Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-31
wRECKiNG CONFESSED,
tassen Makes a Clean Breast of the
Affair at Wyandotte.


Affair at Wyandotte.
KANSAS CITY, Dec. 30.-ln Hamilton's
trial at Wyardotte this morning for train
wreckIng William Vassen, one OF the ac-
cused, made clean breast of 1t, swear
ing to the circumstances of the wrecking
OF the train as they have been published
hitherto in the newspapers. He testified
that Lloyd pulled the spikes, aided by
Newport, while Hamilton, Vassen and
others stood guard. Hamilton stands
charged with murder. two lives having
been lost in the wreck which these men
caused during the great Southwestern
strike.
V0SSEN'S TESTIMONY.
Vossen testified that he went to the
on the night of April 70. A dozen others
dropped in during the evening TO get any
news of the strike. About IL O'Clock the
witness went back a second time to the
hall. Hamilton was displaying himself
to the party in the disguise of a wig and
clothes.
LLOYD said to the witness: "Are you GO
ing with us to-nightp
The witness asked: "Wherep
Lloyd replied: "Never mind where.
Come with us.''
q
drink. Then eight of the party-Hamil-
ton, Lloyd, Newport, Larry, Geers, Riggs,
Warner and the witness-set out together.
The party separated into two squads and
repaired to the river, crossing over the
Sixth street bridge, Hamilton wearing
mis- diguise. When they reached the
curve on the railroad track, at 2 O'Clock,
they halted and Lloyd began to pull up
the spikes.
MURDEROUSLY INCLINED.
The with ess wanted them to go further
along ii they must do the job. He objected
to opulling spikes ON curve, for fear it
would Kill the whole crew on the train.
Lloyd said: e. them, l want to kill
the whole crew."
Hamilton and Vossen then went north
and mounted guard and Geers and Larry
went In the other direction. Riggs and
Warner in the meantime had deserted
them. Several shots had been fired at a
passing train from bluff above before
the party went to work. While the wit
ness and Hamilton were standing guard
Lloyd came up and said the thing was
done. Newport then threw the crowbar
INTO the river and the party scattered,
and the witness went to bed. The wit
ness saw Hamilton day or two after
and the latter sad keep quiet, there
are lots of PinkertOn men around"
The cross examination did not shake
Nossen's testimony. His appearance
gave the impression that he had been led
into the plot against his will and had
made UP his mind to tell the story just as
it occurred.
Vossen was questioned as to any pos
sible foreknowledge of the crime by mem
oers of the lodge in general but nothing
was ELECTED showing that any persons
were parties to 1t except those already
named. The testimony, however, indi-
Gates by inference that the matter had
been talked about by those who hap
pened to be in the hall on the night in
question.
NO DANGER OF ANOTHER STRIKE.
GALVESTON, TEX, Dec. 30.-The ru-
NOR of threatened strike on the South
western railroads on Jan. l or there
abouts, as telegraphed specially from Dali
las last night to ST. Louis and Eastern
papers, is pronounced absolutely without
founoation by prominent Knights Of La
Dor and railroad men in this city. Not
the smallest sign of dissatisfaction exists
on the Gould lines since the settlement Of
the local complaints among dozen yard
men at Denison. The roads are doing a
heavy business.