The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-30
SAYS he DID IT.
Coulter, the Murderer COnfesses
He Killed IllstOn,
But Says 1t Was Done by
Accident.
AN UNLIKELY STORY
The Murderer Brought Within
Two Miles Of Topeka
And Midnight Hearing Held
Before Justice MARBLE.
is THEN TAKEN AWAY
And Landed in the Penitentiary
at Lansing.
Scenes at Valley Falls After the
Identification
is THEN TAKEN AWAY
And Landed in the Penitentiary
at Lansing.
Scenes at Valley Falls After the
Identification.

Identification.
David mot Abe) Coulter of Valley
Falls ia in the penitentiary today con
fessed murderer. He admitted last even
ing to the officers that he shot Edward
Illston but says that the shot was fired
accidentally. He denies that second
shot was fired and says that he stuffed
the handkerchief in the boys mouth to
stife his groans because a man was
going along the road south of him and
he was afraid his attention would be at
tracted. He dragged the body into the
grass on the prairie and tooA the team
because he was frightened. he thought
that the body would never be found
That is the story told by the murderer
to the officers at the home of Justice
Marple, two miles north of Topeka last
night What he said was without show
of embarrassment and with no more dill
tidence than if he had been telling of q
hunting trip. There was no evidence of
regret and not q thing il the conversa-
tiou of the young man which would ludl-
cate that he was the least concerned
about the affair.
lie stood County Attorney Stafford up
in the middle Of the floor and illustrated
how the fatal shot Was fired just as if he
was in the habit of shooting people every
day. He seems to De d moustrosity of
cruelty.
The murderer is but eighteen years
old and SO far as is known has never been
arrested before. He is about five feet
seven inches in height and weighs per-
haps 1G0 pounds. His eyes are gray and
they indicate determination and one
who would look at the face of the boy
would conclude that he would hesitate at
nothing. His face is oval aud his chin
heavy. His hair is very dark red and
could more properly be called brown. He
speaks with a ready tuency AMI
uses the best OF language. There
is no element of bashfulness in
his makeup 4 person well acquainted
with people would at once determine
that the murderer could tell a fdisehooi
just as glibly as he would the truth and
would never want for 4 story to tit any
occasion. He is left handed and when
he illustrated how he used his gun he
placed a broom ct his left shoulder.
There is no evidence of insanity in any
thing he says and there is no doubt that
he Is wholly accountable. He is one OF
these young men who eajoy being
called tough" and he has ii swagger
which would grace a pr.ze fighter. He
is an Indication of the kind OF creature
the "Fourt' street gang" in this city is
graduating.
When he ILLUSTRATED how young Ills
ton met his death he became very much
interested and continually addressed the
officers as my friends" as if lie had
s been in the habit of giving his expari-
ence at a prayer meeting or partic!pa.-
ing in debates AT a country literary socie-
t.. He has no fear of mob violenca and
says, 81 know am in a bad fix aud |
will have TO get out of i: the best wav l
can"
He has al! the evidences of being
murderer by instinct aad there is not the
least doubt that the cruel murder WAS
committed for the old team and wagon.
which the murderer afterward persisted
he had received as payment for his work
Tor farmer at Severy.
About eleven o'clock last sight the
sheriff and chief of police brought David
Coulter 10 the house of Justice Marble
for preliminary hearing. No one was
Informed of he intentions of !he officers
because of the belief that there was
danger of lynching. There in the pre-
sence Of the officers the murderer told
his story.
Il rode with the boy said he. "uutil
near the corner where the road turns
south. and he stopped the team and we
shot at a mark l was shooting at a fence
post Oh the north side of the road aud
the Illstou boy stood by, watching the
shots. l had fired several when turned
and shot into a telephone pole on The
oiher side of the road.
DON'T shoot that wav,' said the bov.
shoot at the post
All right, l said, I will
II had just put another load in the
gun and started to turn around to shoot
at the post when my foot caught in some
thing and l stumbled"
Inc boy illustrated with the broom
the position i'll which he held
the gun, holding the end at a sIipht
anglo toward the head of the conrrv at,
torney.
"Just as it reached this position " he
continues, sit went off and lIlstop fell tn
the ground shot in the head. He was
moaning and there was a men on horse.
pack gong south on the road and I va.
AFRAID he would hear and l pulled nv
nahokerchief out and stuffed it in the
Doys mouth. l did not hear him noan
any more after that l then dragped him
10 the fence and rolled him under the
wire and got over and dragged him into
the grass and tried to cover him uD and
then l took the team and drove enst
10 the first road leading north
ola not think that the body of the bow
weuld ever be found, and when had
turned north on the road l shoyeled ont