The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-24
ASHBY GOT TANGLED
WIFE MURDERER ACCIDENTALLY
RECALLED HOMICIDE.
INSANITY DODGE BROKE
PRISONER CLUMsILY TRIED TO
COVER BLUNDERs.

When Told of Statement Made by
Willie Sims, He Became Ratified
and Declared That Sims Ran when
Shots Were Fired-Then Said He
saw IL I'm the Newspapers-Would
Not Have Been Caught IL Train
Had Not Been Behind Time-ReaI-
lied That the Telegraph Had Cut
on His Retrent-COmplains of Pain
in the Head and Wonders if He
Has a wild Look.
Wife murderer Lewis NJ. Ashby be-
came ratified for a moment yesterday
and made a statement that he would
probably like to recall. The prisoner
practically admitted that he remem-
bers the shocking, and in his eager
ness to keep up the insanity dodge.
he made an effort to take back what
he had said. While shrewd talker,
Ashbys attempt to cover his blunder
was rather clumsily made.
The prisoner was talking with a rep
resentative of the Morning News and
played his part web, with but one or
two exceptions. He was told of
rather wild statement credited to Will
lie Sims, the boy who says he saw the
shooting.
Sims didn't see the shooting at all,
said the prisoner. He got frightened
and ran out of the house; that is,
mean the newspapers say So"
Ashby appears to be undecided
whether to claim that he was insane
g.
his game up, and he worked between
the two during his conversation. He
said that he can remember nothing of
the tragedy or of his escape from the
city, although later he said that he
took a boat after he got out of the
street wagon, and then walked across
to Stillwell, where he boarded the train
for Savannah.
IF the train hadn't been so much
behind time they never would have
caught me- the prisoner blurted out
before he realized what he had said.
A moment later he declared that he
surrendered to the conductor, but
would not talk when asked why he
gave himself up when he was not
aware that he had done anything.
Ashby appeared at ease and put up a
clever talk, until closely questioned,
and then he made his breaks.
His statement about the train being
behind time strengthens the theory
of the police that he was making for
his home at Miller's Station when nab
bed by the Seaboard conductor. The
train was three hours late, and during
that time Ashby took more bromide.
Partially under the influence of the
drug, he became careless and his sus-
picious actions attracted the attention
of the conductor.
AShhV was FIRST discovered in the f0i-
let room, and when questioned by the
conductor, lost his nerve. He was ac-
cused of having a motive in hiding
himself, and said that he had got into
some domestic trouble. The conductor
accused him of being the murderer,
and with fright stamped on his coun-
tenance he admitted his identity. This
statement was made by the conduc-
tor yesterday morning to Patrolman
Eagleson, to whom Ashby was first
delivered. 1t was the first statement
made by the conductor of the arrest
of Ashby.
Ashby stated yesterday that he had
read the newspaper accounts of the
homicide since he had been in Jail.
He thought that the crime had been
made blacker than it was, but would
not say in what way. 1T was horrible.
wasn't it?" he asked. The prisoner
had been wired all over the country
and that he realized that he had been
cut off, and decided to return to Sa
vannah. These rather damaging ut
terances were made in a disconnected
way.
The prisoner complained of pain in
his head and asked If he didn't have a
wild look in his eyes. He seemed anx-
ious to appear insane, and continually
asserted that his condition is due to
the frequent use of narcotics. Ashby
claims that he suffered a great deal
from insomnia, and that he began the
use of drugs to produce sleep. He
stated that he took a large quantity
of bromide and drank a great deal of
whisky the night before the homi-
eide
Ashby has been very suspicious since
his confinement and refuses to have
anything to do with his fellow prison.
ers on the same floor. Some of them
have tried to become friendly with the
murderer and engage him in CONVEX
sation, but he refuses to yield. He ac-
cused more than one man in the cor
ridor with him of trying to pick infor-
nation that might be used in the pros
ecution of the case. Ashby has not yet
been able to secure counsel, although
he is making an effort. He stated
that after he has consulted with his
attorney he may make a public state
ment. In the meantime, he PAGES the
floor and tries to throw out the i'm
preston that he is the real thing in
the way of a crazy dope fiend.