Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-20
CONFESSION OF A MURDERER,
Charles e. Meyers Acknowledges
the Killing Of James Weir.
THE INDEPENDENCE TRAGEDY.
After VainIy Endcavoring to Procure
Work He Commits the Crimo
at the Instigation of His
Companion.


KANSAS Cry, Jan. l9.-[-[Spccial Tcle-
gram to the BEE. Charles r.. Meyers the
man arrested yesterday for the murder Of
James Wcr ut the Liberty street depot in
independence two weeks ago last Monday
night, confessed the crime this morning in
the corridor of the Second street Jail in tho
presence of County Marshall NlcGowan. The
story Meyers told is as follows: Il am
twenty-threc years of age and was born at
Chambersburg. Franklin county, p, on
December 5, 1861 My parents are now liv-
ing in Altoona. My father is employed in
the car works at that place. have mar
ricd sister living in Milwaukee. All Of my
connections are respectable people. On Octo-
bcr y, 1857, l arrived in Leavcnworth,
and, being a musician, l associated
myself with the band at the soldiers home.
I came to Kansas City and went about the
city looking for work, but could get none.
On the evening of December 3 | went to the
Delmonico hotel and slept in the basement.
l there became acquainted with John Bo-
gard Bogard the next day suggested to me
that we go to Independence to look for work,
as he was well acquainted there We walked
to Independence and arrived late in the after
noon. We begged supper and then went TO
the depot. Afterwards we crossed tine track
to IA flour MILL where there was an electric
light, and remained there until it became
cold, the furnace fires getting low. Then
we returned to the depot waiting room. A
man was sitting in chair tilted back
against the wall, asleep. Bogard
said to me: THAT man has got
n pile with him. Let us hold him up and take
away the swag.' At first | objected to this,
but Bogard persisted in asking me to do it.
He suggested that get Il coupling pin for a
weapon. tried to get a pin out of a freight
car, but it was fastened tight. Bogard went
to the other end of the ear and said: I've
got PIN and handed it to me. We went
into the depot again. The man was still
asleep. refused to attack the man and Bo-
gard said: You're Il coward; you dare not
do it, There was n dim light in the depot
from n kerosene lamp. | told Bogard
i was no coward and struck the
u little and struck him twice afterwards.
After the first lick Bogard came up and put
his hands in the mans left pocket and pulled
out wallet We went over to the electric
light and divided up the money. / gave Bo-
gard SD 80 in silver and | took the green
backs We went on the outskirts of the
town and separated, promising to meet each
other in street, the name of which
] do not remember. We met there
and Bogard promised to write to
me TO Kansas City under tire name of George
Washington. l came to Kansas City, walked
to Argentine, took II Santa F'c freight train
for Topeka and the next day went to Leaven-
worth. there rc-engaged with the band of
the soldiers home. was hard up and cold
and did not mean to kill the man when
struck him. was surprised when learned
that the man was dead and don't care
what becomes of me. | shall plead guilty to
the charge of killing him"
Meyers is very mild looking man. He
wept bitterly as he related his story.