The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-01-01
Fox's Confession.

I'm tile Jay IOilONluR MIS- INOsc >
statement Fox made a full confession of
his crime, the following full report of
which is gwen in an interview had with
the self-confessed murderer by re-
porter of the Nevada Mail:
About noon to-day a Mail reporter
was informed that Fox, the man ac-
cused of numbering Howard last Satur-
day night. had made up his mind to
make a full confession. With this as q
''pointer" the reporter hurried as speed
lily as possible to the Jail and was cOur-
teously permitted To interview the pris-
Oner by Sheriff Fisher-the latter being
present throughout the entire interview
When the reporter entered the jail Fox
was eating his dinner, evideatly enjoy
ing the abundant repast which Mrs.
Fisher had sent in, and laughing and
talking gaily with the other prisoners.
When the reporter made known the OBJ
ject of his visit, Fox cOcly remarked
that if he Uhe reporter) would wait
until the dinner was disposed of he
(Fox) would make full statement of
the whole affair.
OF course this modest request was
complied with, and Fox, true to his
word, made full confession, which is
faithfully reported below.
THE INTERVIEW.
Reporter. 1 understand that you are
now willing to make clean breast of
the whole affair?
Fox. [ am. There is nothing want
to keep back now.
Rep. Well, then, give me the whole
story in your own way, commencing at
the time you started to 60 up in the
woods.
Fox. We had been to Bill Smiths
and frankie Phillips then went to
Stegman's saloon and got drink.
Sheriff Fisher. Are you sure you
wen; to Phillips?
Fox. Yes sir, did. Ii does me no
good to lie about it now, and if it were
the last word i had To- say on earth
would say that we dId 90 to Phillips
Rep. Well, 90 on with your state
ment.
Fox. We QHoward and mySelD wen;
down the l.. Il ). track to path near
the wreck.
Sheriff F. Had you made up YOUR
mind tn Kill Howard at that time?
Fox. No, can't exactly say that /
| had determined to- Kill him when L left
Stegman'S, but when We left the track
and started up the path in the woods /
had made up INV mind to kill HIM.
Rep. What excuse did you give him
To- get him tn 90 into the woods with
you?
Fox. | told him knew of house
of prostitution up there-thOugh there
was none-and my sole object in get
ting him TO 90 up there was to kill him.
We walked on 10 the upper end OF the
cave when | stopped and sat down on a
rock, remarkIng that | was tired and
would rest little. After few mo-
mentS Howard said Ill De Id if
there is any use of us stop Ding here all
night IF we are going to- the house let's
90, or else go back" | told him it
wasn't but a little way to the house, and
he SAID, "Well, then, let's 60"
WAS sitting down and he was stand
ing little To my right on little lower
ground. About tins time he walked off
ten or fifteen steps, and while he was
walking that distance | pulled my re-
volver out OF my pocket and held it
down 10y my side. | then took about
three steps toward him-he still walk
ing on-and raised my pistol and fired.
He fell at the first fire.
Rep. Where did your first shot take
effect?
Fox. aimed ut the seam of his coat
i'm the back, and don't think 1 missed
the spot aimed ut more than an inch.
l aimed to- shoot Il hole through him.
Rep. What did Howard say when he
found he was shot?
Fox. He said, ''Oh, Bill, don't shoot
ne; Ill give you up my money"
made no reply, hut before the words
had hardly got out of his mouth | shot
him again. He had kinder raised up
on his hands when | shot him the
second time.
Rep. What did he say when the Sec
Ond shot struck him?
Fox. He never said anything. In
fact he never spoke after he told me
not to shoot him and he would give me
his money.
Sheriff +. Don't you think 1t sIld
have been better TO have given MIN
some chance for his life, if your only
object was to settle an old grudge?
Fox. hardly think so; it was in my
blood 10 Kill him, and If we had had
fight and anyone had interfered, would
have killed the person that interfered,
so IT'S better, think, to kill him just
as did.
Fox Ito the repOrter). After the Sec
ond shot he fell to- the ground and
seemed to struggle around some. He
didn't appear to kick but very little. He
seemed to- be broken down behind, but
was strong enough to sorter raise up his
hands and arms. The third time my
pistol snapped but immediately shot
again, and hit him in the head, or, at |
least, that's where | aimed to shoot |
him.
Rep. Didn't he struggle while !
diving?