The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-09-15
James Graham Makes Clean
Breast of His Crime.
Tells Patrolman Clark. who Worked
Up Case Against Him, About
: the Murder.
STILL PLEADS SELF-DEFENsE

yesterday afternoon and this morn
ing detailing the minute circum-
stances of the killing, admitting he
robbed Bass and stating he left here
for good because he learned Bass was
dead. The statements were made TO
Patrolman James Clark. the man
who got the first clew to the Identify
of the slayer. and who worked the
case up from start TO finish. Graham
will beg the mercy Of the court, but
his plea will still be self-defense.
II killed Claude Bass in self-de-
tense; this will be my plea before the
court and now believe that a true
statement OF the story will be better
for me-" Graham said 10 Patrolman
Clark.
Graham learned that Clark Sc
cured the affidavit from Mrs. Fletcher
and sent for him. Patrolman Clark
arrived yesterday afternoon and about
2 o'clock took Graham into private
conference and the young man made
a clean breast Of the whole affair
Patrolman Clark details the muir
der as follows:
Graham sent for me. went. He
stated that he understood that got
an affidavit from Mrs. Fletcher. say
Ing that he told her he killed a fellow
named Bass with an iron bar.
Did she tell you what the pa
pers said she dido he asked me I
replied In the Affirmative.
Well. think the best way out
of my trouble Is to make clean
breast OF the affair and beg the mercy
of the court he declared. and as
sured him this was the better plan
Because | had worked the case up
from the start he thought I was the
man TO help him out and for this rea-
son he sent for me-to tell me the
entire story"
Policeman Clark then narrated
the details in Grahams own words
His story follows:
Eyes. I killed Claude Bass. and !
did Il with an iron bar. but acted In
self defense Claude Bass and met
on the night OF the robbery at Ninth
street and Kentucky avenue. We
bought whisky and the killing was
ovar =. hoftlo ~ u,hislsv Tho yfo-fo.
told John Austin, Detective Moore
and reporters were lies, and am
tired OF lying about H. The truth
will come out. as I have seen. and
you know cannot go against Mrs.
Fletcher's evidence. told her what
she says and Il IL too late 10 deny II.
After Bass and | met we went to
several saloons and drug stores,
where he bought oil to oil a pistol
with. We drank a great deal and
started for the lower end Of town.
Bass knew girls there and wanted to
see them, We decided that a cool
boat ride would be enjoyable and
tried to hire a skin but the fisher
man would not rent us one. We sat
on the end OF his boat and drank the
third pint OF liquor and kept the
only one left. II was for this that
the fight occurred.
Over Bottle 81 Whisky.
"A bottle OF whisky caused the
whole tragedy.
Bass wanted to drink more and
| thought he had zoo much. We
were still very drunk and Bass was
obstinate. He would not give up.
and when he pulled his gun and shot
twice I ransr I knew he had but two
loads In 1t and when these we're gone
stopped He was on me in a min
ute and We grapp.ed. took the pis-
toll from him and he grabbed for a
knife or something In his pocket. I
saw what I thought to be stick at
my feet and grabbed 1t. II was an
Iron bar about 22 inches long and
pretty heavy. do not know whether
II was solid or pipe, but | dealt
him several blows on the head. He
fell. realized bad hurt him bad
iy and In desperation knelt down,
took his pocketbook containing mon
ey and his gun and fed.
IL went to Mrs. Fletcher's house
and washed the blood from my hands.
She asked me what had been doing
and | told her I guessed | had killed
fellow named Bass in the field,
left and spent the night In Ella
Howe's house on Kentucky avenue.
CONTINUED O Page Four.)