The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-05-30
HIS CONSCIENCE
FR|GHTENS HIM
FEARS IT MORE THAN the POLICE
Arrested Here and Found to BE Ey-
Convict from Texas--Makes
Full, Complete Confession.

though for the last ten years | have
shivered every time ! saw any one
in good clothes approach me, think
ing he was an officer"
In these words, Edward Baynum,
alias Tom Burt, on trial before Judge
Doust Wednesday morning, started
a confession in the presence of Sheriff
Grant and Marshal Cayou Wednes-
day evening that was more sensa-
tional than any that Sheriff Grant has
ever listened to. Sheriff Grant told
a reporter for the Herald the story
in the following language:
This mans real name is Bay
mum, although he is not held here un-
der that name. He has many aliases
and is wanted in several places for
many crimes, for deserving the army
and for breaking Jail in Texas.
"Baynum was arrested by Police
Officer Villaume Tuesday morning
on complaint of the parents OF sew
eral small boys on the west side for
statutory offense. He was taken be-
fore Judge Doust the following day,
and the case continued until Thurs
day for the purpose of getting more
evidence.
"After the trial I walked down the
stairs with Cayou and the man, and
asked if I might look at his face, as
| wanted to see if I could place him
for another crime. I talked with the
man on the way down the stairs, and
when we had gone about half way,
he stopped and asked me If we would
protect him. I am afraid of my
life he said. L fear that if the news
of my crime gets out here, will be
mobbed by the people of this town.
"He wanted to put himself under
the protection of the police or sher-
III. l told the man we would protect
him, and began to feel that con-
fession would follow. Then, when
we had reached his cell, he told us
a fearful story of his life.
1.-THE man said he had been tried
and convicted in 1894 in De Hart,
Dalon county, Texas, for statutory
crime. He said he was sentenced to
three years in the penitentiary, but
while waiting for his attorneys to
make an appeal for him, he broke
Jail and escaped 1t was only mat
ter of few weeks when he was over
taken, rearrested and put back in
jail. During the time that he was
out of Jail, he walked from De
Hart, Texas, to Bovine, Texas, bare
footed, over cactus fields. When he
arrived at that place, his feet were
bleeding and his physical condition
such that he was unable to go fur
Their. He was identified by descrip-
ton while trying to get section work.
When his identity was known, he
tried to get away, but was shot by
the section boss, and again taken
back to serve the remainder Of his
time. Then, while waiting for sem
tence to be pronounced upon him, he
again broke jail last November, and
has not been captured since"
The man told Sheriff Grant that
for the last ten years his conscience
had bounded him night and day, and
that whenever he saw anyone ap-
preaching him, he always felt that 1t
was some officer of the peace coming
to arrest him. His conscience, he
said, hurt him far more than any fear
he had for arrest.
Baynum now says that he is will
ing to confess the crime for which
he has been arrested here, and that
he would do so IL the officers would
notify the De Hart penitentiary in
Texas Of his being here, and let them
come and take him back and serve
his time.
The man is a physical wreck and
degenerate. He was arrested here
week or so ago for drunknness, and
said that he was working on a rail
road section at Umtanum. Some of
mis- oo-laborers came to the city and
pleaded for him, as they were in need
of help on the road. The case against
him was then dismissed, and he was
put aboard freight train and taken
back to his work.
There is some talk among the Off
cerc that besides heing an eScapad
convict, Baynum is also a deserter
from the United States army. but
nothing of the kind could be ascer
tanned last night. Baynum was
turned over to the custody of the
sheriff. after making his confession,
and will be held in the county Jail.
pending the receipt of replies to let
tiers that have been sent to Texas to
-