The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-04-10
TELLS OF HIS CRIME.



Hasting. at jacksonville, III.
Jacksonville. ILL.,. April Sat last the
mystery of the murder of Charles l..
Hastings has been cleared away. G. l..
Draper, in jail for the crime. has made
confession, explaining every detail
of the affair. Diapers statement ere
ated the greatest excitement here,
where interest In the death of Hastings
has been intense. Hastings was an alb
stract clerk in the Office of Judge IL. II.
Kirby. On the morning of April / his
body was found in the office. terribly
mutilated and bearing many CHASTITY
wounds, evidently inflicted with a
pocketl<nife. Draper. who, IL was
claimed, was an enemy of Hastings, was
arrested on suspicion. Blood was found
on his clothing, and. although he stout
ly maintained his innocence, circum-
stances seemed 10 implicate him In the
affair. IL was known that Draper and
Hastings were not on friendly terms,
and IL was also known that Hastings
suspected Draper of entering Kirby's
office at night and mutilating the alb
stract books, and IL was believed that
out of working hours was TO detect the
offender.
The whole mystery was solved
Wednesday afternoon, however. While
the coroner's jury was having another
session Rev. A. Il. Morey entered the
room with n written confession from
Draper. This confession stated that on
the night OF the murder Draper entered
Kirby's office, opened the vault, being
in possession of the combination, and
took out book. Hearing noise he ex-
tinguished his light. and undertook 10
escape. Before he could do so, Hast
ings entered. struck a match and dis
covering him rushed upon and seized
him, calling him by name. Draper con-
tinues his story as follows:
IT had on my overcoat at the time he
seized hold OF me. In the struggle / was
thrown down with him upon me. While was
I'm this position, / took the knife (Which Is
now in the possession OF the coroner) and
began TO use II as best could 10 free my
self from him. The struggle was alto
gether I'm the dark. and / could not tell
where or how the knife took effect To the
best OF my knowledge the struggle lasted
10 or 20 minutes After the struggle | re-
placed the book I'm the vault, locked IT, and
left the room by the front door with my
overcoat still on. After reaching the street
Immediately started out TO my own office
and entered the same. and while washing
my face, Alfred Morrison came to the door
and said he had seen blood on my face, and
wanted TO know II he could do anything
for me: am not able now TO recall my ex-
act answer. / remained I'm my office for
some time-how long / cannot state. While
there / discovered some blood on my over
4 laf n 4 ofa al fnr
my home. across the street. taking a round
about way"
Draper then details the circumstances
Of his entering his home quietly, with
out disturbing the sleeping members of
his family. After trying to sleep all
night he arose at $3.50 a. m, put on
fresh clothing and burned that which
he had worn the night before, and upon
which he found blood stains. He add
mits he had no right in Kirby's Office,
and says that but for his knowledge OF
his wrongful intentions in doing so,
he would have told the truth OF the
murder at once.
After leaving Judge Kirby's employ
and beginning business for himself, it
was necessary in order TO be able 10
properly prepare abstracts that he
should have access TO Kirby's books.
He had kept a key TO the door when he
left, and in an evil hour decided TO see
il the combination on the vault door
had been changed and found it had not.
The combination was as IL was left and
lie went there night after night to take
of the abstracts of titles he was called
on to prepare.