The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-12

morning shown the dispatch from La
Junta which discredited his confession
and which stated that Romaine was in
La Junta June when the Florence &
Cripple Creek railroad depot at Inde-
pendence was blown up.
The dispatch was read to Romaine
through the bars of his cell at the
county Jail. Romaine still sticks to his
story detailed in his confession.
II am one man against a thousand,
but I will never back down. I defy
them. Ny statement is true" said Ro-
maine.
Romaine asked that some parts of
the La Junta dispatch be read to him
again. Then he said: II will spring
something yet that will make them
open their eyes. They think they have
got me bluffed. 1 see statements that
1 made this confession because l
sought notoriety. No one wishes to
escape from notoriety more than 1.
I don't want any notoriety.
81 was not in La Junta on June 8.
1 was there three years ago under the
name of I. o. White. 1 did return to
La Junta about March "a and stayed
there a week. 1 lived at the Park
house. 1t is not true that L left April
L and returned April 9. On April %
1 left the Park house and got rooms
for myself and wife and baby. 1t is
true that on May L rented house
on Smithland avenue and that 1 got
second hand furniture and that Rev.
Conrad BIuhm stood good for $40
credit.
MY wages as caller in the Santa Fe
freight house were garnisheed June
but / did not lose my job on that ac-
count. quit. 1t is not true that went
to the carnival every day for l was not
go back to LaJunta until June 9. left
on Monday June 10 on a freight train
and got to Topeka Thursday following.
My wife got here June IA, 1 think it
was, after 1 had sent her a pass. L
worked here in the Santa Fe shops.
II went to the Cripple Creek district
as a strike breaker but got in with the
union fellows and Joined the union.
people ought to know my picture"
When asked why he made the confess
sion Romaine said: II will not say why
1 made it. 1 had good reasons
Romaine began talking of his wife
and baby and his eyes filed with tears.
Il don't smoke nor use tobacco in any
form, but 1 do drink and steal now ana
then and it was drinking that got me
in iaiI got to drinking and then went
into that house here in Topeka. 1 dom
know why did it. / said when got
out of the Colorado penitentiary that l
would do better.
IF I had done as my wife told me to
I would never have gotten into this
trouble. She is as good woman as
ever lived and we have the sweetest
baby you ever saw. Here 1 am in mere
and she is working to support herself
and the baby. She has always worked
hard and now have done this.
The tears flowed and Romaine choked
with sobs ROmaine asked that his
wife be sent for and that he wished to
see her today.
Mrs. Romaine rooms with his baby at
the corner of 18th and Kansas avenue
She does family washing TO make heI
living and this morning was WaShlnB AT
a house on Jefferson street. The baDy
was with her sleeping in the k1tchen
Mrs Romaine is about 35 or 80 years oI
age an intelligent woman VINO SHOWS
that she has worked hard
When Romaine first confessed 10 the
officers here Sheriff Lucas and Deputy
Sheriff Sheafor, from Cripple Creek
visited her and asked her Where sne
and Romaine were in COLORADO ana IL
thew were in Independence when the
depot was blown up. Mrs. Romaine
said they left there month before
the explosion. When told that Ro-
maine had told a different story and
that hers should conform with his, she
from knowing he had been in the
penitentiary" Then Mrs. Romaine
told the Whereabouts of herself and
husband and her story tailed exactly
with that of Romaine's as to those
particulars. She did not then know
he had confessed to taking any part
in the depot affairs.
Today Mrs. Romaine said: II left
explosion and my husband followed |
me three days or so after the explo-
sion. [ did not know Mr. Romalne
was doing any of these things. If |
had 1 would have been nearer crazy |
han I am now. 1 have always tried |
TO be a good woman and I don't like |
his. I don't want to say anything at |
all. 1 can not remember dates. 1 |
know that my husband was not in La /
Junta the day the depot was blown
Ip. Anyway he was not at home and |
f he had been 1 would have seen him.
don't know where rhe was but 1 |
know he left Independence two or
hree days after the explosion. 1 do
lot know what street our house was
IN in La Junta for the street was new
md not named"
Mrs. Romaine talks in a straightfor-
ward manner and her statements car
y the impression that she is truthful.
Further than the statements made she
would not talk.
Afraid to Go Back.
In his cell Romaine appears far diff
erently than in the court room when |
le plead guilty to burglary. There he
lung his head and let his mouth drop
pen and was sullen and morose. In his
ell he appeared entirely different. His
irst words were: What reason have I
O believe that / will be protected if I l.
m taken back to Colorado? People Il
here must think 1 am regular brute
rom what has been said about my Il
ack of intelligence, and my shock of
air"
Since his appearance in the court
DOM Romaine has been shaved and his
air trimmed and new clothing been
,iven him. |:
IF am taken to Colorado they will
et after me and 1 will be lynched, per-
aDs."
1t was suggested to him that the Kan
as authorities would not allow him to
e taken from Kansas until assurance d;
or his safety was given. II
But don't know what they will do"
aid Romafne-