Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-20
.FORD'S CONFESSION
An Important Point in the Trial
Today.
DEFENSE OPPOSE IT'S ADMISSION
Story Of the Murderer's Capture
at Harper's Ferry.
Elk A MINED BY EXPERTS

The trial of Irving Ford, who murdered
Elsie Kreglo the afternoon of the 18th of
this month, will go down in the history of
District murder trials as about the smallest
attended one Not, however, because the
public do not desire to attend it. but be-
cause Marshal Wilson is faithfully obeying
the instructions Of Judge Cole to exclude
about every enc whose presence is not alb
solutely required. So, when the trial was
resumed this morning the court room was
only comfortably filled. Ford today man
ifested more interest than usual in the
proceedings, especially when Mr.. Burleigh,
his captor. was testifying. The man, how
ever, presents an almost pitiable condition.
apparently fully conscious of his hopeless
ness, and evidently realizing more than
ever before that his days are numbered.
and that their number is small indeed.
Murderer's Capture.
The first witness called by District At
leigh, the mayor of Harpers Ferry, w.
Va, the man who captured Ford there.
Mr. Burleigh, great, muscular man, said
that on the afternoon of tho It'll of this
month he noticed Ford there going up
Potomac street. Il followed him up, and
when l came up 10 him he was sitting
down eating He said Hello, boss, have
a bite l told him 1 was not hungry, and
then l asked his name. He said his name
was Harris, and that he had just arrived
from Sparrow Point, near Baltimore"
"'Do you know a man by the name of
Irving Ford?" 1 asked He said he
didn't. Then 1 said, I guess I'll take you
anyway. for you look like a man wanted
in Washington for murder He said he
wasn't the man, and that he had always
made 1t rule never to take anything
that he couldn't give back. ] took him
along to the jail, and just as 1 was unlock
ing the door he broke away and ran.
He jumped into the river, wading out as
if he intended to drown himself. AS l
ran l fired at him, and then we jumped
into boats and, after great struggle.
pulled him ashore. I said to him: What
did you run for If you have done nothing?
He said: Because, boss, 1 was skeered.'
Then / haEdcuffed him. locked him up,
and telegraphed the Washington police"
Mr.. Burleigh told of the arrival of Detec
tive Boardman of this city, in answer to
his telegram, of how they pretended, in Or
der to escape the wrath of the crowd, that
Ford was not the man. He also told that
Ford finally admitted to him at Harper's
Ferry that his name was Ford, and that
he lived with his wife and child al Burnt
Mills, Md, explaining that he knew the
people were going to kill him, and that he
was not going to die with lie on his lips.
The journey to this city was described,
and the witness was about to detail a con-
fcs sion made to him by the prisoner at the
police station the next day, when counsel
Tor the defense StrenuouSiy objected. They
Contended that from the moment of Ford's
capture at Harper's Ferry up to practically
the present time he has been in a condi-
ton of abject terror, and that any state
ments made by him are, therefore, mad
missible.
The Confession.
Judge Cole suggested they question the
witness, and ascertain in that way the
condition Of the prisoners mind. Mr.. Don
aldson thereupon subjected Mr.. Burleigh
to a long cross-eXa mination. The witness
denied that he gave Ford whisky, and also
denied that any threats were made against
him in Harper's Ferry. But" he ex-
back that if they'd known that Ford was
the right man, he'd never have lived to get
out of Harpers Ferry.
On the way to Washington, said Mr.. Bur-
leigh Ford was very nervous. rubbing his
legs, grooming, and saying that he knew
the people We're going to kill him. The
next morning, with a Mr. Cross, he visited
Ford at the police station.
WELL" asked Mr.. Donaldson, didn't
both of you then try to persuade Ford to
confess?"
mo, 1 can't say that we did. Ford said
the people were going to burn him or cut
him up. 1 told him that he needn't be
afraid of that, and then I told him that
they had the thing fixed on him, and that
he ought to tell all about it. Mr.. Cross
also urged him to tell everything. promis-
he would. At length Ford exclaimed:
Well boss. l done it,"
Counsel for the defense were too late
with their objections to prevent the wit
ness from giving Ford's remark, but, at
their request, Judge Cole ruled it out for
the present Mr.. Burleigh then stepped
aside temporarily. in order to allow counsel
for the defense to question Deputy Coroner
GlaZebrook as to the condition of Ford S
mind at the time. DR.. Glazebrook said he
measured Ford and talked with him. He
appeared to be composed, but did express
more than once fear that he would be
lynched.
Didn't you tell Ford that he ought to be
lynched?" asked MIR. Peter
II did not" replied the witness. But /
did ask him if he did not think the man
who killed the girl ought to be lynched?"
WAS he not SO frightened that he could
not remove his sockS?'
Il did not notice that"
did you not show the photograph of the
girl, and sternly ask him if he ever saw
her?"
Il showed him the photograph, but did
not sternly ask the question:
DR.. Glazebrook said to Mr.. Brney that
ne saw no threats made to induce Ford s
statement.
Prisoner Examined
During recess DR.. Wade H. Atkinson, at
the request Of counsel for the defense,
subjected Ford to a close examination for
condition. What conclusion the physician
reached the prisoners counsel alone know,
Of course. 1t seems to be an assured fact
that the defense will be that of mental
IRE sponsibilty. Although it is under
stood that but few witnesses will be called
on behalf of the prisoner, District Attor-
ney Birney hopes to be able to conclude
the governments case today. If he does
the case will probably go to the jury to-
morrow afternoon.
The defense having concluded their pre-
liminary examination of the witnesses ex-
pected to be called by the government in
the matter of Ford's confessions Mr.. Biz
ney continued after recess his direct line
Of testimony, recalling Detective Weldon
to the witness stand. Mr.. Weldon testf-
fled that he and Detective Horne were as
signed to the case the afternoon of the
murder. AS the result Of an examination
Of the pistol found near the girls body
the records of sale of concealed weapons
at police headquarters were searched, with
the result that he and Horne Went to the
home of Ford at Burnt Mills, Md, where
some Of the mans blood-stained clothing
vas found the next day. They had a re-
ov.I Sc -