The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-10

| cal and went towards Mr.. AunZs
on the east side and he on the west
side. When was about to pass him,
Cal grabbed him by the throat and
picked him up and walked east through
the Thomas gate. I followed and shut
| the gate behind us. Cal Heck carried
Mr.. Kunz through the door of the
Thomas barn which is near the west
end of the barn.
When we got back Of the horses
Cal Heck put Kunz down on the
ground, and I went through his pockets
for his valuables. I found only a
watch and chain and a. lot of papers
which took. After I had gone through
his clothes, Cal and picked him up
and carried him east in the barn to the
little room on the south side. which was
formerly used as a granaryG
we threw Kunz up on some shelv-
ing which was in the room and Cal
Heck hit him several times on the head
with a, hammer which Cal Heck owned.
After this we dumped him down
upon the ground between the shelving
I'VE then left the barn, going out
and went to the alley and east through
the alley. I went into the Thomas
yard through the little gate which is
immediately east of the south wagon
gate. Cal ran on east through the
alley I went to the back Of the Pasho
restaurant and got piece of broken
box, which I took to 725 Van Buren,
street to be used as kindIing the fol-
lowing morning.
Il came back down Van Buren,
street to the corner of Sixth street, and
east on Sixth to the hall door of the
restaurant.
Il went up stairs and when I went
into the room where US boarders lodged
Cal Heck said: Is that you. John? I
said Yes and asked him If he had a
match. He said NO and asked me
how Title was. I told him she was
better. I went to bed and slept until
the following morning.
When we were at the alley waiting
Tor kunz to come, Cal Heck and I
agreed that if either of us were caught
that we would not confess, but would
stand it alone and take our medicine.
When was going through the
clothes of Mr.. KunZ and would take
articles out, I would place them at once
in Cal Hecks side coat pocket.
Il make this statement freely and Of
my own accord and without any fear of
danger or hope of reward. Further
affiant sayeth not.
JOHN CROFT.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 10th day of January, 1905.
JOSHUA ROSS, Notary Public"
My commission expires AIay11, 1907
Heck Denies 1t All.
Heck was questioned last night. He
stoutly denied any connection with |
the affair at all In Groff's confess |
sion mention is made of his asking |
Heck for a match after the assault
was committed Heck says that Croft
did ask him for a match, but he can
not remember which night this was |
He refused to say anything more, but
that he is entirely innocent and not
implicated one way or the other.
I don't believe he is either said
County Attorney Hungate. Few of
the officers feel that Heck was mixed
up in the deal at all, and look at it as
a ruse Of Groff's to shift part of the
burden on someone else. Mr.. Hun |
gate holds the latter opinion. "Of
course something may develop" said
the county attorney. But Heck
didn't look guilty to me. I'll sweat
him though tonight after arresting
him on a warrant for having COM
mitted or helped in the act"
Heck's clothes were examined this
for blood spots. Suspicious
splotches appeared at several places,
and they were turned over to Mort
o Donneh chemist, to be examined.
The latter analysed the spots on
Groff's clothes last night, and declared l.
them to be blood.
Heck and Grof are occupying sepa-
rate cells in the county jail and have
not been allowed to communicate with
each other
The date for their hearing before
the city court has not yet been set
This will probably be done when the
warrants are sworn out
The chain of evidence against Grom
was considerably frightened on Monv
lay evening, by the finding of Kunz's
house back of 725 Van Buren, street,
where the watch was found in the
The chain and charm to
he watch were picked up in front OF
he house at 725 Kansas avenue by a
little girl living nearby, who brought
hem to the police station
Croft was asked concerning the
presence of these things in the out
house, but denied having had any
hing to do with placing them there.
Ie accused Heck of cOuccaf1ng them :
Groff's trunk was searched at his !
boarding place. Besides a few old
pieces of clothing, a quantity of cards,
,oker chips and dice were found !
lcavy pair of brass knucl1s were also
n the trunk
Croft confessed that the deed was
lone with hammer. This tool was ,
ormerly the property of Heck He
oaned it to the restaurant keeper {
where both boarded Croft borrowed l
to open a trunk and never returned :
t. The chemist who examined the s
lothes also found blood spots on the e
hammer. I
It can be seen from Groff's confess {
ion that he practically throws the en- &
ire blame on Heck He accuses MIN
f everything in connection with the {
eal. except the rifiing of Kunz's ]
lothes. This is what makes the Off !
ers feel that Croft is not telling {
traight story. They expect to find j
ut tonight by another course of t
weating to which both will be sub t
ected individually, and then together ]
Croft formerly lived in Concordia. q
4e made his home there for eight 4
ears. His parents still reside there. !
Ieck was brought up in Ottawa, {
where his parents still live He bore r
n excellent reputation there {
JUDGE POLLOCK ILL. L