Omaha daily bee., 1896-08-18
CONFESSION OF THE CLARKS
Women in the Eyster Case Tell How the
Murder Was Done.
CLIFF HAGEY ADMINISTERED THE DRUG
Gave Morphine to His Victim In
Beer and After Robbing Him
Dragged Him to Die In
the Alley,

LINCOLN, NoD., Aug. ls-(SpeClal Iele-
gram)-An important feature developed in
the Eyster murder case this evening, This
was joint confession, made to County At
torney Woodward by Laura and Della Clark,
who kept the resort near which the dead man
was found. The confession has been taken
in shorthand and is now in the county
attorneys possession. In substance it re-
cites that the drugging of Eyster was done
by Cliff Hagey in the Clark house. The
girls say they did not see the morphine
actually administered. but are positive that
it was given to Eyster by Iiagey in some
beer which was furnished by them to Hagey.
When it took effect on the victim, and
after he had been robbed Della Clark
ordered Hagey to remove Eyster from the
house under penalty of calling the police
in case he refused. This accounts for the
dragging out Of Eyster and the placing
him in the alley back of the Lincoln Paint
and Color company's warehouse, in broad
daylight The girls deny that they received
any of the money. The full confession
will be presented to the coroner's jury
tomorrow.
The coroner's inquest over the body
of w. f. Eyster was continued to-
day; Eighteen witnesses were exam
ined, but the evidence was quite
conflicting. The coroner's jury is composed
of f. j. Kelly, E. E. Mohler. W. c. Davis,
Harry Abbott w. II. Dorgan and James
Tyler. Matte Mccain, the first witness
this morning, said she saw Cliff Hagey, one
of the men under arrest as the murderers,
and Eyster about 4:3O Friday evening
emerging from the rear door of Mrs. Clark S
house. Later she saw Eyster lying in the
alley when the patrol wagon came. This
was about s o'clock. Later she saw Hagey
return to the Clark house, but did not know
how long he remained
City Physician Finney testified that he had
instantly detected symptoms of morphine
poisoning and had tried several remedies.
He said that Eyster did not have the symp-
toms of a person dead drunk.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
Englehardt II. Smith was in the saloon
when Hagey and Eyster had the trouble
over the latter's money. Witness said Eys-
ter pushed Hagey against the ice box and
accused him of stealing his money. During
the progress of the quarrel Smith had found
the money in the sawdust at the base of the
ice box. Neither Eyster nor Hngey appeared
to be drunk. Witness heard Hagey say that
Eyster must have known he did not take
the money, as he (Eyster) had known him
since boyhood. When witness left Hagey
was outside the saloon and Eyster was
within.
Milo McCord, under arrest for having got
ten $50 of oysters money, was not sworn
merely being called on for statement. He
said he saw Hagey, an unknown man and
! Joe Epps in the latters saloon early Friday
afternoon. Witness observed a $40 and $2C
| bill lying on the floor and picked them up
| putting them in his pocket and saying moth
ing to anyone. McCord said he did not sec
! Hagey from the time he met him in Epps
| saloon until he was arrested and taken tC
Jail. He did not know the man with whom
| Hagey was talking and he could not give
| a good description of him. During the stay
| n am nI1
in the rear of the saloon and had conver
sation that was not audible to witness. AlsC
while in the saloon Hagey and the stranger
scuffied around in what appeared to be
| half-drunken, good-natured manner. Wit
ness did not see Hagey have the stranger!
! pocketbook.
Detective Routzahn was told by Lauri
| Clark that Eyster had come there alon,
and drank a couple Of bottles of beer. H,
appeared drunk and the woman called Hage!
| into the house and asked him to help tht
man out. He did so, and left Eyster walking
in the alley. This the woman said, wal
about 43O. The women both denied tha
Hagey came with Eyster, and they boil
| said he did not return after the patrol wagoI
had taken oysters body to the station.
Eddie Snow, boy of about IA or 10 years
says he saw Hagey and an elderly MAJ
| Eyster) at the southeast corner of Mint
| and streets about 4 o'clock in the after
noon. They went into the saloon across tn
street, anu ldleT lHe DOy saw lneul BOlUi
west on o towards the Boyd hotel The
were talking rapidly, but witness did no
think they were mad at each other.
Joseph Epps was sworn. He said he say
| Hagey at his saloon about 2:15 on Frda
afternoon and again about 4:3O. The frs
time he was accompanied by Eyster. D
not see Eyster or Hagey prior to about 2:1E
| He had no conversation with Hagey in pri
vate except late in the afternoon, when he re
turned alone and asked witness If he wante
to buy a harness. He saw no scufile sue
as described by McCord, and did not see Eys
ter display any great amount of money.
STROMSBURG, Neb.. Aug. 17.-(Specia
Telegram.)-Clin Hagey, who has bee
arrested for the alleged murder c
W. f. Eyster at Lincoln, is
former resident of Stromsburg. Peopl
here who are acquainted with him say h
was of a peculiar disposition and on accoun
of his quick temper made few friends. Will
he lived here Hagey was law-abiding cit
zen.