The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-11
CONFESSION OF HAYWARD
No Longer Any Doubt Of the Guilt Of
the Murderer.
DESPERATE PLAN FOR ESCAPE
The Slayer of Catharine Cling Details a
Plot to Murder the Prison Guards.
lie Grows Nervous at the Ap.
proach of His Doom.

Minneapolis, Minn.. Dec. 10.-HaPry
Hayward has confessed. Every shadow
Of doubt as to his guilt In connection
with the murder of Catherine Cling has
been swept away by the voluntary
word of the assassin. In the still
watches Of the night Hayward turned
to County Physician Burton, who con-
stantly attends him. and. as to a father
confessor. admitted that the gallows
was about to receive one of the guilt
est wretches of the nineteenth century.
The story of the crime he recited from
beginning to end, confessing that he
alone was the instigator of the mur-
derous plot and that Claus Blixt was
but his tool.
II fell down at the last moment,
though" said Hayward, after a full
confession had been made. Il intended
to kill BliXt. but could not. II I had,
! would have been safe. The morning
after the morning went to him and
told him to go to Frank--that is the
elevator boy. you know-and borrow a
revolver of him. Blixt looked at me
for moment, and then replied: No,
Harry; No. He was too cunning for
me, him. I failed. but If he had
borrowed that revolver I would have
gone into the basement and after TAX
ing the revolver away from Blixt
would have shot him through the right
temple where man committing suicide
would naturally shoot. Then l would
have dropped the revolver by his side
and backed from the room. I figured
that Mrs. Blixt or some one might come
rushing in, and If was backing out.
! could, upon the appearance Of any
one, have simply rushed forward to-
ward the body, as If I had heard the
shot and was just rushing in. failed
though, and now they have me-" with
a glance toward the court where the
gallows stands awaiting his victim.
Hayward Is making gigantic effort
to cover up his shattered nerve today.
He rose from his couch this morning,
and, although he had not slept wink,
stretched himself and said to the death
watch: D it, would like to be
hung every day. feel like fighting
cock"
He ate sparingly of wheat cakes and
fried eggs, but joked with his watch
the while, stating that he had always
fed well and he could not leave the
world hungry. Nevertheless, his every
effort to appear natural to-day is no
ticeable. His lips quiver like those Of a
suffering infant, and he cannot keep his
mind upon topic long enough to form
az
up fast, and although Jailer Sandberg
declared that Harry will walk to the
rope without q tremor, 1t is doubtful.
Various Cranks Appear.
The afternoon and evening preceding
the execution of Harry Halward were
filled with exciting episodes. Cranks
Of all sorts were numerous and made
themselves known freely.
Within three days past Hayward
made last frantic attempt to form
another plot Of escape. Sitting In his
cell with short hand reporter taking
his last statement, he recited the story.
my plan was this: At just three
minutes past twelve at night I would
fall down on the floor Of my cell and
writhe In anguish as II had suicided
by taking poison. The guards would
Immediately ring up doctors.
About five minutes after this three
men with long satchels in their hands
would present themselves at the Jail
and state that they were the physi-
clans summoned. They would be my
men and the satchels would not con-
tain medicine but derringers. The jail
ors would be sandbagged and my
guards taken care of afterward.
Il would be taken out with re-
vOlver In each hand and carriage
awaiting me at the door would take me
away.
IF 1t had not been for one slip this
scheme would have gone through, you
can bet on that"