Evening star., 1943-10-26
Lenergan Steadfast
In Denying Guilt in
BIudgeoning Of Wife
By the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Oct. 26.-Wayne
Lonergan, termed by New York
police "a likely suspect" in the slay-
ing of his 22year-old heiress wife,
Patricia, steadfastly maintained his
innocence today as authorities quiz
zed him again in Toronto.
The Royal Canadian Air Force
cadet was questioned for three hours
last night by Assistant District At
torney John Loehr of New York, but
appeared unruffled when he left
police headquarters early today to
await further questioning.
To point-blank question fired
at, him by reporter as to whether
he denied any connection with the
strangle Of his wife, the
26-year-old student flyer said:
yes"
Described as Scratched.
Mr.. Loehr, who flew to Toronto
from New York, said he had de-
tected scratches on Lonergans neck
and chin.
Meanwhile, Assistant District At
tOrney Jacob Grumet, head of the
Homicide Bureau, said Lonergan
stiH was being questioned in
Toronto and there ''is no immediate
moSe to bring him back"
'Tile question of extradition has
not been raised" Mr.. Grumet said.
This fellow still maintains his in
nOeence. He repeats the story of
befriending an American soldier in
Tofx, 10
which resulted in the loss of his
uniform"
Died at 10 AM. Sunday.
Mrs Lonergan, heiress to a S.
100000 brewery fortune, was found
dead Sunday, her unclad body
sprawled across bed in her lavishly
decorated Beekman Hill apartment
A. heavy, antique brass candlestick
was found nearby on the floor.
Deputy Chief Inspector Patrick
Kenny of New York said: I'VE con-
slider Wayne Lonergan very likely
suspect"
"A medical examiners report said
Mrs. Lonergan, who was separated
from her husband. died at 10 am
Sunday. Death was due to battering
and strangulation, the report stated |
SThe district attorneys office also
revealed chat scrapings taken from
underneath Mrs. Lonergan's finger
nails were believed to be human
flesh.
Uniform Missing.
Meanwhile police here pressed |
their hunt for Lonergans missing
uniform and investigated blood
stains found on the staircase in
Mrs. LonerganS S350-a- month tri-
pleX apartment.
When Toronto police apprehended |
the young flyer in Second-rate
boarding house yesterday, he was
wearing civilian clothes. He told |
police his aircraftman, second class,
uniform, was stolen while he was
in New York over the week end |
Jeanne Murphy Jaburg. %. blond
former actress. who was with Loner-
gan Saturday night here, told police
that he wore his uniform then, but .
had on an ill-ftting, gray civilian
suit Sunday.
She said, however, that she saw
no scratch marks on his face.
Tells Story of Theft.
He told her, she said. that he had
befriended a soldier after seeing her
home and had taken him to an
apartment of male friend who was
away for the week end. She said
Lonergan added that when he
awakened, his uniform, credentials
and the soldier were gone.
She was introduced to Lonergan
Saturday night, she said, by John |
Frederic HarjeS, a member of a
Paris banking firm, who, she de-
clared, told her, Here is a fellow
you ought to know"
1t was at Mr.. Harjes apartment |
that LOnergan spent Saturday night. /
Mr.. Harjes told police that Loner-
gan had left a note saying he had .
borrowed one of Mr.. Haries' suits |
because of an accident to his uni |
form.
Woman's Escort Held.
Police, retraclng the last "a hours
of Mrs. Lonergans life, said: She
went to dinner the previous evening
with Mario Gabelline, 43-year-old
interior decorator Later they
Joined Thomas Farrell, magazine /,
editor, and Jean Goodman. an
attractive brunette, at Farrells
apartment and from there went to
the Stork Club
From the club they returned to
Mr.. FarrelIs apartment at about
4 sa.m, Sunday, the party there
breaking up at about s am.
Mr.. Gabelline was held as a mate
rial witness.
Describes Party.
M. Farrell said in an interview
that the night before Mrs. Lonergan
was slain she expressed desire to
avoid meeting her husband.
Mr.. Farrell said that While he,
GabelIine and Mrs. Lonergan were
dining in restaurant Saturday /
evening it was suggested they go to
the StOrk Club to dance, and Mrs. |
Lonergan remarked:
Were likely to bump into my
husband. Let's go to the El Morocco
instead"
Then, Mr.. Farrell said, Mrs. Lon
ergan told of her husband coming
from Toronto that afternoon to their
apartment to see her and their 18-
month-old son.
"She talked freely about their
separation" said Mr. Farrell. I'VE
finally went to the Stork Club, but
we didn't see her husband after all. :"