The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-10
CROFT TELLS ALL.
Admits Helping to Assault and
Rob w. r. kUnz.
He Tells q Story Of Revolving
Brutality.
duplicates ANOTHER.
Says Carl Heck Planned the
Robbery.
ALSO Hit Their Victim with a
Hammer.
Mr. Kunz Is Still Alive and
Conscious.
duplicates ANOTHER.

". F. Kunz. the victim OF the brutal
assault Sunday night is still alive. DR..
Otto Kiene, physician at Christ hospital
says that his condition is unchanged
and he is still conscious
After fully six hours of insistent
sweating" If all the time used in that
direction is counted, John Croft con-
1essed this morning at 2 o'clock to
County Attorney Otis Hungate and
Sheriff Bert Lucas, that he, with an
accomplice. named Cal Heck, assaulted
and robbed w. f. Kunz on Sunday
night. Heck was Immediately arrested
and is now in the county jail. He is in
the employ of the Bell Telephone COM
pany.
Croft was almost impervious to the
terrific bombardment of questions
which the officers directed at him
Again and again he asserted his inno-
cence, and declared with stOlid de-
meanor that he knew nothing at all
about the affair. Every art known TO
the county prosecutor to wiring confess
sions from prisoners was tried, but they
all looked to be useless. Croft was
hard nut to crack.
A clever ruse was worked which pro-
badly helped considerably to break
down the prisoner. The officers asked
the central Office to ring both the tele-
phone bells. Carl Lawson acted as
though he was answering, and said that
he was getting information that a mob
was coming. A few moments later sew
eral of the officers went outside, and
returned in a few minutes, kicked on
the door, and demanded entrance in
angry terms, initiating regular mob Vi
olence.
Grof paled considerably at the noise
and showed decided fear. Then Mr..
Hungate again piled the prisoner with
questions. He was compelled to SIT up
straight in a hard wooden chair and
was not allowed to lie down.
Finally he said: Just wait till morn
ing. 7 want to hear from Tillie, my
girl, first. Then may tell you some
thing
was up, and with Sheriff Lucas. fired
questions at Croft like a Calling gun
IN full action. Then the prisoner gave
up and said: Il might as well say so.
I was into it,
He was weak and worn out with the
persistent hammering and told his
story in a rather incoherent sort OF
way. A statement was taken, to be Toi-
lowed by another this evening, at which
time more particulars Will probably
be gained Heck Will be sweated at the
same time. Then the two will be pu5
together and the straight story will
doubtlessly be secured.
A story of Revolving Brutality.
Groff's complete confession follows:
estate of Kansas, Shawnee County S. |
John Croft of lawful age being duly
My name is John Croft I am "a |
years old and for the last six ye lrs 1 |
have counted Topeka my home. Since |
February. 1904, I have resided at 219 /
West Sixth street.
IT know w. f. Kuntz and have /
known him for about four years.
Il became acquainted with Cal Heck |
at the time went to board at the res
taurant at 209 West Sixth street.
About 10 or II days ago Cal Heck |
and began to talk about holding up |
some person for money, but had no /
particular one in view until a week ago
last night which would be Sunday /
night, January 1.
Sunday night, January 8, 1905. I /
spent at 725 Van Buren, street until
During one Of the nights of the
week before January s, 1905, Cal Heck
and I planned to assault and rob w. 4
f. Kunz on the night OF January s.
BY arranging the details of the affair.
Il left 725 Van Buren, street On the
night in question at about 11:30 ard
came north on Van Buren, street 1
met Cal Heck at the Davis market at
the corner of Van Buren, and Sixth
street.
I'VE waited at this point until we
saw w F. Kunz coming west on Sixth
as he crossed Jackson street. We then
went to the alley between Sixth and /
Seventh streets where it crosses the
east side of Van Buren, street, where
about even with the big gate which IS
Immediately north of the Jonathan
Thomas barn, which gate Heck and |