Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-23
1ANA PRISONERS
TALK Of MURDER
Admissions Made by the Men
Under Arrest Amount Al
most to a Confession
WILLIAM CONN is IN JAIL
Young Hull Tells Officers of conspir-
aey Of Conn and Himself to Kill
Leary, but. Claims Conn Did Killing
The Latter Attempting to Estab.
lish an Alibi.
Special to Times-R Republican.


Toledo, Nov pa second arrest has
been made in the Leary murder case,
William Conn, who gave the officers
the information which led to the arrest
Of Roy Hull, having been taken into
custody by the officers late yesterday.
There seems to be no doubt that the
right men have been captured, but as
to which one actually did the killing
is as yet uncertain. The greatest in
terest is still taken in the case here
and at Tama where the men concerned
are all we'll known. The murder for
the time being is the principal topic
OF conversation and many wild stories
are afioat. AS usual there Is talk Of
the woman In the case" but it can be
stated positively that there is no foun-
dation for such stories. The theory
that Dan Leary, who was foreman Of
the rotary room in the paper mill, was
killed by Hull and Conn, or one Of
them, seems to be the most plausible.
1t is known now that they had a
grudge against Leary, whom they
claimed had treated them badly, at
one time having turned hot steam upon
them as they were feeding the straw
cutting machines, and burning them
severely, according to their state-
ments. Whether the stories of their Ill
treatment are true or not, it seems GER
tain that the two men had it in for
their foreman.
Stories Conflict.
Their admissions on this score leave
no room for doubt, but their stories as
to the murder of Leary on the night of
November IL, are conflicting While
no preliminary hearing has been held,
-ov ealber 2S having been fixed as the
date, yet both men have been talking
more or less freely. Hulrs account ad-
mits he was in the conspiracy, but he
throws the onus Of the actual commit
ting of the crime upon his partner. He
states that on the night of the mur-
der he and Conn walked out to the
flume near the mill and there picked
up the iron rod with which Leary
was later struck over the head. The
iron rod is now in possession of the
county attorney. 1t is about two feet
long. an inch and half in diameter
and would require two hands to WELD.
The end is covered with blood and hair
and shows plainly the murderous use
to which it was put. After securing
the iron rod Hull states that ne ami
Conn walked back to near the spot
where Leary was killed and that he
stepped off to one side Of the road
when Leary approached. He says Conn
nicked up the rod and struck Leary
over the head; that he then gave the
rod TO him (IIull) and that he carried
If TO the coal house and threw 1t under
whera At was found by the officers
Conn Denies.
Cpnn denies Hulrs story in all par
+;cnIars and attempts to prove an alibt.
His knowledge Of the murder and the
f,ct that he gave the officers the IN
foruatioh which led to the arrest OF
H,,ll combine to give his story little
credence. The alibi which ne trles "
a.tah,ish is weak, and will hardly stand
in court. Conn says that the state
oent that he walked out with Hull on
the night Of the murder is not true anu
saws that it is Impossible Tor tne reas-
IN that he was with grain man named
ph;l,ins at the time claimed Wnl'e
Phillips is not sure that ne dlo not
soc and walk with Conn that evening.
he he is pretty sure that 1T was not at
the hour claimed by Conn. II at all
that he was in Conn's company.
'' Tho brutal murder of Leary has
o.u.ad the greatest Indignation az
ra,na and thruout the county. Leary
rns n.,'N generally liked and had lived IN
t,,;s nart Of the state many years. That
ha shoula have been foully murdered
far m 90 slight cause seems inexplicable.
rha evidence, however, is strong
oa,nst the men accused, and unless
t,.ey are able to explain away the sus-
n;o;o,s ctrcur, stances 1t seems prob
a,1a mat the law will be vindicaeea
aDn their punishment be swift and GER
tain.