HUSBAND’S ESCAPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19102, 22 February 1924, Page 8

HUSBAND’S ESCAPE

WRONGLY CHARGED WITH WIFE MURDER. A REMARKABLE TRLAL LOS ANGELES, December 22. Elgin Pittman has learned that it is a good thing for husband and wife to hang together. Had he and his young ■wife not done so, there was a very good chance of Pittman being hanged separately. Pittman was arrested in Los Angeles on a charge of having murdered his wife. Her presence and intervention freed him from gaol. The persistent insistence of Mrs Pittman that she had not been slain, contrary to the theory of the law officers, and directly opposed to strong circumstantial evidence, at last prevailed, but not without a struggle. Given a roaming disposition, plus the ownership of a “flivver,” and nobody can tell what the consequences may be to any man. Pittman was so endowed. His wife was Miss Edna Rogers, whose parents, Mr and Mrs Arthur Rogers, lived at Eagle Valley. Oregon. After roaming about for a couple of years on their honeymoon, the Pittmans returned to Eagle Yalley last June for a visit to Mrs Pittman’s parents. Then they took, to ,the road again. Some weeks later the body of a woman was washed up on the banks of the Columbia River,, near Wallda, Washington. It was identified by Mr and Mrs Rogers and a girl schoolmate as that of Mrs Pittman. Every effort was made to locate and arrest Pittman, but he could not he found. A letter from Mrs Pittman to the schoolmate who had identified her body, instead of clearing up matters, brought on new complications, and resulted in the arrest Of Pittman, who was enjoying his visit to this citv with his wife and seven months old ‘baby daughter. There was a dark suspicion that Pittman had taken unto himself a new wife, and had trained her to impersonate the murdered woman. This theory was so good that officers hated to see it fail. But while Pittman, ■wonderfully light-hearted under such a serious charge, "remained in gaol, his wife posed for photographers, and pictures ot her, were seat to the Oregon sheriff who had' caused the arrest. In due time a telegram was received which read; “EverythinO.K. Do not detain suspect.” This laconic message gave Pittman his freedom.