The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-09
W0RDEN MAKES
A CONFESSION.

Worden then went TO stockton, Lodi
and Lathrop on an organizing tour, but
met with poor success. He continues
as follows:
''On my return 1 started for head
quarters on Front street, and then I
learned that United States troops had
come that morning. The room was full,
but Knox nor others were not there. l
went back to breakfast at the Ire
mont House about s a. m, then went
to Front street again. Found Knox
was at new rooms, Second and streets,
and went there and talked for maybe
half hour of my trip to Stockton and
coming from Lathrop. 1 was feeling
good then. 1 talked with several there,
probably ten or twelve of them
Half an hour after this conversation
Worden says he was sent for by Knox,
who instructed him to procure team.
Wordens story is that Knox instruct
ed him, as a member of the A. e. T.,
to procure a team to convey eight men
to Davisville, saying that Tom Kelly,
another striker would accompany him.
land knew all about it, AT the same
time Knox gave Worden an order on
Sacramento livery stable for the team.
Worden procured this conveyance,
and youth drove them out of. Sacra-
mento. In the wagon were, beside
Worden and the driver, who was merely
a CT oh a
James Dunn, Hatch, Appeman, Wheel
er, Barrett and a brakeman whose
name Worden cannot recall. He was
not positive Barrett was in the party,
Worden declares that all were armed
except himself
Hatch directed the driver to take a
side road leading to the railroad track.
Arriving al the track. all alighted. and
Worden says his first suspicious were
aroused. The confession goes on:
What are you going to do?" l asked.
ITO take up the rails" they said.
Il stopped still and said / would have
nothing to do with it. All surrounded
me- and Appleman swore he would kill
me then and there. They all put their
revolvers to my head and said the
same. and made me swear / would be
silent. Appleman said / ought to be
killed, anyway. / begged for my life.
else believe they would have killed
me-
"Appleman guarded me with a rifle.
while the others went on 400 yards
toward the trestle Hatch, Dunn and
Kelly went to work at the track with
big wrench and handbar. Barrett and
the brakeman were at work close to
them. Wheeler went across the trestle.
/ could not see what he was doing. n
a few minutes Kelly hollered: All
right Then the men came back, and
we got in the wagon. l took no part
in the wrecking. being held a prisoner
by Appleman all the time.
After we had got to the main road
we heard a loud noise, and Barrett
said: There she goes
The package of dynamite which was
found in the wagon I never saw. On
returning to Sacramento, l left the
wagon and walked directly to the A r.
T. headquarters. l went to sleep there,
and was awakened by Knox when he
came in, with others, among whom I
think was Treasurer Parker. Knox
asked me if l had gone with the team.
and I accused him. of using me. l
accused Knox Mullin and Compton of
knowing what was going to be done,
and they did not deny it, but said I
must have known as well. Knox said
there was nothing to connect me with
the wreck done on the track but the
boy driver, but that was bad.
After my arrest for the murder of
Engineer Clark in that wreck, Harry
Knox. who was in the same cell. told
me that Kelly and Dunn had been fur
nished money to go away by the CON-
and saddle on which Appleman es-
capped. Hatch, Compton, Mullin and
Knox got out of 1t, and / never heard
what became of Wheeler, Barrett or
the brakeman
NO trouble arose until the close of
examination. when Hatch accused me
OF preventing him from getting bail,
and beat me, and both Hatch and APP
claimed l was talking and making con-
LESSONS, until General Hart sent me
word that he could not act for me. /
was in bad shape and my knowledge
of the tragedy made it worse, and il
looked to me as If | was the victim.
which subsequent evidence proved cor
rect. OF all admissions and confess
sions 1 am credited with making. / do
not remember
My trial came on, and witnesses
were promised my attorney by Knox.
but failed to come. Attorney Strong
did the best he could for me. but re-
ceiving no assistance from those inter-
ested was convicted. and, no doubt.
my actions. talk and statements helped
greatly.
May Gcd forgive me for thinking
they wanted me out of the way. i
had been the tool and weak fool. and
then my actions. talk and knowledge
Of matters all through made me. as
can see now, n source of danger to all
others. My attorney will state that ]
wished TO go upon the stand and testify
to all the facts / have written here,