The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-29

CONTINUED from Page /,

without mentioning his name,
authorities took worcester before
Lonergan and asked him II he knew
the man. Lonergan hesitated, fin
ally shook his head and said: mo.
An hour later, confronted with
the mans identity, Lonergan broke.
He admitted the whole story was
false--he Just thought II up-and
then told how he killed his es-
tranged wife.
The news that Lonergan confess
ed 'leaked out" Of police headquar-
tiers, and IL was sometime later be-
fore Hogan formally announced the
RCAF trainee had signed . confess
sion.
Went 70 Apartment
'sWayne Lonergan stated that he
went to his wife's apartment at S13
East Fifty-First street at approx
mately 0:46 q. m. on Sunday, Oct0.
Der "a, that he knocked and that his
wife admitted him." Hogan said.
"She had been In bed. There
after sch returned to bed. He fur
ther admits that while she was ly-
ing in bed he struck her on the
head with @ candlestick holder.
1.-THE candleStick holder broke. He
hit her with another candlestick
holder. She managed to get out Of
bed. There upon he grabbed her
around the neck and strangled her.
While he was choking her she
scratched him.
HE adrnits that his story with
respect to the soldier Is q fiction and
that the name Of the soldier was an
invention. He returned to the home
Of John F. Harjes, at 40 East 10th
street, and changed his clothes.
He then had breakfast and then
went to the East River to get rid
Of the bloodstained uniform by
throwing 1t into the river"
Hogan declined to elaborate fur.
ther and questioned whether an
other possible motive might involve
q 100000 trust fund set up for the
22-year-old cafe society playgirl by
her grandfather, brewery baron
Max Bennheimer, he said:
1T might create a legal problem.
we might have something big on 1t
later on"
Lonergan was taken to q police
station alst night near the FASH
tonable Beekman Hill apartment
where his wife lived, and booked on
q charge Of homicide. Although he
seemed q bit tired, Lonergan was
calm and relaxed as he answered
questions by the desk sergeant.
There was only one-his marital
status-which he did not answer,
and Q detective supplied the In
formation-''widower."
Lonergan also took police to the
East river and pointed out the spot
where he said he threw his duffle
bag, containing the missing pale
blue uniform. Police still were
searching for the bag, weighed with
an iron dumbbell, but it was feared
It might have been swept to sea by
the tide.
The prosecutors staff was expect.
ed to start to present to a grand
jury today the evidence in the case
the complete details Of the crime,
which had its inception when Lon
regain walked up the two flights Of
stairs to his wife's apartment early
last Sunday morning.
Reconstruct Events
From there the police reconstruct
ton Of the events were:
After Lonergan was admitted to
the apartment. his wife returned to
bed and he stood In the room sill
emily for minute.
II understand that you're the belle
OF FL Morocco" he said. Fl Nor
occo Is a New York night club.
your behavior hasn't been 50
good, either" she replied.
Where's the baby?" Lonergan IN
quired.
1.-THE baby's in bed, and don't dis
turb him. You'll have to come back
later"
II can't come back later. I've got
q luncheon date with q girl
meP"
IT can't. This Is 3 previous date
and I must keep IT,"
.Y0u know, I'm amazed. ! can't
control my men friends anymore"
Lonergan prepared to leave, but
when he turned to 90. she ex-
claimed:
''You're not going to see the baby
aeain-evorI"
LoneFgan said he then ~lost HIS
head@. picked up the flFst candle
stick holder. and began 70 beat her
but broke g.