Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-15
Expresses Belief That is What Would Hap
pen If Taken Baok to Fender.
WANTS TO SEE MoTHfR BEFORE He DIES
Can Offer No Explanation Of Why Re Com
mitted the Crime
CAPTURED BY CITY MARSHAL At HOoPEI
First Taken to Fremont and from
There Transfsrred TO the County
jail I'm Omaha for safe
Keeping.

Al midnight last night Fred Burke who
killed Farmer w. L. Copple and wife near
ROsalie. Thurston county, vas placed in
the Douglas county Jail. He was brought
70 Omaha from Fremont on the Union Pa
cihc flyer which arrived here at 11:S0
o'clock He was in charge Of Sheriff Bau-
man OF Fremont and the sheriff Of Thurs
ton county, who were accompanied by
deputy The prisoner was in irons and was
closely watched. On the way to Omaha he
freely confessed his crime to the officers
but would give no reason for committing
the atrocities He said: "I fully realize
the enormity OF what 1 have done, and
know I ought to be burned at the stake,
and that's probably what i would get II
/ should be taken back to Pender. The
only request / have to make lie to be al
lowed TO live long enough to see my poor
mother who resides in Denver. Then l am
willing to take my medicine"
Burke Is a smooth-faced, boyish looking
follow rather undersize He was so lame
last night that he could not walk without
assistance He was in his bare feet when
no committed the murders and made his
way over the rough country without shoes.
The great toe on his left foot was almost
cut on. although the man said he didn't
remember how he cut It. He is an invet-
crate CtkhTtl uGllus Al1 Whe NANeeNN ~
overalls and a blue wollen shirt
When the train reached Omaha the Of
ncers remained In their seats until after
the passengers had time to leave, and
wien the coast was clear the prisoner was
taken to the Jones street stairway to the
vIaduct, handcuffed and chained to an
of1cer ON either side OF him, with deputy
walking close behind The party boarded
n Harney street car without attracting at
tontion and went direct 70 the county jail
AS an extra precaution the prisoner was
learched for the second time inside the
taii. but only chewing tobacco and cigaret
''malcings'' were found on him. These he
was allowed to keep.
When aSted by Bee reporter why he
Gnad committed such atrocities he hung his
yhead and muttsred;
Il don't know"
His handcuffs were left on him and he
was put in the solitary confinement cell.
Captured ne Hooper.
HOOPER, Neb., May H-CSpecid Tele-
gram FIRED Burke, the murderer OF Mr,
ana Mrs Coppie near Rosalie, was arrested
here at noon by Marshal Crawford. He
stayed last night at the farm Of George
Ottesaan, six miles north, and exhibited
large roll Of bills. He walked into town
today. He was limping and was helped
over the new bridge just north Of town.
Charles Durgip, foreman Of the Standard
bridge company, had read description OF
the murderer, svspected the man and noti-
FED the officers. He claimed his name
wss Higgins and that he had worked on the
farm OF Emil Christensen, twelve miles
north of Hooper. He claimed he hurt his
left foot narrowing yesterday. He was
perfectly cool and collected, answered ques-
tions promptly, gave his family history In
an entirely easy manner. He was taken 70
a phyaiclan's office, where the foot was
dressed. A large crowd gathered, but he
was not excited. When searched he had
only a few dollars in his pocket and car
riad no weapon.
ghertf Bauman arrived at o'clock.
After a close examination he felt satisfied
Higgins was the murderer. Felix Gal
lagher and another citizen OF Rosalie, both
personally acquainted with Burke, arrived
at o'clock and positively identified the
prisoner, who then broke down and con-
fessed the crime. Burke was taken To
Fremont this evening in an automobile
and win be held I'm the Dodge county jai
for safe keeping.
ConResses 10 Crime.
BANCROFT, Neb., May A-Informatlor
reeslved from Hooper at o'clock this
afternoon told OF the capture of Fred
Burke. the murderer Of MT and Mrs. w
l. coppie. 1t was said that Burke ad
mittsd the killing but refused to give any
details OF motive for the crime. sherin
Bauman OF Fremont took Burke to Ere
mont in order 70 avoid any possible vio
lenee to the prisoner. The capture wa
elected by Town Marshal n. Z. Shipley o.
Hooper.
No Motive for Crime.
Fh..NONT. Neb.. May iA-Cspecial Tele
gram )--sheriff Bauman went to Hooper
early this afternoon and brought back will
him the murderer Of the Copples, neal
Lyons. The murderer was arrested in
Hooper saloon by Marshal Crawford. Th'
murderer confessed his crime. and tolS
sheriff Bauman all about II. He gave hi
name as Loris Ray Higgins, ana admitte'
that he had gonS under an assumed nam'
several times. but declared Il was for n'
special reason In particular. He was for
merly called Ed Burke he said His mothe
lives with a married sister at $50 Cool
street. Denver. The confession whicl
Sherin Bauman who has become some
what OF an expert in the business, wrunl
from him, was substantially as follows;
II didn't have any reason for killing
Ccpple and his wife. They were both goo'
q sue. bus I was SOLDERING up from al
n in the night 10 vomit went out doors an'
met Copple coming TO the house with IN
lantern. j grabbed the shotgun and fire.
Rl him and he fell He hOllered and sho
again. Then I hardly know what hap
pened, although I remember OF shootinl
Mrs Copple when she came out OF tn
house. Then / went in and stayed IN tn
house til along Ia the morning about
O'Clock think, when 1 went to the barr
took q mule and rode away. l got awfulh
scared and nervous, and stayed as lon
as / could az the house after killing Mr.
and Mrs. Copple.
Il had nothing against either OF then
and l never had cross word with them
We were good friends. Mr. Copple brough
home two pint bottles OF whisky saturda
aight and Il was this that made me s
sick ana crazy"
Higgins denied absolutely that he ha
any motive whatever IN the double murder