Evening journal., 1905-03-30
SHIPPERS DEFENSE
IN UTTER DENIAL
Denied the Murder and Said
lie Was Coerced Into
Signing Confession
HIS TESTIMONY WAS UNSHAEEN

by Stan Correspondent.
Elkton, Nd March S0.-rhe sta1e
iu the case of John M. Shippers VINO
is on trial here for the murder OF
f.avyor Albert Constable, ST., pracu-
cally closed its side yesterday ai'e'-
noon and the defense at once
presented evidence. OF the three VIII
nesses who we're called 20 testify IN
hehaif Of shippers one was the pris-
oncr himself. lie made sweeping
acnial of the murder and charged
Warden Weyler OF the Maryland Peni-
tentarv i'm Baltimore with cocrcing
n confession OF the crime from him
bv threats OF placing him in dun
econ he also said the warden tolu
him that unless he confessed the crime
he would never leave the penitcntiary
alive.
sinners evidence was the most RE-
rnarixable ever heard in the courts OF
this state coming from. the ips OF
man ia similar position. While be
admitted that he Ind signed writ
ten confession dictated 10 Harry W.
Harris fellow prisoner, he denied aH
knowledge of It's contents despite the
fact that while ON the witness stand
on Tuesday night he said he had read
the statement FIVE times before signing
*. His demeanor on the stand was hil
that could be desired by his counsel
for despite the many questions ired
al him in quick succession by state
Attorney owens. the prisoner rcmain-
ca cool and collected. and weighed
each question carefully before answer
ing Those who expected him 70
break down and make confession
Under the lashine he was expected TO
receive al the hands of Mr. owens
were disappointed ana much surprised
DEFEAT FOR TIE DEFENSE
Before the first Witness FOR the de-
fensc was called 90 testify Mr.. Mulh-
ken. Of counsel for the defense moved
that an the testimony pertaining 70
the mask. handkerchief pawn tickets
ena watch offered in evidence by the
stale be stricken out MS the prosecu-
ton had failed 20 trace any OF these
articles as being the property OF the
prisoner.
Attorney General Bryan objected
ciaiming that an the evidence in the
caeo should be submitted before such
n motion could be entertained by the
court The court sustained the OBJ
lection and announced that IL would
pass on the motion when an the evi-
dcnce IN the case was in.
Tho FIRST witness for The defense
was Noah Congo, colorea. formerly
of Wilmington. who had been sum-
n-onod by the state but only part OF
his evidence taken. Congo saw "a
white man followlug Mr. Constable on
the night the latter was murdered
He said he know John simpers well
but could not say he WAS the man
De saw following the victim.
SHIPPERS on THE STAND.
Sinners was the ncgt witness and ns
De left his seat to take the stand his
sister Mrs. sadie Burke. of Phladcl-
phia. who has occupied a seat beside
ihe prisoner since the beginning of
his trial. gave him glance OF en-
courogement. she watched his every
move Through tear-difumed eyes whle
De was on the witness stand and con-
tlnuany biz her lips 20 keep back the
tears that came to her eyes despite
her efforts 20 keep them back. Occa-
sionary she would smile whenever
her unfortunate brother adroiily an
sreored some convctng question ask
ed OF him by Mr.. owens.
Tie said he was % years of age
ard was born SD ,Cecil county Nd
He said he left his home I'm 1897 and
wont away with the race track peo-
pie when thcy left Iron Hin. He re-
manned with them until 1900 and then
engaged with Lougnader. Prentlss &
Company in Philadelphia, lthograph
ers. 10 learn his t-ndc He said hif
mothers second husband. Jacob Mar
lzao ir-treated him and that WAS ONE
Of the reasons why he left home.
Shippers said he was a.restcd r
Wilmington for horse stealing in this
state and pleaded guilty and was sen.
fenced 60 eight years imprisonment "a
TIE Maryland Penitenuary. He sal,
hc was put to work n the shirt FACE
tory in that Institution and worke,
thirty-three days when he was takel
away from his work and confined I'm
cell 10y himesif
DENIED THE CONFESSION.
ITe denied that he was in elk
ton on August II or rs. or that h
shot Mr. Constable. Tie denied max
ing q confession 90 Harry Harris. al
Baltimore wife murderer and ais
donied that he had told Harris tina
he would cut his throat before d
would hang.
AT this point Mr. Mulliken hande
Shippers the written copy Of his al
Legged confession and asked him if n
signed IT, He said he did. Assc
why he signed the statement he sal
he was compelled 10. Tie said he ha
been kept ia solitary confinement fC
- seven days He denied ever possess
ing the handkerchief or the mask OF
fered as evidence against him. II
also denied that he ever possesse
Mr. Constable's watch and said ,
never pawned q watch az Riders loa
HIS ARREST IN WILMINGTON.
The interesting point was hrougl
out that Shippers. when arrested
Wilmington had In an inner pock
of his vest "A pocketbook containir
pawn tickets for Mr. Constable
watch. but they We're not discover,
by the Wilmington police Simpe
denied he had pawned a watch.
admitted, however, that ne had a wa
let with some pawn tickets in his We
pocket.
when I was arrested for hor
stealing AZ Wilmington / had a pocks
book with some pawn tickets in
inside pocket of my vest" he sa
"The police searched me. but nev
got the pockethook. 1 was strip
and measured by the Bertilllon ss
tenn hy the Wilmington police. b
even then they did not get the pock,
book. I took IL with me to the Elkt