his
former wife since.
The district attorney said Mr..
Atkins identified his wife's former
husband as cousin of Doris Duke
Cromwell. wife of James H R. Crom-
we'll former United States Minister
to Canada. He added that Mr..
Angler agreed to come from Balti-
more to NorrLstown. the county seat,
for further questioning.