Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-27
ADMITS He KILLED HER
Becker Confesses to the Muir
der of StaffeIdt Girl.
"GLAD I'VE TOLD" HE SAYS
Police Succeed in Corroborating Every
Part of His Story.
WOMAN IDENTIFIES PRISONER
Murderer Goes Over the Killing and
Points Out All the Details
of the Crime.
WOMAN IDENTIFIES PRISONER

confessed yesterday that it was he who
murdered fifteen year-old Amelia Charlotte
Staffeldt Wednesday afternoon. He ac-
companied detectives to the scene of the
crime, the grassy knoll at Broadway and
Baxter avenue. Elmhurst, L. l., on what is
known as the old Seitz farm, and there de-
scribed how he killed the girl. After his
confession Becker said he was glad he had
told the truth.
The prisoner will be arraigned in the
Flushing court Wednesday on a charge Of
murder. Magistrate Connorton will turn
him over to Coroner Mott who will hold
him without bail for the grand jury. Then
an Indictment for murder will be found
against him and his case will get into the
courts early.
While being taken in cab from the
Queens county Jail to Mrs. Simonson' s
house at Elmhurst for identification by
her one of two men who washed their
hands at her pump on the afternoon Of
the murder. Becker made his confession to
Detectives Calvin, Ticho and Graham. He
appeared to be in better mental condition
than at any other time since his arrest
Thursday, so the detectives questioned him
about the case. At first he repeated the
story he told beside the dead body in the
morgue Friday, that he had seen a Slav
Kill the girl. Being convinced that this
was false. the detectives urged him to tell
the truth. Then Becker voluntarily made a
sweeping confession which furnishes a full
description of the crime.
How the Crime Was Committed.
While walking through the old Setz
farm Wednesday afternoon he saw the
Staffeldt girl picking dandelions. The girl.
who had often boosted to her chums that
she was not afraid Of men in the fields be-
cause she had no jewelry or money that
they could steal, did not run when Becker
acosted her. Instead she told him that If
he did not go away she would call police
man. Then she went on picking dandelions
Picking up stone, Becker struck her on
the back of the head with it. The girl
pitched forward on her face stunned by the
blow. The strong knife with a German
silver handle, with which she had been
picking the dandelions. fell beside her.
AS she gradually rega1ned consciousness
the Staffeldt girl moved. Fear of detec-
ton for the crime he had committed seized
Becker Grasping the knife. he plunged it
into the back of the girls head twice. The
first blow severed the jugular vein. and
blood poured from the girls mouth soaking
into the soft earth. The second blow sew
cred the spinal cord.
Blood on Becker's Hands.
There was blood on Becker's hands. and
an impulse to remove this evidence seized
him. From where he stood he could see
a pond shaded with trees not more than
one hundred yards away Leaving the knife
behind him, he ran from his victim.
Breaking through the hedge at the end
Of the field, Becker hurried toward the
pond. His course was through Engers
radish patch. While trampling down the
green leaves just peeking above the earth
he heard mans voice warning him to
get out Of that patch. Turning he ran
off to the west Soon he came TO ROAD.
Running along this he reached Mrs.
Stmonson's house. At the pump he saw a
man washing his hands. There was a
chance to remove the evidence Of his guilt.
He went into the yard. and the man pump
ed water for him while he washed his
hands This man was the Slav companion
upon whom Becker placed the guilt IN his
confession in the morgue.
Several feet from the pump he saw a
handkerchief. which had fallen on the
ground from a line. He put this into his
pocket. Then he wiped his hands with
paper, intending to take off the rough
with that and then dry his hands with the
handkerchief. Mrs. Simonson appeared at
this time. After a parley with her. which
has already been told, he went down the
road with the Slav. Later they parted
company.
Boarded Trolley.
When night came Becker boarded troll
ley car and went to Corona. There he
removed the shirt with the bloody splotch
on the left shoulder. Tearing IT into rib
bons he threw IT into a bush near the
railroad station. 1t was his habit to wear
two shirts. After dispensing OF this evidence
against him, he went to sleep in the fields.
At daybreak he returned to Elmhurst, be-
cause Il wanted to see what had become
Of the body" Then his arrest followed.
When he finished his confession Becker
turned to Detective Calvin and said:
II thank God l have told the truth.
hope He will forgive me-"
Later Becker went over the entire field
with the detectives, showing them just
where he killed the girl and the direction
he took in looking for a place to wash his
hands When questioned he admitted tear
ing UP the two transfers of the 13Sth street
crosstown line, Manhattan, which We're
found in pieces beside the body. The de-
tectives say that he talked nationally and
appeared to feel relieved when he had made
the confession. like a man who had taken
great weight off his mind.
School's Closing Exercises