Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1904-08-06
CONvlCTS TALK
THEY MAKE A Statement AS TO
FUTURE PLANS AND TRIAL.
Linderman Regrets His Confession.

in the Reno Gazette makes a very |
readable story from the fact that Lin |
derman, who some time ago made 4 !
confession and now wishes he hal
refrained from the work. The other
members have a few words to say
regarding treatment and friendship at
the prison:
If the statement of J. B. Sevener,
AL Linderman, Fred Ritz (Roberts)
and T. F. German are true, no greater
travesty on justice ever took place
than their trial for the murder of
Jack Welsh, which occurred in the Dis
trict court at Winnemucca about
year ago. The four men. who until
recently were under the sentence Of
death, were in Reno last night, being
taken back to Winnemucca this morn
ing in charge of Sheriff Lamb of Hum
boldt county, where they will be ar
ranged again in order that they may
have new trial in the near future
The men were interviewed at the
county Jail this morning by two Ga
zette representatives, and all talked
freely. They explained that it was
the first time that they were ever
offered an opportunity to make state
ment of their case to the public AMI
they said that they were glad of the
opportunity to present their side If
ffoi ho of
All the men appear to be in good
health. They are fairly we'll dressed
and except SEWER and Llnderman
seem to be making the best of their
precarious predicament. The sanSuine
temperament of German and Ritz
stand them we'll in hand, but the con-
dition Of SEWER and Linderman in
dictate that both have suffered acutely
by reason of confinement. These two
are men of highly nervous structure
especially SEWER, who grows very ex-
cited as he talks of the charge 4
gainst him and the trial that he AMI
his associates received in Humboldt
county While being interviewed this
morning breakfast was being served
to the four men, but Sevner Declined
to eat anything. Il don't want any
breakfast he exclaimed eXcidedly,
and with this exclamation he resumed
Ills conversation with the reporter.
The other men ate with good appe.
tite, leaving a portion for their oldo-
companion.
A BOGUS CONFESSION.
Il want you to say first OF all that
the confession made at Carson is TN
true" said Linderman to the reporter
who questioned him. You will remem
Der that | made such a statement seT
eral months ago while suffering from
the close confinement of the state pen
itentiary I regret now that | was
ever so week as to make this state
ment, but | did it at the time in tht
hope of making communication {
sentence and to help a prison guard
Percy Elstner, who said it would be
feather in his cap and help him &c
good job if he could get it. TIL
Warden Of the prison, the Attorne!
General Of Nevada and the distric
attorney also kept after me for
long time to make this statement an
at their suggestion and while lat
oring under the strain of confinement
prepared what they wanted and sisl
ed my name to it. What | said wa
not true and my only reason for til
act was a blind hope that | would hel
my self and the desire to aid the ma
Elstner who pretended to be my frein
while guarding it. In my confessio
| tried to give some light cOncernin
the stealing of the diaNonds from tn
Pullman coach and also stated tn.
myself and my companions were in
plicated in the murder Of Welsh. | <
now how I was triclIed. l did mys :
and the other convicted men groS
injustice, but I thought at the tin
that | was doing Elstner, who poss
as my friend, a good turn and W.
helping myself too.
THE WINNEMUCCA TRIAL.
Speaking Of the trial at Winnemu
ca Linderman said: THE trial W
the greatest farce that ever took pla'
in court room. From the MONIES
that court was opened it was Sc
Jed fact that the jury had been draw
to convict us. There was bitter Sc
timent against us all over the city al
county and everyone connected Wi
the court of justice seemed to
tanning it. This was bad enough b
to make it worse we were not allow;
to present our testimony as it shou
have been presented. Many importa
facts in our favor were never broug
out and even if it had been it is doul
full if they would have been weight