Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-09-15
4 FULL CONFESSION.
Desperate Negro Tells of His
Crimes at Uniontown.

Jack the Bear Makes Clean Breast
of His Wrongdoings in Court Down
There-The Man Was Arrested In
MOrgantown by Local officers.
The following story from Union
town will be read with interest here.
1t contains the confession OF one
sJack the Bear who was arrested
here some time ago by local officers.
He was taken TO Uniontown for trial
and made full confession OF his
mis-deeds. The story Is as follows:
An interesting case tried before
Judge r. e. Umbel In the Fayette
county court at Uniontown was
brought to close on Saturday morn
| ing when the jury after being out but
| short time returned a verdict OF
guilty against three negro desperadoes
whose crimes and depredations along
the extension of the Pittsburg &
Lake Erie railroad, near Brownsville,
| FINALLY landed them Ia Jail. Against
these three and Jack the Bear" the
fourth member OF the gang, who
pleaded guilty and turned States ev-
idence, there were 10 all six indict-
ments covering II charges.
That this gang has been guilty OF
almost every offense In the criminal
category is self-evident from their
own testimony. A holder confession OF
criminal cannot surpass in frankness
the testimony of Louis Anderson,
alias, Jack the Bear, y made on the
witness srand on Friday, duplicating
his three pals William Jackson,
alias Cincinnati Shangp Alex Harris
and Andy Galloway, who were on
trial under the same indictments to
which "Jack the Bear had already
pleaded guilty, and separate ones.
The quartet were arrested on charges
of robbery, assault and battery, carry
ing concealed weapons, shooting with
intent to xiii, etc. Jackson pleaded
guilty to carrying concealed weapons
As stated, the trouble occurred on
the Lake Erie extension, near Browns
vile. Gregorio Spadio's shanty was
entered by "Jack the Bear" and 'sCin-
cinnati Shangn and Spadio was robbed
and shot. To all this, except the rob-
berry, Jack the Bear confessed,
though he said If he didn't get the
money it wasn't his fault, as that was
what he was there for. He came to
Brownsville from Pittsburg, he said,
for the express purpose of 'tdoin' some
Robin" and he corroborated 10 every
detail Spadio's story oil how he had
been seized, searched and shot
ssJack the Bear also told how he
and the gang had played crap" In
the twilight to pass away the time
till they should start out on their tour
of pillage, robbery and murder If nee
essary; how he had given Andy Gallo
way quarter TO go to Brownsville to
buy cartridges for his (Jack's) 38-cal-
iber revolver, and without the least
hesitation how he and Jackson had
held up an irishman named Kelley )
and searched him. but had though
luck" as they found no money on his
person. After letting him go he drew
a revolver and fred three times at
them. "Jack the Bear" said he fred
back five times at the Irishman. one
of the shots hitting him in the heel.
Then he and Jackson went back, took
the Irishman' gun from him, and
thus armed they went back to the
SpadIo shanty.
II was startling testimony. Specta-
tors IN the court room opened their
eyes in amazement at this admission
Of crime, though the negro looked
every inch just such character as he
made himself and his partners out to
be. When they took the stand they
tried to deny everything, but In cross
examination much evidence OF guilt
was developed. The jury decided their
fate in hurry.