Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-04-01

il soft hat and theu lad bic clothes
,haneUd. but no one would have teco9
,i1ed' him from the descriptions. They
turned him over 10 two Correspondents,
lnd then claimed that they had failed to
ind their man. There was qnite = crowd
It the place, however. before the train
arrived at 4 O'Clock, and the people eus.
pected them And called Tor Besness ous
they got on safely. Berner was at once
taken into cloaed express car BY the
The officers were IN coaches
pretending to be on route to the capital
for advice and aid. They kept the gov
ernor advised BY the conductor
station. The governor had ths
train stopped half o mile from the depot
close to the penitentiary, when Betner
wan taken ip on the run. There were
crowds at all the stations making in
quirles The multitude awaited the train
III and about the city here. They were
given the alp, however. A detachment
of twenty-five police and . large number
Of prison guards had been located at .
suburban crossing where the party |
alighted. They made double.quick time
with the prisoner to the gates.
/, Berner was scared nearly to death. He |
vas the t,rst man Warden Thomas ever
saw glad to get behind the walls. |
He rejoiced when he was in.
side, aud wanted something 70 eat
aud a chance to rest. After supper be
related his trip. He is eighteen yeArs
old, aud sentenced to twenty years. He
hopes 10 outllve it. He retired early and
will attend the chapel tomorrow. Gov.
Hoadley has three regiments and two
batteries ordered to Cincinnati with in.
structions not to leave the Cincinnati
depots unless absolutely necessary. Ad]t.
Gen., Finley 10 en- route to Cincinnati.
The governor 10 sitting up waiting to see
the night through. The excitement has
abated here since Berner was lodged in
the penitentiary.
TIE CRIME AND THE CONFESSION.
The crime, for which William Berner
was found guilty, was committed on tho
24th Of December last, and consisted Of
the most brutal murder Of w. H. Kirk, in
the latter's stable in Cincinnati. some
idea Of it may be cleaned from the fol.
lowing confessions of the two engaged
in it:
Berner's confession runs % follows:
My name is William Berner. I was sew
enteen years old last May. I was born
in Cincinnati. and lived here with my
father all my life. have known Palm.
er for three years. Became ao.
quainted with Kirk about year ago. I
was at Kinks stable on the Oath OF last
December, when be met his death. Joe,
(meaning Palmer) was there. Kirk asked
US ii the corn had come. We both said
no. Kirk then went out to get some
| water. IA he came lack he etOpl ed to
say something to me about hitching two
mules to the wagon. just then Palmer
came up behind him and hit him on the
head with 9 hammer. Kirk fell down.
said, Jesus what are you DOING" and
started to run. Palmer stopped me, say.
ing he would hit mo il didn't. He then
dragged Kirk back into the stable and
asked me for my knife. Then be
said, III you say . word about
this, I'll kill you too" was afraid
He said he would give me 800, and
helped him hide the body. AtterNard
We hauled it away. did not hit Kirl
or touch him until after he was dead.
went with my father to the station house
to surrender myself. Austlng talked tc
me about Kirk being killed told hin
had nothing to do with the murder
and l said the Same thing to Colone
Reilly. Austlng told me be was locking
me up because I Was not telling tht
truth.
The devine. confession details how
3erner and Palmer. having seen . large
roll Of bills in Kirk 8 possession, planned
to dispose of him in order 4
get possession Of it. Palmer, in
the stable ON the afternoon O
December gath. declared that waa thel
time, and struck Kirk over the head Will
Q hammer from behind while Berns
stood facing him. Palmer hit him again
and Berner dragged his body toward th'
back part OF the store. Then Palmer ant
Berner both hit him over the head agail
with club, and tying rope around hi
neck strangled him. one pulling at eacl
|, end. They divided the money found o.
him after going to vacant lot near BY
and then procuring Q wagon took th
body out beyond Camp Washington
! where they dumped it beside the road.