The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-09-13
Claims He Struck Companion
I'm Self Defense.
Says Claude bass Was Drunk and
shot at Him Twice When He
Beat Him on Head.


IL is stated by persons best ac-
aualnted with James Graham, the
self.confessed slayer OF Claude Bass,
that he Is suffering with consump-
lion and can not live long. Graham.
Is an lnveterate cigarette smoker
and appears to weigh not more than
100 pounds. lie is emaciated and
weak looking and admits that he has
been sick. How he could have crush
ed in the skull OF his victim as he
did. Is the wonder OF all who have
seen him.
II Is reported that physicians who
have attended Graham. remarked
that II his case Is continued more
than one term OF court he will not
live to be tried The confinement OF
the Jail viii hasten his death.
The Confession.
A confession made to Detective I.
J. Moore yesterday in the presence
Of witnesses and later to reporters.
by James franklin Graham. relieves
the commonwealth OF proving that
Graham killed Claude Bass In an
open field on the night OF August 81.
Hut Graham will have to prove his
plea Of self-defense and make the
evidence clear before his troubles
end The confession was made in
the afternoon first and Graham told
II differently every time he was ask
ed TO repeat Il.
Graham admits that he killed
Claude Bass. Il required no great
amount OF pumping" or persuasion
to secure &c from the youthful pris-
oner. Graham seemingly having
made up his mind that the common.
wealth had the winning hand and
that the best way 10 avert conviction.
II possible. was TO make confession.
Graham claims tina, he and Bass
had been together several days
drinking. They both had a little mon
ey. The two had bought liquor tina;
day on Kentucky avenue and had
been IN Mechanlesburg together. On
the night OF the killing Graham de-
clares that he and Bass went TO Wis
II women They decided first to take
skin ride but the boat tender re-
fused TO rent them a skin. Graham
says that the boatman thought Bass
was too drunk. The name OF the
hoalman Is known TO the police and
the police claim that the reason the
boat was not rented was because
Graham had stolen one a few weeks
before and disposed of Il at Me
tropolis and the owner did not want
to take the risk of losing the sec
ond.
Failing TO secure the skiff the two
started for the city and at Sixth and
Terrell streets or in the open field
got sleepy and started to make their
bed In the field. After a few min.
utes Bass tried to get bottle OF II.
quor from Graham and Graham
thought him too drunk After wrest
ling about for several minutes Bias,
broke loose and pulled a gun which
he snapped twice. Graham alleges
that at this juncture he dropped t6
the ground. conveniently found {
wagon spoke and struck Bass in the
head several times. Telling him e
the ground He did no; remain OF
the scene long. not even looking 4
see II he had seriously wounded hi
companion.
From the scene of the attack Ora
ham went to Mrs. Fletcher's resi-
dence where he admitted no oftel
visited. having sweetheart In on
OF Mrs. Fletchers daughters. II
remained there a short time ant
then went home. Graham says tina
he did not leave the city until tn
morning of the gard The reason h
remained away was to avoid arres
on the HOUSEKEEPING charge, he &c
clares, and he came home only afte
work gave out and Illness weakene
him.
The prosecution has securel
locked away the AFFIDAVIT Of Mrs
Fletcher which will play an Import
ant part In the case being the frs
confession and voluntary, too. Tn
authorities refuse to give out the al
fldavit for publication, but state
ment made to reporter by VII
ness who heard her talk ana say
her sign the paper, SAYS the SUI
stance OF her statement Is that Ora
ham came to her house excited an
with bloody hands which he washed
lNonffpro.I IN DoQa -Four 4 as.