Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-08
c CONFESSED
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Continued from First Page.)
and then l sat down by the side of the road
and cried for a long time, for I was GER
| tainly sorry, deed / was.
His Hiding.
when got home that Monday night 1
| told my wife that had made an attack on
| white lady and that the police were after
me, so that 1 would have to go away. 1
staid at home that night, and the next day
1 spent in the woods near where 1 live. I
was there that night where could see the
| house without being seem and l saw the
detectives when they went to the house and
made the search. After that l slipped nto
a barn not far off and Stad there that
night. Wednesday l was in the woods
again, and then went off by the road to
Muirkirk
1 caught a freight train there and hung
on till got to Baltimore. 1 stayed around
Sparrow's Point, where 1 used to work, and
Wednesday night l got into freight car
In Baltimore and slept there all night. The
train that the car was on left Baltimore
before 1t was daylight, and 1 got up to
Harper's Ferry yesterday morning. The
bread and meat 1 was eating when that
gentleman caught me at Harper's Ferry
yesteray was given to me by man on the
freight train, who had a haskell full of
things to eat. Then 1 was brought back
here to Washington, and that is Just all
there is about it,
Why have You decided to make this
confess;on?'
Because this gentleman here" pointing
to Detective Weldon, done told me that I
oughtn't to go to sleep tonight with any
such lies on my lips. made up my mind
then that l would clear all this off nv
conscience, and now 1 ceel ever so much
better"
tarily?"
What do you mean by that?"
al
say"
Il have told it because 1 wanted to, and
have told the truth: 1 never tried to rape
that girl, but did cut her throat, because
knew II ! didn't she would have me ar
rested, anyhow.
string me up tonight. anyhow and 1 mi..h,
just as we'll tell the whole thing straight be-
fore l die"
Expects to BE Lynchcd.
Detective Weldon tried to reassure the
covering wretch by telling him that he
would have a fair and honest trial. but
nothing would convince Ford that he was
not to be lynched as soon as night fell. Again
and again he pointed to the little crowd
which clustered about his cell door, and in
sisted that there was not man there who
would not be only too glad to tie the rope
around his neck In this, perhaps. Ford was
not SO very far wrong, for as he told his
CHASTITY tale there was no one in earshot but
shuddered at the cold-blooded way in which
he had killed the poor, helpless girl just four
days before. There was not one thought
for her. it was all for himself. lest he might
meet with summary punishment.
Il wouldn't much mind" he said to
The Star reporter, IF they would only Just
wait and hang he like gentleman, but it
certainly amt nice to think about the way
you all is going to take me out and do me
soon it gets dark"
could
from outside the station house, and from
this Ford concluded that a crowd was
gathering. He shook and trembled and
hung on to the bars for help. During the
conversation young colorei man who
lives near Burnt Mills and knew Ford in
tmately came in to him.
Here's a friend CT yours, Ford" said
Mr.. Weldon. shake hands with him.
Ford thrust his huge paw through ;he
bars and shook the hand of his friend right
willingly.
'HCw are you, JeSSe?' he said. 'HoHs
all your follis?'
''Theys pretty well, Irving, but certain
ly am sorry to see you in such scrape
But you done got into it yourself, and 1
can't help you now
Il know it. jesse" said Ford. who SEEM
ed to have recovered something of his self
possession on seeing a friendly face
Coming hack again to the details of the
crime, an effort was made to get Ford to
say something more of the motive which
lay behind his act 1t was unsuccessful,
however, for the prisoner Insisted that the
murder was not premeCitated. and would
never have been committed had not Miss
kreglo thrown a stone al him. If course
no one who heard him believed that Dor-
ton of the story, but he described the man
ner in which he cut the girls throat so
clearly and unreserredly that there was
TO question but that in all the essentials
necessary to convict him of murder he had
told what actually so.
Looking at the Prisoner.
This afternoon when it became known
that the prisoner had made confession
the crowd in the police station. as well as
on the outside. increased everybody being
anxious to get glimpse of the man be-
hind the bars. When the officers had fin
ished taking Fords statement the front
doors of the. station were opened to the
crowd, few being admitted at a time.
This was kept up for some time, and family
Lieut. Kelly appeared al the station and
ordered the doors closed. The crowd, how
ever. was permitted to remain on the side
walk.
An Early Trial.
1t is more than probable that Ford will
be indicted within week and tried during
the present month. 1t is the intention OF
District Attorney Birney to at once lay
the case before the grand jury, and an
indictment charging him with the murder
of the girl will probably be returned not
later than next week.
If that should be the case the district at
torney would assign the case for trial at
the earliest practicable day. some time this
month.
The man therefore will. in all probab lity
have paid the dread penalty for the terrible
crime charged against him within the next
two or three months.
IN AFFECT FEAR.
The Murderer Measured and Photo
graphed This Morning.