Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-05-03
URDERWILLOUT
SLAYER OF MAURICE cAPtAN
CAN'T KEEP SECRET.
DENVER CRIME BURNS BRAIN
After Two Years Aimisss Wandering
John Shire confesses to Commit
ting coid-eiooded Murder In Den

ting celd.sloodsd Murder in Den.
YER Home.
Butte, Mont.-John Shire. held In JAIL
here to await an examination as to his
sanity. confessed that two years ago
he murdered Maurice capian. Den
yer auctioneer. shooting him down
while his victim was seated In his par
ior with other members Of his family
In the early evening. When nfst ar
rested IL was evident that something
was preying Shifc's mind. and repeated
questions iinally Induced him 10 tell.
Haunted by the memory OF the deco,
he had resorted to cocaine and WHISKY
In an effort to forget, and so induced
temporary delusions which resulted
In his arrest M nm insane man.
In his confession Shire stated that
Caplan was n wealthy man. and whiie'
In his store he exhibited large roi OF
bills. Shire said he was destitute anu
he followed the autioneer home 'of 'ho
purpose OF getting his money.
Il got into the place by back door
after hc had entered the front door.
said Shire, ..and. while going through
a hallway IN my search for the man.
met his daughter and She gave an
alarm. When the man appeared ,olu
him to throw up his hands. Instead OF
obcying he picked up stool. whion
he moved as II he was going TO assault
me. and I shot him dead. then went
back TO the saloon where ] was en-
ployed ms bartender. ] remained thefc
for over day. Several men VINO. US !
knew, were detectives, contihuca
Shire. came around the place where !
was working several times and sot
frightened for fear that they ~rr. on
my trail. but they never did any'hihs
about II. The man who ran the SaIoo. .
where I was employed was no Soou.
l tended bar for him. but he never paid
mo anything for my work. and all ne
did for me was To keep me drunk all
the time"
IL was believed that Shire was labor
ing under temporary delusions through
the use OF whisky and cocaine AZ hFst.
Il did no good to remind Shire thnt nc
was behind locked and barred doors,
whcrc nobody could get at him ana do
him harm. On NIL other matters ,hc
man seems to be perfectly Iahonai.
Hc gave connected and clear details OF
tho murder he confcsscs he commit.
ted.
The murder Of Maurice l.. caplan
was tho most cold.bloodcd and brutal
who was president Of the Denver Auc'
, tIou Company. was shot down by bur.
| rlar In the parior of his home. isiss
| East Sixteenth avenue. Tho merchant
and Nathan Strykcr. pfomincnt
wholesaler. were playing cards.
| tho room with them was Mrs. Capian.
| who sat In corner reading. i.'tio
| Ruth Margaret capinn was Just enter
] ing the parior from the vcstibui. when
| the burglar camc In through the front
door, which had been left Jar.
A revolver In each hand. the burglar
| covered tho occupants Of the room. Of
| dcring them TO turn over nj! their
money. capian had In one pocket over
| $500. He produced three or Tour
| dollars In silver and laid the money
on the table, while Strykcr laid down
| C5 cents. the contents OF one pocket.
| II want all you've sot." said the rob-
bcr. Capian then turned to his wifo
| and asked her to go into the next room
and bring more money. She did as re-
| qucstcd, returning in n moment with
about $li in cash, which was added 10
the pile on the table.
But this did not satisy the robbef.
Il wnnt the money you took in to-
day." he said.
This remark apparently infuria'cd
Cnplan. He had been sitting passively
through the minutes that II took his
wife and Striker to turn over what
money they had. but had grown sradu'
ally more pale. After commanding him
to turn over the money from the sales.
the robber bent over the table to pick
up the little pile OF silver. At that mo-
ment Caplan thought he saw an oppor-
tunity to save his property. Reaching
down he started to pick up stool on
which his feet rested. The robber fired
the pistol he held in his right hand.
the bullet entering in the region OF the
heart and causing instant death. Then
the thug fed. q