The Murderers boh-6
Page 5
“Jesus Christ!”
“He’d probably been dead about six hours.”
“Who did it?”
“They had trouble finding his wife. She apparently didn’t live with him. So the neighbors say. They just found her a half an hour ago.”
“She works for the City,” Milham said. “The neighbors should have known that.”
“I think that’s where they finally got it, from the neighbors,” Natali said. “Where were you last night, Wally, from, say, midnight to six in the morning?”
“So that’s what this is all about.”
“Where were you, Wally?”
“He was an asshole, Lieutenant. I think he was also dirty. But I didn’t shoot the sonofabitch.”
“So tell me where you were last night from midnight on.”
“Jesus Christ, Lieutenant! I was home.”
“Were you alone?”
“No.”
“Was she with you?”
Milham looked at Natali for a moment before replying.
“Yeah, she was.”
“She wouldn’t make a very credible alibi, Wally.”
“I told you I didn’t do it.”
“I didn’t think you did,” Natali said.
“She was with me, I told you that.”
“You wouldn’t make a very credible witness either, Wally, under the circumstances.”
“So we’re both suspects? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Of course you are,” Natali said. “Think about it, Wally.”
“So what are you telling me?”
“You’re going to have to give a formal statement. Joe D’Amata was up on the wheel for the job. I’ll do the interview. You know Mike Weisbach?”
“Sure.”
“He’ll sit in on it. Chief Lowenstein has assigned him to ‘observe’ the investigation. He’s upstairs with the Captain and Chief Coughlin. They ought to be here in a minute.”
“OK.”
“Unless you want to claim the Fifth.”
“If I do?”
“You know how it works, Wally.”
“I’m not claiming the Fifth. I didn’t do it.”
“I don’t think you did, either.”
“What’s with Weisbach?”
“I guess they want to make sure we do our job. I don’t like that any more than you like being interviewed. You want a little advice?”
“Sure.”
“Go through the motions. Don’t lose your temper in there. And then go back to work and forget about it.”
Milham met Natali’s eyes.
“I start midnights tonight,” he said absently.
“I don’t think that anybody thinks you had anything to do with it. We’re just doing this strictly by the book.”
“A staff inspector ‘observing’ is by the book?”
STATEMENT OF: Detective Wallace J. Milham Badge 626
DATE AND TIME: 1105 AM May 19, 1975
PLACE: Homicide Unit, Police Admin. Bldg. Room A.
CONCERNING: Death by Shooting of Police Officer Jerome H. Kellog
IN PRESENCE OF:
Det. Joseph P. D’Amata, Badge 769
Staff Inspector Michael Weisbach
INTERROGATED BY: Lieutenant Louis Natali Badge 233
RECORDED BY: Mrs. Jo-Ellen Garcia-Romez, Clerk/Typist
I AM Lieutenant Natali and this is Inspector Weisbach, Detective D’Amata and Mrs. Garcia-Romez, who will be recording everything we say on the typewriter.
We are questioning you concerning your involvement in the fatal shooting of Police Officer Jerome H. Kellog.
We have a duty to explain to you and to warn you that you have the following legal rights:
A. You have the right to remain silent and do not have to say anything at all.
B. Anything you say can and will be used against you in Court.
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C. You have a right to talk to a lawyer of your own choice before we ask you any questions, and also to have a lawyer here with you while we ask questions.
D. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, and you want one, we will see that you have a lawyer provided to you, free of charge, before we ask you any questions.
E. If you are willing to give us a statement, you have a right to stop anytime you wish.
1. Q. Do you understand that you have a right to keep quiet and do not have to say anything at all?
A. Yes, of course.
2. Q. Do you understand that anything you say can and will be used against you?
A. Yes.
3. Q. Do you want to remain silent?
A. No.
4. Q. Do you understand you have a right to talk to a lawyer before we ask you any questions?
A. Yes, I do.
5. Q. Do you understand that if you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, and you want one, we will not ask you any questions until a lawyer is appointed for you free of charge?
A. Yes, I do.
6. Q. Do you want to talk to a lawyer at this time, or to have a lawyer with you while we ask you questions?
A. I don’t want a lawyer, thank you.
7. Q. Are you willing to answer questions of your own free will, without force or fear, and without any threats and promises having been made to you?
A. Yes, I am.
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8. Q. State your name, city of residence, and employment?
A. Wallace J. Milham, Philadelphia. I am a detective.
9. Q. State your badge number and duty assignment?
A. Badge Number 626. Homicide Unit.
10. Q. Did you know Police Officer Jerome H. Kellog?
A. Yes.
11. Q. Was he a friend of yours?
A. No.
12. Q. What was the nature of your relationship to him?
A. He was married to a friend of mine.
13. Q. Who is that?
A. Mrs. Helene Kellog.
14. Q. What is the nature of your relationship to Mrs. Helene Kellog?
A. We’re very good friends. She is estranged from her husband.
(Captain Henry C. Quaire entered the room and became an additional witness to the interrogation at this point.)
15. Q. (Captain Quaire) Wally, you have any problem with me sitting in on this?
A. No, Sir. I’d rather have you in here than looking through the mirror.
16. Q. Would it be fair to categorize your relationship with Mrs. Kellog as romantic in nature?
A. Yes.
17. Q. You seemed to hesitate. Why was that?
A. I was deciding whether or not to answer it.
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18. Q. Was Officer Kellog aware of your relationship with his wife?
A. I suppose so. I never had a fight with him about it or anything. But I think, sure, he knew. She moved out on him.
19. Q. How long have you had this relationship with Mrs. Kellog?
A. About a year. A little less.
20. Q. You are aware that Officer Kellog was found shot to death in his home this morning?
A. I am.
21. Q. How did you first learn of his death?
A. Lieutenant Natali informed me of it a few minutes ago.
22. Q. That is Lieutenant Louis Natali of the Homicide Unit?
A. Yes.
23. Q. Did you shoot Officer Kellog?
A. No.
24. Q. Do you have any knowledge whatsoever of the shooting of Officer Kellog?
A. No. None whatsoever.
25. Q. How would you categorize the relationship of Officer Kellog and his wife?
A. They were estranged.
26. Q. Do you know where Mrs. Kellog went to live when she left the home of her husband?
A. With me.
27. Q. Do you have a department-issued firearm, and if so, what kind?
A. Yes, a. 38 Special Caliber Colt snub nose.
28. Q. Where is this firearm now?
A. In the
gun locker.
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29. Q. Would you be willing to turn this firearm over to me now for ballistics and other testing in connection with this investigation?
A. Captain, I go on at midnight. When would I get it back?
(Captain Quaire) I’ve got a Cobra in my desk. You can use that.
30. Q. Do you own, or have access to, any other firearms?
A. Yes, I have several guns at my house.
31. Q. You have stated that Mrs. Kellog resides in your home. That being the case, would Mrs. Kellog have access to the firearms you have stated you have in your home?
A. Yes.
32. Q. Precisely what firearms do you have in your home?
A. I’ve got a. 45. An Army Model 1911A1 automatic. And an S amp; W Chief’s Special. And a Savage. 32 automatic. And there’s a. 22, a rifle. A Winchester Model 12 shotgun, 12 gauge. And a Remington Model 70. 30–06 deer rifle.
33. Q. And Mrs. Kellog has had access to these firearms?
A. Yes.
34. Q. Do you believe Mrs. Kellog had anything whatsoever to do with the shooting of her husband?
A. I do not.
35. Q. Would you be willing to turn over any or all of the firearms in your home to me for ballistic, and other testing in connection with this investigation?
A. Yes.
36. Q. Would you be willing to do so immediately after this interview is completed? Go there with myself or another detective and turn them over?
A. Yes.
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37. Q. Where were you between the hours of six pm last evening and ten o’clock this morning?
A. I don’t remember where I was at six, but from seven to about eight-thirty, I was interviewing people in connection with the Grover job.
38. Q. You were on duty, conducting an official investigation?
A. Right.
39. Q. And then what happened? When you went off duty at half past eight?
A. I went home, had some dinner, watched TV, and went to bed.
40. Q. Were you alone?
A. No. Helene, Mrs. Kellog was with me. She was home when I got there.
41. Q. Mrs. Kellog was with you all the time?
A. Yes. From the time I got home, a little before nine, until we went to work this morning.
42. Q. You were not out of each other’s company from say nine pm until say 8 am this morning?
A. Correct.
43. Q. Did you see anyone else during that period, 9 pm last night until 8 am today?
A. No.
44. Q. Is there anything at all that you could tell me that might shed light on the shooting death of Officer Kellog?
A. No.
45. Q. You have no opinion at all?
A. He was working Narcotics. If you find who did this, I’d bet it’ll have something to do with that.
46. Q. Can you expand on that?
A. I don’t know anything, if that’s what you mean. But I’ve heard the same talk you have.
47. Q. Captain Quaire?
A. (Captain Quaire) I can’t think of anything. Anybody else?
(There was no reply.)
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48. Q. Thank you, Detective Milham.
A. Captain, I’m going to probably need some vacation time off.
A. (Capt. Quaire) Sure, Wally. Just check in.
A. (Det. Milham) I don’t like sitting in here like this.
A. (Capt. Quaire) None of us like it, Wally.
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“Thanks, Henry,” Staff Inspector Mike Weisbach said, taking a cup of coffee from Captain Henry Quaire in Quaire’s office.
Quaire made a “It’s nothing, you’re welcome” shrug, and then met Weisbach’s eyes. “Is there anything else we can do for you, Inspector?”
“Tell me how you call this, Henry,” Weisbach said. “Out of school.”
“I don’t think Wally Milham’s involved.”
“And the Widow Kellog?”
Quaire shrugged. “I don’t know her.”
“Would it be all right with you if I went with D’Amata when he interviews her?”
“What if I said no, Mike?” Quaire asked, smiling.
“Then I would go anyway, and you could go back to calling me ‘Inspector,’” Weisbach said, smiling back. “Can I presume that you have finally figured out that I don’t want to be here any more than you want me to?”
“Sometimes I’m a little slow. It made me mad. My guys would throw the Pope in Central Lockup if they thought he was a doer, and Lowenstein knows it, and he still sends you in here to look over our shoulder.”
“That came from the Mayor.”
“The Mayor knows that my people are straight arrows.”
“I think he’s trying to make sure the Ledger has no grounds to use the word ‘cover-up.’”
“That means he thinks it’s possible that we would.”
“I don’t think so, Henry. I think he’s just covering his behind.”
Quaire shrugged.
“I know you didn’t ask for the job,” he said.
Weisbach guessed the Widow Kellog was twenty-eight, twenty-nine, something like that, which would make her three years younger than the late Officer Kellog. She was a slender, not-unattractive woman with very pale skin-her lipstick was a red slash across her face, and her rouge did little to simulate the healthy blush of nature.
She was wearing a black suit with a white blouse, silk stockings, high heels, a hat with a veil, and sunglasses. No gloves, which gave Weisbach the opportunity to notice that she was wearing both a wedding and an engagement ring. They had obviously gotten here, to her apartment, just in time. She was on her way out.
“Mrs. Kellog,” Joe D’Amata said, showing her his badge, “I’m Detective D’Amata and this is Inspector Weisbach.”
She looked at both of them but didn’t reply.
“We’re very sorry about what happened to your husband,” D’Amata said. “And we hate to intrude at a time like this, but I’m sure you understand that the sooner we find out who did this to Jerry, the better.”
“Did you know him?” she asked.
“Not well,” D’Amata said. “Let me ask the hard question. Do you have any idea who might have done this to him?”
“No.”
“Not even a suspicion?”
“It had something to do with drugs, I’m pretty sure of that.”
“When was the last time you saw your husband?”
“A couple of weeks ago.”
“You didn’t see him at all yesterday?”
“No.”
“Just for the record, would you mind telling me where you were last night? Say, from six o’clock last night.”
“I was with a friend.”
“All that time? I mean, all night?”
She nodded.
“Would you be willing to give me that friend’s name?”
“I was with Wally Milham. I think you probably already knew that.”
“I hope you understand we have to ask these questions. What, exactly, is your relationship with Detective Milham?”
“Jerry and I were having trouble, serious trouble. Can we leave it at that?”
“Mrs. Kellog,” Weisbach said. “When we were in your house, where we found Officer Kellog, we noticed a tape recorder.”
D’Amata doesn’t like me putting my two cents in. But the last thing we want to do is make her angry. And she would have been angry if he had kept pressing her. And for what purpose? Milham told us they’re sleeping together.
“What about it?” Mrs. Kellog asked.
“I just wondered about it. It turned on whenever the phone was picked up, right?”
“He recorded every phone call,” she said. “It was his, not mine.”
“You mean, he used it in his work?”
“Yes. You know that he did.”
“Do you happen to know where he kept the tapes?”
“We’re trying to make sure we have all of them,” Weisbach said.
“All the ones I know about, he kept right there with the recorder.”
“Did your husband ever talk to you about what he did?” Weisbach asked. “I mean, can you think of anything he ever said that might help us find whoever did this to him?”
“He never brought the job home,” she said. “He didn’t want to tell me about what he was doing, and I didn’t want to know.”
“My wife’s the same way,” Weisbach said.
“And you don’t work Narcotics,” she said. “Listen, how long is this going to last? I’ve got to go to the funeral home and pick out a casket.”
“I think we’re about finished,” Weisbach said. “Can we offer you a lift? Is there anything else we can do for you?”
“I’ve got a car, thank you.”
“Thank you for your time, Mrs. Kellog,” Weisbach said. “And again, we’re very sorry that this happened.”
“We had our problems,” she said. “But he didn’t deserve to have this happen to him.”
Detective Anthony C. “Tony” Harris, after thinking about it, decided that discretion dictated that he park the car in the parking garage at South Broad and Locust streets and walk to the Bellvue-Stratford Hotel, even though that meant he would have to get a receipt from the garage to get his money back, and that he would almost certainly lose the damned receipt, or forget to turn it in, and have to pay for parking the car himself.
Things were getting pretty close to the end, and he didn’t want to blow the whole damned thing because one of the Vice scumbags-they were, after all, cops-spotted the unmarked Ford on the street, or in the alley behind the Bellvue-Stratford, where he had planned to leave it, and started wondering what it was doing around the hotel at that hour of the night.
Tony Harris was not a very impressive man physically. He was a slight and wiry man of thirty-six, already starting to bald, his face already starting to crease and line. His shirt collar and the cuffs of his sports jacket were frayed, his tie showed evidence of frequent trips to the dry cleaners, his trousers needed to be pressed, and his shoes needed both a shine and new heels.
He enjoyed, however, the reputation among his peers of being one of the best detectives in the Philadelphia Police Department, where for nine of his fifteen years on the job he had been assigned to the Homicide Unit. It had taken him five years on the job to make it to Homicide-an unusually short time-and he would have been perfectly satisfied to spend the rest of his time there. Eighteen months ago, over his angry objections, he had been transferred to the Special Operations Division.