Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-05-03

Mortimer was taken from the
Jail and in o room, with no wit
nesses save the gentlemen men,
toned, told his story, which was
as follows:
"The statement / made before
the Cornoner was true with one or
two exceptions. John Miller was
with us on the night of the murder
and he and Fawcett went inside
while johnson and kept watch on
the outside. At Miller's house,
before we started, Miller laid
down his pistol, which was on the
"bull dog" erder, and asked me for
mine, saying his was too heavy. I
gave my pistol to him and we
started out fer Apgar's. The whole
scheme was planned by Miller
himself, who said he believed it
was about the time the old man
got his pension. He thought we
would find $40 or $50 in Apgar's
pants if we could get them out. As
/ said before, Miller and Fawcett
went inside. Pretty soon they
came back to the gate, where
Johnson and were standing, and
Miller said: It's all dark and I'm
afraid the game is up They
stood there a minute and then went
back. + don't know what they
went for unless it was to get some.
thing to eat. They went to the lit
tie summer kitchen west of the
house, In minute I saw light,
them I heard report of a pis-
tol. Then Fawcett and Mil
ler came running toward the
gate. We all started off then
and walked west to Wade street !;
we went down Wade street
to Love and then to the West End
bakery. When we reached the bak-
cry we heard a woman scream,
Mrs. Apgar calling for help, I
guess. We then separated, Miller
and I going home; I don't know
where johnson and Fawcett went.
When we got home Miller took the
little revolver from his pocket and
laid it on the bureau I took it
up, saw that one chamber had been
used and took the pistol to my
room. I don't think Mrs. Miller
or my wife. knew We were out of
the house. I didn't know till the
next day that Mr.. Apgar was kill
ed, when a girl came down from
Kitty Thornton's and told us. :"
Mortimer was then asked why
he had mt implicated Miller in the
murder before.
"The reason I didn't 'squear on
Miller was that he has always been
kind to me-" he said. "When l
wanted place to stay, his house
was open. | never thought of
making regular raids until Miller
got me at it, When l once got
started he said You're all right /;
[ didn't think you half SO sharp
Miller didn't often go out with US,
though. The Apgar raid was the
second time he ever went with us.
He would tell US how he used to
steal when he was younger. He told
US that he was so old now he could
not see very well and was afraid of
being trapped. He said his repu-
tation with the white people was
good and he did not want to lose
it. He did all the planning for
us. He often told us to keep
mum if we were ever caught.
Deny everything he said, and
we're all right The first house
Miller raided with us was Llew-
ellyn's in the First Ward we did
not get anything there but butter.
would not have told this but Mil
ler has told everything on me. l
believe he he'd been robbing houses
for long time before I came
here"
When Mortimer was returned to
his cell Miller peeped through the
grating of the cage at the gentle
men and asked:
''Mr. Potts, what can tell you?''
Nothing, now,'' was the an
swer; "we'll call on you later"
Miller seemed very anxious to
tsA his story and he will be given a
chance. Public feeling is strong
| against Miller and since the first
| arrests he has been looked upon
| AS the leader of the gang. The
quartette will be given chance to
explain Apgar's murder at the
June term of Circuit Court.
1t has beer learned that IL gang OF
thieves similar to the one just
broken up existed here several
| years ago, but the police made it so
| hot for the house-breakers that
they had to quit business. John
Miller is reported to have belonged
| 10 the gang and his manner of dis
| posing of the stolen goods was as
novel as it was successful. At the
time band of thieves existed IN
Hannibal and everything stolen in
| chat city was sent here for disposal
The Mexico gang sent its ill-gotten
stuff to Hannibal, where it was
sold. In this way goods once
| .tolen never found their way back
TO the erightful oWners.
| Miller still retains, in q measure,
\ - . /. L