Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-11
W. |. LEEl TELLS HIS STORY
Denies That He Attempted to Wreck q
Burlington Train,
ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE YORK CASE
Accused Adniits that lie Discussed
Muttcrs of importance win the
ProSScuting witness, hut
Nothing More.

YORK, Neb., Dec. 1O.-(Specal)-W. l.,
Lee has spoken ANA the curious townspeopIc
are now commenting on the story he has
told. 1t is a remarkable one For originat-
ity Of style, it is only equalled by that OF
Messplays.
In subsistence, Lee says that his couvcrsa-
tions with Messplay were for the purpose OF
ascertaining his guilt or innocence with re-
gard to a burglary which was perpetrated
at Lees house, in which about $50 was taken
Lee denies ever plotting to wreck the Bur
lington flyer. He denies ever confeSsing to
Messplay that he attempted to assault Bis
SELL Lee says that Messplay was the one
who suggested the wreck. He also says that
Messplay told him of an attempt on Bissells
life, which he had made from ambush.
The two stories by the principal characters
in the AFFAIR are decidedly at variance. Which
is true and which is false is for the jury to
decide.
a summarized account of Lees testimony
Is as follows:
II first met Messplay at his home October
. when | called to see him. | told him |
wanted to move and that ! wanted him to
help me. Messplay asked me about my rob
berry and told him the facts. | asked Frank
about canvassing for me, and then left him.
Frank told me it would be hard for him to
fiS'S Nhtlt L was lut ulBul vi tlttllOl, ana
cited some disreputable places he claims
| visited that evening
II wrote him the letter produced in court.
Messplay talked to me about going into the
robbing business, told him l could not
go into such things, there were too many
chances. He told me he had hit a man with
stone, but did not get a SOU | told him
about the policy on Bissell and explained
thoroughly about it when he asked about
it, Frank suggested my getting Bissell on
n IL " nj
told him l would do nothing of the kind,
especially in the case of the best friend
ever had"
HOW TRAINS ARE DITCHED.
Continuing, Lee said: "Messplay walked
down to the creek with me; we went by way
OF the Elkhorn and tae st. Joe railroad
tracks. On the way MesSplay picked up
some railroad spikes and he showed me how
to derail a train with them. Messplay told
mo how he and another fellow had ditChed
a train in Colorado with steel plate"
In telling his story, Lee also stated that
he had been out near the railroad crossing
east of the city on the date mentioned by
the two witnesses who saw him there. He
says he was in the habit of walking around !
that way. Continuing Lee said: Il have |
never admitted to Messplay tsat ! threw a /,
stone at any one. / remember that assault |
on Bissell. I went straight to my photo |
graph gallery from home that night and |!
worked there for some time and then went |
to Froid's store, From there l think / |
stopped at Mr. BiSselrs on my way back to
the gallery | closed up and went home. |
Forrest Smith was with me. He put up |
the horse and went into the house. In re-
gard to the policies, MIR. George visited me
several times He wanted me to let him
write Bi2aell- / did not tell him to go.
neither did l tell him not to go, to Bissel |
He brought the policy to me any paid him
50 down.
HAD MANY POLICIES.
"On another policy, when reading 1t over
and finding the. clause about foot-pads,
just laid the policy dot7n. I first mentioned
the policies to Messplay October 13. l did
not tell him that had a policy on myself.
would not tell MIN who it was on. Al
though others knew of my having It.
when | told him about the assault and
he insurance he seemed to catch on
quickly The application for the first policy
vas written August s. George wrote two
lew policies for me after this one"
Other evidence was introduced this after
noon tending to prove an alibi. Miss Dove
Wiley testified to being at Lees home until
, o'clock the evening of the assault. She
,ays Lee was there when she left.
Mrs. Lee was placed on the stand and
ubstantated the testimony of Forrest
smith and Miss Wiley as regards Lees
whereabouts on the night of October 10. Lee
md his wife were subjected to a terrific
ross examination by the counsel for the
state but they stood the fire we'll.
Following this the prosecution began its
,lea before the jury. The case went to- the
ury at late hour tonight
Young Girl Kicked to Death.
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