The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-09-18
End of What Promised TO be One of Pa
ducah's Murder Mysteries.
He Confessed.
TRIAL LASTED JUST FIVE MINUTES

old, pleaded guilty to numbering
Claude Bass and robbing him of his
money this morning in circuit court
and in five minues after he was ar
raigned and entered his plea be was
en- route back to jail sentenced to
Imprisonment in the penitentiary
for life.
Graham took the punishment
calmly and his abject appearance
as he sat with downcast eyes and
hung head excited pity.
On the night of August 81 Claude
Bass and James Graham met az
Ninth street and Kentucky avenue.
and got drunk. They went ON
the north side to see women. Graham
suggested a skiff ride and they walk
ed to the river to secure a skiff but
could not rent one. 1t is presumed
that Graham had the idea of striking
Bass with an oar and proDably stun
ming him to secure the money and
then drop him into the river.
Failing in this attempt the two
started towards Sixth street and
when the rear of the old Durrett
slaughter pen was reached, Graham
secured an iron bar and attacked his
companion. He must have struck
him several blows Judging from the
condition of Bass skull when his
body was found the next morning.
Bass was taken to Riverside and
operated on but he dled the next
morning. Graham had left town bur
returned the night before Bass died.
Learning the next morning that his
victim had expired, Graham left and
did not return until few days ago
when he was arrested by Policeman
+. NJ. Matlock.
In the meantime Policeman James
Clark had worked up the case and
secured an affidavit from Mrs.
Fletcher to the effect that Graham
came to her housesthe night of the
murder, washed blood from his
hands and confessed to her he had
killed a fellow named Bass with an
iron bar, because he would not go
to sleep so he could rob him with
out hurting him.
At first Graham denied everything
Two days later he confessed that he
did kill Bass but in self-defense. He
claimed he did not rob him, howev-
er, but that he had to strike mecause
Bass attacked him with a pistol. He
claimed he did II with wagon spoke.
Saturday Graham weakened, and
told Policeman James Clark all the
facts. but still stuck to the self-de-
Tense plea. The confession was print
ed In full in The Sun.
Sunday and Monday Graham de-
liberated. He seemed worried and
would not talk much about the muir
der. He would say little to report
ers and visitors and this morning
while in jail announced that he was
tired of the fight and was going to
give up.
81 am going to plead guilty." he
stated when being taken to the jail.
"and will beg the mercy of the
court"
Graham was arraigned, the in
dictment read by the clerk. and a
plea OF guilty entered. The indict-
ment was explained to the jury and
Commonwealth Attorney John G.
Lovett, recommended, on account of
Graham age, to fix his punishment
at life Imprisonment In the peniten-
tiary.
The jury so declared without leav-
ing the room.
Graham appeared weak and sick.
He would talk to no one.
Graham has a mother, Mrs. Jen-
ME Shaw living near Terrell and
Sixth streets.
Mystery Cleared.
The conviction OF Graham clears
up what promised to be Paducah's
most startling murder mystery.
Bass had laid unconscious In the
weeds from 10 o'clock at night until
s O'Clock the next morning and
when found there was not an artl-
Gle on his person by which to identi
fy him. His face was bruised and
crushed beyond the possibility OF
recognition. He came here from Gray
vile. III. the Saturday before the
murder and he was not identified
until after his body was buried Then
several false clews led the police
astray until Patrolman Clark secur-
ed Mrs. Fletcher's AFFIDAVIT.