Evening star., 1902-08-15

~ of value 1 am now in the hands of
Chief O'Neill. and inasmuch as the ponce
have paid my expenses here l feel that l
hardly should say more. | barely know
Thompson, and have spoken to him only
three or four times. | never was doctor
nor a hypnDtiSt and could not possibly nave
put Thompson under any influence, as ne
irrationauy stated
Queer Things at Bartholin House.
Il have already said that l thought things
were queer at the Bartholin home and that
is the reason 1 left there. l have a few
things more to tell the chief of police, but
the public must wait until the chief speaks
/ saw BarthOlin kissing a woman in the
house. but what bearing that may have on
the case do not know. am willing TO
tell the police everything that may be OF
value TO them, but l hope l may soon De
put out of this disagreeabie business.
had hoped my name would not be drawn
into the affair.
Edwards was cross-examined both by Chief
of Police O'NeiIl and by Inspector Hunt,
who is directly in charge of the murder in
yestigation. Practically nothing new was
eIiciicd by the questioning. Edwards told
In the same stra ghtforward manner as he
had 10 interyiewers what he remembered
of suspicious actions about the Bartholin
house, CT lis fear that Mr.. Bartholin had
been murdered, and his fear for his own
safety if he stayed longer in the house.
The story repeated how he had been
awakened by the bowling of a cat of how
one night. and how Thompson had ex-
planned his presence in Edwards room by
saying he thought William Bartholin was
sleeping there.
Edwards met Thompson today in com
pany with the police. The men nodded to
each other. but said nothing. Thompson
was quizzed by Inspector Hunt again. but
reiterated his former statements that his
mind was a blank on the night of the sup
posed Minnie Mitchell murder
Thomson Makes Admission,
Late last night Thompson admitted to a
newspaper man that he no longer denied
the story of Mrs. Tallerday, who makes the
charge that he and Daddy Claff and
man supposed to be William Bartholin were
quarreling under her window at 4 o'clock
In the morning after Minnie Mitchell disap-
peared. and that with them was Thomp-
sons laundry wagon, in which 1t is sup
posed the murdered girls body was carted
to the prairie at 18th and State streets.
II turned in my laundry wagon at tie
Aagaard stables the night Minnie Mitchell
was killed about $50 O'clock he said.
Il stopped and had several drinks at Clan
cy's saloon. and then l went to the house in
Calumet avenue. 1t must have been about
10 o'clock when / reached there.
II met Bartholin in the house. I do not
know what happened there. l went to my
room, and after that l cannot say any
thing as to what transpred In the house. l
may have been drunk or l may have been
Whatever 1 did 1 do not know. 1 do
not deny now that l went out with him.
but | cannot remember. Whatever l did
he made me do. / may have gone with him
IN the wagon. as this woman says she saw
with the wagon in the street the next
morning. If l was there, it is all blank
to me-
Made Bogus Confession.
Becoming desperate while being subjected
to d vigorous examination by Inspector
Hunt last night Thompson confessed to
everything that the police have been try
Ing to make him tell. When he had fin
ished Thompson laughed derisively, and
said:
inspector, that story is a lie You
wanted me to tell you all these things. 1
have admitted all, but l must confess that
IT is all a lie
Inspector Hunt, who has been laboring
with Thompson for days, thought for a
moment that the solution of the mystery
was pouring from Thompsons lips, but
the next moment he realized that Thomp-
son was endeavOring to perpetrate a joke
In making the bogus confession Thomp-
son said:
Yes. Bartholin made me go to the Iaun-
dry barn and get the wagon that We'd
nesday night. He made me bring it to the
house at 1910 Calumet avenue and back il
up to the curb. Then Bartholin came out
OF the house carrying a mysterious bundle
to the Englewood prairie and hid the bun
die in the weeds You have been telling
me to tell you that. and admit it is the
truth. You have told me the same stories
day after day, and have pressed me to con-
fess that they are true. / will tell you that
all these things happened. but. inspector.
will also state to you that every word 1
have spoken Is false Everything L have
told you is deliberate falsehood."
The bogus confession came just at the
very moment when a confession was ex-
pected, and Inspector Hunt was greatly
disappointed After Thompson was re-
turned to his cell Inspector Hunt said:
Il believe that strange confession Is
Thompsons last card and that he will tell
terrible story before long
Witnesses have been produced who will
testify that Oscar Thompson, John Claffy
and third man, supposed to have been
young Bartholin, were in the street with
the horse and wagon at daylight the morn
ing after the disappearance of Minnie
Mitchell, and the police are now of the
opinion that the horse and wagon are to
play as important part in the unraveling of
this mystery as did the old white horse in
the celebrated Cronin case