‘Going Home and Take Care of My Children’

Camden Courier-Post, December 31, 1953

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'Going Home and Take Care of My Children' Police Sgt. John V. Wilkie was released from the Camden County jail late Wednesday afternoon shortly after the grand jury returned a no bill on a manslaughter charge against the veteran policeman in the death of his son James Wilkie, 17. Wilkie, as he was released from the county jail, told Undersheriff Charles O'Keefe he was "going home and take care of my children, they are my only concern

Camden Courier-Post, December 31, 1953

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now." Young Wilkie was found shot to death Dec. 20 at his father's home, 1144 Princess ave. A certificate of suicide was issued by Coroner John A. Healey. Admits Hoax Later, Sgt. Wilkie surrendered at police headquarters and said he had accidentally shot his son in a struggle for possession of his service revolver. Wilkie was confined to the county jail in default of $50,000 bail on a manslaughter charge. Last Thursday, Wilkie admitted to Prosecutor Cohen he had (Continued on Page 3—Column 4)

Camden Courier-Post, December 31, 1953

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(Continued From Page One) concocted the story of shooting his son in an attempt to obtain the full burial rites of the Roman Catholic Church for his son. Cohen accepted the withdrawal of Wilkie's "confession" but said he would have to submit the case to the grand jury. Cohen summoned Wilkie's two other children, Richard, 16, and Theresa, 14, and City Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy before the jury Wednesday. Murphy was questioned by the jurors 25 minutes and Richard was in the jury room for 15 minutes. Theresa was not called before the jury and at 3.30 p. m. was dismissed, less than a half hour before the jurors returned a no bill on the charge against the father.

Police Sgt. John V. Wilkie was released from the Camden County jail late Wednesday afternoon shortly after the grand jury returned a no bill on a manslaughter charge against the veteran policeman in the death of his son James Wilkie, 17.

Wilkie, as he was released from the county jail, told Undersheriff Charles O'Keefe he was "going home and take care of my children, they are my only concern now."

Young Wilkie was found shot to death Dec. 20 at his father's home, 1144 Princess ave. A certificate of suicide was issued by Coroner John A. Healey.

Admits Hoax

Later, Sgt. Wilkie surrendered at police headquarters and said he had accidentally shot his son in a struggle for possession of his service revolver. Wilkie was confined to the county jail in default of $50,000 bail on a manslaughter charge.

Last Thursday, Wilkie admitted to Prosecutor Cohen he had concocted the story of shooting his son in an attempt to obtain the full burial rites of the Roman Catholic Church for his son.

Cohen accepted the withdrawal of Wilkie's "confession" but said he would have to submit the case to the grand jury. Cohen summoned Wilkie's two other children, Richard, 16, and Theresa, 14, and City Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy before the jury Wednesday.

Murphy was questioned by the jurors 25 minutes and Richard was in the jury room for 15 minutes. Theresa was not called before the jury and at 3.30 p. m. was dismissed, less than a half hour before the jurors returned a no bill on the charge against the father.