Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-11-15
Has Not Confessed.

The Fargo Argus Saturday says:
'Sheriff Barnes informs the Argus that
Villers yesterday made horrible con-
fession to Sheriff Eddy. He said he had
not only murdered Mrs. Tromer, but
that be also killed Mr.. Tromer month
ago. The latter. he says, he encountered
while doing the evening chores around
the barn. He attacked and killed
Tromer, and then buried bis body 10 9
heap of manure back of the barn, where,
he informed Sheriff Eddy, it could still
be found.
"Villers says he went to the Tromer
farm Tuesday night. He met Mrs.
Tromer at the barn and Knocked her
down with q piece OF cordwood. beating
her into insensibility. He threw her
body into the we'll in the barn and left
her for dead, setting fire to the struc-
ture."
Sheriff Eddy, when the above state
ment was called to his attention this
morning. said that, as far as he knew,
Villers has made no confessional least
not to him. Deputy Port Eddy and
Chief OF Police Thompson took the pris-
oner to Fargo Friday and it is posi-
bic, says the sheriff, that Villers, in the
agitation Of his mind, may have unbur-
dened himself to Sheriff Barnes and con-
fes sed to the murder of Mre. Tromer-
Vlllers surposing ner to be dead. Since
his arrest the prisoner has been very
nervous and agitated and 1t is not i'm
probable that the strain has been too
great and he has sought relief by con-
fession. On the way down to Fargo the
prisoner attempted to escape by working
at his hand.cuffs in an endeavor to break
them, but in this he was frustrated by
the close watch Of bis guards. His cap
ture and the hssty removal 10 the night
to Fargo, has wrought upon bis mind
and made him quite nervous.
The alleged confession OF Villers in
regard to the murder Of Tromer will be
Investigated at once by the authorities
and the premises of both Vlllers and
Tromers thoroughly searched for the
body of the man. The LaMoure officers,
as we'll as sheriff Eddy are on the qui
vive and any clue to the solution Of
Tromer's disappearance will be closely
followed up.
The fear OF the lynching OF the prisoner
while in the county Jail here was not
entirely gronndless, but was probably not
carried into effect owing to the lack OF a
leader. SO those affirm who are acq quaiDted
with the excited condition OF the people
in the neighborhood where the crime
was committed. Excitement ran high
and hanging was freely talked OF but
nothing done because OF lack OF organi.
zation and Q determined leader. The
country there is not thickly populate
neghbors are distant one from another
and wives and children are frequently
left alone the greater part Of the day
while the male members OF the family
are working out OF hearing from. or sight
Of the house. That the defenceless
woman and her children should be thus
attacked in the murderous manner in
which they were aroused the deepest in
dienatlon and anger against her sssail
ant
The Alert should have stated yester
day that Villers was formerly deputy
sheriff in Kewanee county, Wisconsin
instead OF in Michigan.
Information received Saturday p. m
from Sheriff Eddy at Fargo stated thai
Villers has made no confession, Al
! allaoed