The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-29
WHY HE CONFESSED.
Kostrauch Talks Freely of His
Motives and Plans.
CIPHER LETTER BETRAYED HIM.
He Repines at Confinement and Tells of
Jackson's Promises-BalIard's
Hearing Postponed.

The preliminary hearing in the case of
DR.. Frank R. Ballard, who is charged
with arson and grave robbery in connec-
ton with the Rsdloff case, was continued
by Justice Neagle from yesterday morning
to 1 O'Clock on Tuesday afternoon at the
request of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Caldwell. Samuel H. Piles, the attorney
for DR.. Ballard, was anxious to go on with
the case. but the prosecution took ad-
vantage of the statute allowing ten days in
which to gather evidence, and obtained a
continuance
Chief Jackson was IN Tacoma yesterday,
and, if reports from that point be true. he
left during the afternoon in company with
Mrs. Radloff for her home at Lake Bay
The object of his visit, as stated by Sheriff
Wo2lery, is to obtain the letters which
Mrs. Radlof claims were written to her by
DR.. Ballard. While this is Chief Jackson's
ostensibie object in visiting Tacoma and
Lake Bay, there are those who think that
he may have an inklinsof kadloff7s where
abouts and hope to bring that individual
back with him.
Louis Kostrauch is enjoying life in the
county Jail as well as can he expected
under the circumstances. When visited
yesterday afternoon ne appeared in the
best of spirits and spoke freely of the case
and the hunt for Radloff. The prisoners
appearance mas not changed in the least
since the morning following the burning
of Radoff's house and the corpse of levin.
His cheeks are rosy red and his steel gray
eyes have not lost any of their brightness.
kostrauch stood leaning against the bars
of his cage, and as he looked out of the
large window near the southeast corner of
the main room, said:
Well, wonder how long they are going to
keep me locked up. 1t can't be more than two
months, because it was stipulated when I
turned states evidence that should have my
liberty. When l do ge; out l shall burn up
everything now in my possession, disappear,
and in some othsr place lead life son the
square" 1t may seem strange, but this is the
first time in my life that have had anything to
90 with prisons was arrested once for carry
r1ng q revolver, but released because showed
good grounds for my action. l went into
this affair to help Radiof, because he
is the best friend I have. He knew
before the plan was executed that
if l was Pressed too hard would let 1t out. I
told him so and he agreed. Albert Radlof was
the one who started the ball rolling and landed
me in the police station. He told Adolph krug
that said things which l never said, but which
cansed me to be trapped.
Although the police had me in tight place
and were pressing hard, l would no. have given
away word but for the fact that Radlof did
just what told him not to do. told him no.
TO write for two months, but he did. and the
letter tel into the hands of the police. When
they showed 1t 70 me denied ali knowledge of
it, AMI would have maintained that position
but for the key discovered BY Adoiph Krug. I
did not think there was a key in exist
ence, because / had burned the diary of
my life and other papers written in the cipher
before the FIRE. How l happened - leave
the key in the old book do not know When
saw that was trapped and there was no way
out of il | concluded TO make the best of it. The
suspicious OF murder, which had been much
more pronounced than expected, did not sit
very well upon my mind. Icame TO the con-
clusion that, ii l was tried for murder, neither
Mr.. nor Mrs. Radiof would disprove the
charge, and would be left 10 extricste myself
from bad mess A confession might have
been too late
understand the police think Radlof to be
around in this section, but l think they will
find themselves off the track. He might have
been here on one or two occasions after the
burning OF the house. have reasons to think
he might come, but he certainly got the .'tip''
when confessed and disappeared. He knows
considerable about the country and il will be
hard TO catch him. Mrs. Radloff did receive a
TO say. l am sure there is no reason why Rad
loft should follow his wife or try to DO near
her. He does not care for her, or she for him.
The scheme Jailed, Radiof will take care OF him
self and leave his wife 10 herself.
So you think was foolish TO enter into the
scheme for $500? Wen, that amount would have
kept me year or more, and you know would
have had the Radloffs right in my power Twas
to follow Radiof and go into business with him
at the end of two years in Germany. had
made up my mind if the scheme went through
would come back 70 this section after while
and tell Radlof's friends that he was not dead
For myself, am tired of this country Oae
can work here for years and be nothing more
than dog Chief Jackson has promised to help
get me Job in civil engineering when am re-
leased, but ii won't be in this section. / know
how l am looked upon, and I will go away
Perhaps after two or three years / will return,
but for what reason won't say.
When asked about DR.. Billiards. connec-
ton with the affair kostrauch said:
He is the cause OF the whole trouble and II
Chief jackson had not put policeman by my
side when the doctor was tesuiying / might
have become murderer.
'Kostrauch, people say you are cold
blooded."
He stopped and thought a moment, then
said:
an col1-DioD1eu- II you had Deen Kicked
about and endured what | have you would be
so. Rsdiof was my friend; he treated me as
such. will do anything in my power for him
The general idea that kostrauch is an
illiterate but cunning fellow is far from
true. He is naturally shrewd, has had
the advantage of good schooling and is
mathematician of no mean ability. His
knowledge of English is good, and his
language is, generally speaking, gram
NAUTICAL.
Shepard Busby was hanged in the United
States Jail AZ Fort Smith, Ark, Wednesday for
10 ID at