The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-05-08
AMOS PHILLIPS. WHO CONFESSED

the announcement that the Jail and
courthouse will be heavily guarded
from now on until the prisoners are
disposed Of, and that the guards have
been instructed to resist to death any
attempt at violence. The first man,
says the sheriff, who sets foot on the
courthouse or jail steps with a view to
forcing the delivery Of the prisoners
will be shot down.
According to the confession Of Phil
lips, wlo is an ignorant farmer, he met
The Smith men and other members OF
their band in a saloon at Rich Hill,
Mo. They have used him as a sort OF
driver and roustabout, not letting him
in on some Of their deals. He has ac-
companied the officers over the route
which Edlinger and the %murderers
Travelled, and pointed out the spot
where the murder occurred. His story
confirms the trail which the officers
had when he confessed.
After Phillips had identified the
Smiths, County Attorney Sheppard,
convinced that he knew more, seated
him in the sweat box again, and slow
ly the old man yielded up a confession.
Every original utteranee would be a
lie and when nailed by the county at
torney, he would admit it and tell what
circumstances would warrant believing.
Repeatedly he was warned to quit ly-
ing and twenty times he moved his
chair, Strengthened up and said; Now,
I'm going to tell you the truth" His
second sentence would be an admitted
lie. He told that he had met the two
Smith men, whom ne knew as Red
and John, at the Chetopa reunion about
Oct. 1; that he was on the way home
from the territory; that the Smith men
and two women asked to accompany
him to Missouri; that they went up
through Crawford county, turned into
Neosho county and met Edllnger in
camp near Stark: that night the
Smith men shot him and crushed his
head with an ak and threatened to Kill
him If he interfered or told a word;
that they loaded him into the Wagon
and hauled him two days until they
reached the ford, where they disposed
of him: that the man known as George
Smith drove ahead with Edlinger'
team and they met by arrangement a
Fulton; that they proceeded to Bate.
county, where the men took the Ed
Iinger outfit and left him, threatening
n kin him if he exposed the crime
This statement was made in the pres
ence of Ed Smith and sworn to b.
pbillips. Smith only laughed and re
marked:
"What a liar!"
sheriff Wheeler and ex-sheriff ALE.
had worked up a clue to the iran 9
tbo murdered man and murderers rror
Rich Hill west to Prescott throug
linn county into Bourbon and dow
20 . spot where the body was foun6
and had designated the spot where tn
murder. according to their theory, ma
occurred. They had a complete recor
~ the movements Of the two wagon
ond the descriptions of the team
posed upon this clue was the theor
thot EdIinger had been followed I
Kansas and their next examination {
pbilIins was entered into upon ths
theory AZ first the old man Stout
adhered to his first confession. Inc
Nv cbanped it in a few material points
than he admitted having seen u
smith men in Rich Hill, and finally !
saId tbo vhole story and was ready
odmit anything of which he was a.
Oused For an hour and a half ne W.
~ h stocks, and 1t was apparent tnf
--o. neryous and enduring a ment'
I'm that. as he complained, cause
sta head to hurt. A hundred times .
snYnd himself guilty Of lying as to IL
~ and at last admitted everything
tTis story finally conceded with u
developments made by sherin Wheel'
aud his force. and there is no questlo
anu 49, minds of the officers but that
is true in all of its material poin'
Two or three months ago gan
.aording to Phillips statemen
~,oUned to change its rendezvous
!ha obscure spot in Cedar count
wSsrs the Edlinger team was loun
~ had leased or bought a wen
inr.ct he saws. 10 which they coul