The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-17
STORY NOT BELIEVED
Plea of Murder by "SIim"
French Probably a Joke.
MADE TWO CONFESSIONS
In One He Admitted He Lied
in the Other.

Some time ago Slim French made a
confession in the jail Of this county that
he was one of three men who murdered
Farmer Wiltberger, near Winfield, last
year When this statement was made. an
Eagle reporter was informed OF it, but
it looked so fishy and so fiimsily contrived
that no notice was taken OF it. It had
all the earmarks of pipe dream" La
ter the story was backed by some official
recognition. and was exploited. The coun-
~ attorney of CowIey county, Mr.. Ter
renee. was criticised for not using "Slim"
AT the trial OF Clyde Moore who was on
trial at Winfield for the murder. The
criticisms irritated County Attorney Tor
renee, and ne did exactly what this paper
said he would do-make a statement that
he did not believe Slim s" story. That
his position would have more weight and
justification, Mr.. Terrence wanted the
presiding judge-W. T. McBride-a man
Of honesty and keen discernment-to have
personal interview with Slim which
he did. "Slim" in the meantime plead
guilty to completely in the murder, but
Judge Mcbride refused to believe his
statement, aSd would not accept the plea.
He ordered him sent back to jail until
developments should materialize to JUS
tify belief in his story.
A statement authorized by County At
torney Terrence is printed in the Win
field Courier as follows:
There has been some criticism of the
county attorney for not bringing Slim
into court and letting him enter his plea
or guilty, as it was announced he had
agreed to do. In a conversation with the
county attorney he made the statement
that Judge Mcbride had expressed a de-
sire TO have an interview with ''Slim"
before receiving his plea. slim" was ia
ken to the Office of the county attorney,
where Judge Mcbride had private in
terview with him, after which the Judge
ordered the prisoner taken back to jail.
The county attorney today inquired of
Judge Mcbride when he should bring
Slim into court, and Mcbride made the
statement that - view of the facts OBJ
tanned from "Slim" at the interview, he
did not feel justified in accepting his
plea of guilty-that he had no faith what
ever in "Slim's" story Il will also
state" said Mr.. Terrence, that I have
felt that the story, or various stories,
told by slim" were not at all reliable,
and at the suggestion of Judge Mcbride,
! am now running down certain things
which tend to verify or disprove the
statements made by Slim"
Why slim" confessed TO a murder he
seemingly - not Sullly o. Is puZZHLR the
officers connected with the case, and vari-
Gus theories are offered for it. II is said
that the matter of 1.-The reward has mad
something to do with it, but 1t is not
easy to understand why a man would
want to so to the penitentiary for life
that some man might, or might not get
a reward for the capture of the murder
of Mr.. Wiltberger. II the case stands
as it does now, with Clyde Moore con-
victed, one party will get all the reward
offered. II others are connected, the re-
wards will be divided. It all seems to be
a case of rewards" instead of a case
or murder.
It is a very peculiar affair, and its out
come will be watched with interest.
Slim French made at least two confess
sions, and maybe more. He acknowledged
in one confession that he lied in the other
and the result seemingly is that neither
OF them is believed.
Editor Lynch of DAILY POST Phillips
burg, n. j.. has tested the merits of FOL-
EY'S HONEY AND TAR with this re-
suit: 4 have used great many patent
remedies in my family for coughs and
colds, and can honestly say your Honey
and Tar is the best thing of the kind I
have ever used and I cannot say too much
in praise of it, G. Gehring, 400 East
Douglas. Geo Van Werden. 32S North
Main. Wichita Drug Co.. 10 East Douglas