The San Francisco call., 1904-09-10
POLICE BELIEVE
HIS CONFESSION
Cripple Creek Authorities
Say That the Topeka PrisO-
ner Was Under Suspicion

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo, Sept. p
Sheriff Edward Bell to-day said that
Robert Roman, the prisoner at Topeka,
Kans., who is said to have confessed to
completely in the Independence depot
and Vindicator mine explosions in this
district. by which fifteen non-union
miners were killed outright and others
injured, had long been under suspicion
in connection with these and other
crimes.
I'VE know positively" said Sherin
Bell, that Roman worked In the dis
trict while the strike was in progress
and was a spy employed by the West
ern Federation of Miners. received
letter from Sheriff Lucas of Topeka,
Kans., several days ago, which stated
that Roman had made confession re-
garding the Independence depot and
Vindicator mine explosions. wrote for
full details. l have not had an answer
to my letter.
II have no details as to whether Ro-
main belonged to the Western Federa-
ton of Miners, but am of the opinion
that before the strike he was mem
her of Free Coinage Miners Union No.
of Altman. He came to the district
about a year 'and half ago, shortly
after having been released from the
Canon City Penitentiary, where ne nao
served a sentence for burglary.
Sheriff Bell added that as soon as ne
learned something more definite ex-
tradition papers for Romans return
would be asked for and the suspect
brought to this city.
Romans confession was made be-
fore County Attorney Hun gate ana
Sheriff Lucas and sworn to Defore M.
f. Laycock, notary r--hlic. Folio ing
are the names of miners whom Ro-
main declared were confederated with
i'm in the dynamiting Of the Vindl-
Gator mine and cripple Creeh uepoe' te
This includes the entire list, save two,
the names of whom the Sheriff refuses
to give out: r.
Kinney, Louis Tossel, Jim Hicks. Carl
Nelson, - Davis. - Tennison, -
Beck and - Camp.
Kennison is undoubtedly Charles G..
Kennison, former president Of Miners
Union No 40, Cripple Creek, and
member of the executive committee at
the time of the strike. Kennison Is
now in the County Jail, having been
arrested several weeks ago in Denver.
Kennison originally came from the
Occur D'Alene and has been one or the
most ardent union men in the district
He was arrested by the military and
confined in the bullpen for weeks. gain
ing his liberty by habeas corpus pro-
1
ceedings
James Hicks and Carl Nelson, other
men mentioned in Romans confess
sion. were United Miners, concerning
whom little is known. None of the men
mentioned by Roman are in the Grip
ple Creek district excepting Kennison,
who will stand trial in November for
murder and conspiracy to murder in
connection with the Independence ex-
plosiop.
CRIPPLE CREEK. Colo, Sept. o.
The men whom Roman duplicates
with himself in the explosion are for
mer officers and members of miners
unions in this district.
DENVER, Sept 9-President James
H. Mover and Secretary william d.
HAYWOOD of the Western Federation of
Miners declare that b. s. Slagel alias
Robert Roman, who has made a con-
fession at Topeka duplicating union
miners in the two explosions at Grip
pie Creek which killed fifteen nom
unionists. was never a member of Free
Coinage Union at Altman or any union
connected with the federation. They
utterly discredit the mans alleged con-
fesSion.
CANON CITY, Colo, Sept 9.-Rcbert
Roman was sentenced to the State
Penitentiary from Pueblo for burglary
in March. 1901. His sentence was for
two to four years, but he was paIoled
on March S. 1903, on account OF good be-
havior. He was discharged July 5.
1908. According to the records, he was
born in Hamburg, Germany, and at
the time he entered the prison was %
years of age.