St. Louis Post-Dispatch
May 6, 1927
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Ps haat POA Pin Deis tical ot pb a ee palin eel WANA re — er . RS Bp tC tis Penal * tain A ete p etaens be Ps "ag $4 5 Da = A. liek ell 7 —_— 08 9p ~- . mh : 5 ee oF Me —- Coa, ie pape ® ~ = a 7 ~ @ a m e wo ae De - ? ; 4 ~ 1 a yk ae . 3 n 4 sein lett ince etl inc tt ee pete OE TER gems t ecgagttale ae, ee ee maine Py ee Yr x a ee n* a per, a # —_ —_ PAGE 2 SLAVER TESTIFIES He WAS FORGED INTO - HOLDUP Anthony J. Bergmann, Who Killed Collector, Says He Was Coerced by Witness Against Him. CASE MAY GO TO JURY LATE TODAY Testifies He Was Given Cocked Revolver and It: ‘“‘Went Off’ Turned Around. _— Anthony J. Bergmann, 19 years old. confessed slayer of Rudolph 8. | Guenthel, telephone coin box col- lector, in a holdup last Feb. 9. tes- tified in his own defense today, xt the trial before a jury in Circuit Judge Hogan’s Court. He said he was coerced into par- ticipating in the holdup by Arthur) Van Nostrand, 11 years his sznior, who testified against him yesterday. The defense rested on Bergmann’s testimony, and the State then ot- fered rebuttal testimony. The case is expected to go to the jury late today. The State is manding the death penalty. Feared Van Nostrand. Bergmann formerly was em- ployed as a baker's apprentice and bricklayer’s apprentice, but quit work Dec. 24 to “bum” with Van Nostrand and others. He testified that he feared Van Nostrand and obeyed his orders because Van Nostrand had boasted of killing! two men—” one on Broadway and | one in East St. Louis. On the day Guenthel was shot to | Nostrand | who is | awaiting trial for the murder, set. Bergmann, Van Mc Mahan, death, and George out in an automobile to “get” a Kroger store collector, testified, adding that fused to go, until Van Nostrand had threatened him, They hardware store at 716 Walsh street. Bergmann said Van Nostrand gave him a pistol, already cocked, to hold up the store, minained outside. “We went inside and I McMahan say, to turn around and the gun [I had in my hand went off. We rant out. MeMahan took the me and told Van Nostrand: ‘This little simp tried to shoot me.’” Theat of Reprisals. The three went to McMahan’s home. Bergmann said his com- heard panions accused him of trying to | kill McMahan and talked of killing | him in reprisal. He said they dined, while he, for punishment, was forced to sit behind a stove and oil their weapons. Later they sent out for a newspaper, and learned for the first time, according to Berg- mann, Guenthel had been shot. Nevertheless, Bergmann and Van | Nostrand attended movie and bur-| They were | lesque shows that day. arrested four days later, and signed | confessions. ‘Dr. AJ H. Deppe, visiting physician | of the City Hospital staff, testi- fied for the defense that Berg- mann is an imbecile type, lower than a moron, and with the mind of a 9-year-old child. He based this statement on Binet-Simon tests giv- en Bergmann and on Bergmann’s life story as told to Dr. Deppe by Bergmann’'s lawyer. | Says Memory Was Keen. Under cross-examination by Agr- eistant Circuit Attorney Mitroney. Dr. Deppe admitted Bergmann had displayed a keen memory and had readily answered questions, but he expressed the opinion that Berzv- mann, in his confessions, had fol- lowed the directions of someone. Dr. Deppe admitted many arny ap- plicants fail to pass the Binet- Simon tests, and that many normal persons have occasiona] variations from normality. Other physicians who testified for the defense were: Dr. H. FE. Witten, Dr. Dr. Waldemar Ude and Dr. Felix M. Garcia. Dr. Ude said Bergmann is a moron, with the mental capac- ity of a child 11 to 14 years old. Mrs. Bertha Meininger of 2839 Indiana avenue, and Mrs. Emma Schneider of 3603 North Taylor | avenue, sisters of Bergmann, fied that their mother has insane for years and is now sanitarium. Charles Hanna, been in a 2928 Virginia avenue, a neighbor of the | Bergmann family for 18 years, tes- tified that Bergmann’s parents act- ed peculiarly and that Anthony was subjected to many hardships | as he grew up, and lately had fall- en in with bad companions. ome tion of the murder. ST.LOUIS POST- DISPATCH Founded by JOSEPH PULITZER Dec. 12, 1878, Published Daily by The Pulitzer Publishing Co. Twelfth Boulevard and Olive Street MEMBER OF E ASSOCIATED PRESS and AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS The Associated Press ts exclusively entitled te the use for republication of credited to . or ¥..- j in this newspaper local news publixhed herein. aa tr y ey of 8 ae FO of special dis- patches herein are alge reserved. ee on eo oy ‘Mail Dati without Gaoaar. one year unday oaly. iis ch. ae conbenass all news dispatches ‘ in Advance $10 5 00 1 mo 4 RSE. order. express money Se or =? ok tom *n egy ~ ly only, Pad & month: Sunday, lGc a cop second-class matter Jul 7, > et the Postetfice at Bt lous te’ ** ist + When He 3ergmann | he had re-| spied Guenthel entering a) and | ordered McMahan and Bergmann | while he re-' ‘Hands up!’ I went! gun away from, Eugene J. O'Malley, | testi- | Continued from Page One. night and Sunday morning, and be- operated by Clifford. assert he was in a questionabie bond deal with Clifford two years ago, but he denies it. Bostelman’s connection with the case comes from his having invested $1000 in the finance corporation and be- cause he was seen riding in an au- tomobile with Clifford several days before the murder. Messenger Boy Secs Davis.’ last April 20, detectives who was with Hicks to view the suspects. 0.. the robbery, the robbers. He added he did not ‘get a good view of then because they pulled his cap down over his eyes. Detectives think there were two motives for the robbery. Investi- gation of the affairs of the St. Louis Finance Corporation since ST.LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 'Hicks’ Brother Insists He Knows Nothing of Murd er cause he had invested $15,000 in|! . the St. Louis Finance Corporation, | Detectives | Bostelman with what police regard- | as a fake holdup of Clifford Hicks | today | brought Jack Corcoran, 15-year-old | mesager of the Union Easton Trust | during | He said Davis “looked like’’ one of} wRIDAY EVENING, MAY 46, _ | HELD IN MURDER aE In an effort to link Davis ana | j% the murder has disclosed that for | ‘many weeks prior to the murder, | Hicks was in fMancial straits. ‘finance corporation would ‘checks for which there was The | issuc | not | sufficient funds in the bank. Hicks | would have to scurry around and 'borrow money to meet these ex-'| igencies. up the finance corporation had is- |sued two checks, one for $3000 and ‘the other for $3500. At that time, [police learned, there was only $8 | 'to the account of the finance cor- /poration at the Union-Haston Trust de- : Lo | Corcoran, the messenger, | collection, along with many others. |Hicks supposedly was accompany- |ing him to the bank for the purpose |of deposing $5200. The police |theory is that the holdup was | staged to delay the checks in reach- | ing the bank ahd to defraud an in-' On the.day of the hold- | ‘over the ground, surance company which would have | to make good Hicks’ fictitious Joss lin the holdup. “Suspected of Murder.” Glenn Hicks, for the St. authorities.” The murder |der and held County Davis and Bostel-' man are booked “suspected of mur- | Louis | | County, is believed to have taken place) where the body was found, on Wat-! /son road, southwest of Groves. Hence, between the céunty and city police. The city police themselves now in the holdup. are interesting | o _ford’s murder at about 9:30 p. m., Webster | further investiga-|; 7 \" x ha , . ‘ties { en U | ZE : , L a “% Avy. FINGER SUED ‘about the suit: May -i, ; Coy re Y MME. HEMPE GOES 10 BREMEN Millionaire Hecksher, 79 Alters Decision to Returr te New York on Heari of Her Action. ——— ee BASED ON MORALS AND LAW, SHE SAYS Breach of Contract Where by She Was to Receive $48,000 a Year for Life Alleged. Press. ra NCC, py the Associated CHERBOURG, Sudde: ily Auguset He May 6. changing his announceég ‘kscher Ameri embarked tonigh Bre plans, éan millionaire on the liner er utschliand for men, Germany. When informed earlier that Mme Frieda Hempel had New York for breach of contrag to pay her $48,000 Heckscher canceled his reservation sued him fi a vear for life for a trip to Paris and arranged t sail for New York tonight on th Columbus. His still re mained on the Columbus’ passenge name list this evening. Heckscher said when askeée “It doesn't conce me.” By Leased Wire from New Ye Bureau of the Post-Dispatch. NEW YORK, May 6.—Fried Hempel, for many years aa inte nationally an filed a suit in th Supreme Court yesterday alleging that Aucust Heckscher, aged nftul timillionaire and philanthropis had broken a contract in which BR agreed to pay her $48,000 a ye for the remainder of her life. Despite the difference in the ages—Heckscher is 79, and Mm Hempel, 42—persistent rumors be gan to be heard more than a ye ago that they were to be married These were followed by equall Strong reports that the engagemer had been broken. Regarding eae get of rumors both have maintain famous operatic concert singer Bhlence. institut nature ¢ agreemesr attorneys for Heckscl arguing for an amende complaint before Justice Gavega they urged that grounds for th action should be set forth in great er detail, including aéiée§statemer whether the contract was conditio al upon “the agreement or contrac of marriage.” | Alleged Agreement. The complaint sets forth thatt agreement was entered into f April, 1926. ft was not until Jul 1926, that Mme. Hempel obtaine a final decree of divorce In tft Paris courts from William Bi Kah Wealthy patent broker of this cit They were married in 1918, tt Marriage making the singer American citizen. Heckscher h been a widower nearly three yea ef supporting their me amended complain Stanchfield & Le Heckscher, intimate ead fraud or argue th itract 4tself is violative Based on Mm expectancy, as est mortuary tables, th the action might ff Yolve more than $1,000,000. Mme. Hempel's attorney, Terence MeManus of MeManus, Ernst Ernst. Seth * her that “this pe ively suit for breach 6€ Contract marriage,” and that Was “purely for a valuable cos Mderation which had nothing ~% mo marriage.” but whi¢ ‘Es : well-founded § Mor : Her PAY nr er In the litigation now the only hint as to the the Hempel-Heckscher came from when, in Based on tor . ’ Ty) out, 3S oa rieint acknowledees Mime. Hempel of $12 ksher July 1. 1926. b has defanled dn oth Stories published la t definitely ecorament lier: pel or Hecksh had given the sing ement gift jewels wort ‘2.900, Including a ste pe aris. “rs attorneys later 1 ement ia whi repudiates Mm traordinary clal that he ma Whe +} as ary ‘ abon? e+ *.¢ out ia ? alleges. Wits as Heckse ‘her's Son. (ybtat Divorce in Paris. ‘h@ Post-Dispatch. M >" 6 ~~ Mrs. Hleckseher, wi URusSst tle divorce today Baecin: ; PARIS Gusta fathe ckscher, © in the Ser ox” Ata y tain. a her co) " cle ay ry rere a her h ion She W Custody of their “e sult did not surp coupie as Mrs. liee “er husband. a real estate dealer. > &Ppart for more ha than d at Ne 1907. Mre Hee ime wha Lo * Marri Vang, : hoe«
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