The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-12-11
WAS MOVED BY HATRED.
jerome Kern Met Death at Re-
vengeful Woman's Hands.
DeiiIah FaIes Confesses HIS Murder
He Was the Author of Her Rufn,
and Opposed Her Marriage
20 His SON.

Wayerly, Ia, Dec. 9.-Delilnh Fales
has torn aside the veil that shrouded
the tragic death Of Jerome Kern. The
man was found dead in lonely wood on
the 23d Of last August, and the young
woman now confesses that she fired the
bullets that let out his life blood. Her
terrible story-one OF vengeance for an
irreparable wrong-was placed before
the grand jury.
As a result of her confession, which
corroborates that of her lover. William
Kern, the son OF the murdered man, the
grand jury Of Bremen county returned
into court Wednesday afternoon with
an indictment charging Delilah Fales
with murder in the first degree. She
was Immediately arraigned before
Judge Clyde, and given "a hours in
which 10 plead. She says that she will
plead guilty to-day and ask for imme-
diate sentence. She will not ask for
and does not expect mercy.
The murderess Is apparently careless
OF results. She only prays that swift
punishment be melted out 10 her. But
there are mitigating circumstances
that will arouse in many breasts throhs
Of pity and compassion, Though Miss
Fales loved William Kern, who has be-
trayed her into the hands OF justice.
she hated his father, her victim, and
not without good and sufficient cause.
When she was mere child OF IL
years she charges that the elder Kern
accomplished her ruin, and that ever
after he harassed her with his atten-
tions. More than that. he sought by
blackening her reputation, as she
states, 20 keep others from paying
court TO her Twice before she became
attached to the murdered mans son
she had been in fair way 10 become
happily married, but as many times
had Jerome Kern poisoned her lovers
against her by his venomous scandals.
At last, when by the same method he
sought to prevent his son from marry
ing her, the pent-up hatred OF years
vented itself in the commission OF the
dark crime.
Miss Fales' confession covers about
ten closely written pages. It starts by
telling Of the love affair OF herself and
young Kern, and OF the opposition Of
the father. They discussed the ques-
ton OF putting him out Of the way. and
they agreed that that would be the best
way out of their difficulties. One day
the elder Kern suggested TO the young
woman that she meet him. She saw
here the opportunity that She had been
waiting for, and she assented. making
an appointment for the following
morning in the woods through which
she usually drove on her way TO the
creamery. They met, and he assisted
her to alight from her vehicle. She
continues:
Tie was on his knees before me. saw
my chance 20 kin him. I had the revolver
just inside my coat. which was buttoned
up As he was kneeling there pulled the
revolver out and shot him quickly I'm the
chest. lie whlrled round on his knees a
little ways. and as he fell forward shot
him IN the right side OF the back Affcr
] don't know what: / couldn't understand
/ don't know whether his clothes caught
fire or not. / hurried away.
II Killed him with generalization and de-
liberation. / prayed God 20 give me
strength TO DO II with all the earnestness
that ! could command. as ! have PRAYED
Him for forgiveness. i have suffered no
pangs or conscience. on the contrary n
restfgl calm seemed TO come into my life
from the moment I knew he was dead.
never slept so we'll as / ala the night after
1 fired those fatal shots"
Then follows a detail of the plotting
of the two to lay the crime at the door
OF John Lewis, a former lover of De
lilah's. They even prepared a letter
purporting to have been written by the
deceased ON the day of his murder, and
which was left where il would be read
lily found as il was a few days ago.
This letter said that IL harm came to
Kern, Lewis must be held responsible.
William Kern's confession corroborates
that of Miss Fales in almost every de-
tail. Public feeling seems at present to
be In favor Of the woman, but there is
bitter denunciation of her scheme TO
involve an innocent man in the dreadful
affair.
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