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“Wrong Man” Career Girl Murder Case Analyzed

Jan. 28, 1965 - Two members of New York County D.A. Frank Hogan’s staff blamed the police yesterday for the turn of events that resulted in the dropping of murder charges against George Whitmore Jr. (bottom left) in the slaying of Janice Wylie and Emily Hoffert (top) on Aug. 28, 1963.

A 22-year-old drug addict and convicted burglar, Richard Robles (bottom right), was charged Tuesday night in the brutal double slaying that shocked the city 18 months ago.

Both men are assistant district attorneys, and both have been close to the investigation into the double slaying since its inception.

“I am positive,” said on, “that the police prepared the confession for Whitmore, just as his lawyers charged a few days ago. I am also sure that the police were the ones who gave Whitmore all the details of the killings that he recited to our office.”

The other prosecutor put it this way: “Call it what you want — brainwashing, hypnosis, fright. They made him give an untrue confession. The only thing I don’t believe is that Whitmore was beaten.”

The first of the two prosecutors summed up the “wrong man” case as follows: “If this had not been a celebrated case; if this case hadn’t got the tremendous publicity; if this was what we call a “run-of-the-mill” murder, Whitmore might well have been slipped into the electric chair and been killed for something he didn’t do.

“One of the worst aspects of the whole thing is that people are going to start wondering now about other cases. Let’s face it. We’ve had executions in the past based on nothing more than a dead body and a confession.

“I was one of those who was absolutely sure that Whitmore had killed the girls. There was no doubt in my mind — reasonable, beyond a shadow, or any other kind. Now, I’m satisfied Whitmore is innocent.”

The deep concern of law enforcement authorities was voiced also by an officer of the NYPD.

“We don’t get too much cooperation right now from the public in many instances,” he said. “I hope this doesn’t hurt us. It’s an awful thing, but sooner or later things like this happen. I hate to say this, but I’m sure that sometime in history we’ve sent innocent men to their death by an unjust verdict.”

All official sources yesterday had no comment.



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