The San Francisco call., 1908-05-01
CURTIN TELLS WHY
HE KILLED TITUS
Say He Planned Deed So as to
L.ye His Wife's Betrayer
No Chance

OAKLAND, April 30.--"I discharged
the revolver twice, sending the bullets
into Titus body. l killed him as he
deserved to be killed I asked for
good gun and for five cartridges that
would not miss fire when I bought the
weapon, and / planned to kill him in
manner that would not leave him a
single chance for his life"
With these words Robert z. Curtin,
on trial in Judge Ellsworth's court
for the murder of John Titus, reached
the climax of dramatic recital of the
events which preceded the killing and
of the deed itself. His speech was
halting and he frequently raped his
knuckles against his lower teeth. but
he gave startling emphasis to his story
by his long pauses and by the twitch-
ing of his ashen features as he spoke.
'I heard stories that my wife was
meeting strange man In a saloon on
San Pablo avenue" he continued, but
when l made. inquiries there they
sneered at me and, told me she was
not there. 1 complained to the police
and even sent letter to the. effect that
the management would get into trouble
unless it stopped selling her liquor.
Finally I asked my wife If there
was any truth in the stories and she
took a week to think it over. One
day she kissed me and said, I have
been untrue TO YOU. She told me that
a man named Donovan had introduced
her to John Titus in the saloon and
that she and Titus had gone to the
city together. She said she was going
to her mothers house in the Mission,
and he said he had a sick sister there.
On account of the car strike he hired
an automobile to- take her to her
mothers, but instead he took her to
a roadhouse and got her drunk.
She was not to blame and I told
her 1 forgave her. She said Titus
knew she was married and that she
knew he had a wife and family Three
or four nights after her confession
we quarreled all night and we were
both arrested for disturbing the peace.
We were released on our own recog-
nizances in the morning. and that aft
ernoon, after having secured. the re-
volver, L hunted Titus. 1 asked at his
saloon and finally found his house. His
daughter came to the door and came
out later with Titus.
Are you Jack Titus?' I asked He
said, I am Titus, Titus and he
spelled it out for me- 1 said, am
arm in a black handkerchief with the
gun in my hand, and when I spoke 1
discharged the revolver twice, sending
the bullets into his body.
Il walked away and people were
hollering Stop him! He has killed
somebody. Two men overlook me,
and / put the gun in my pocket and
held my hands over my head telling
one of them to arrest me and go to
the police station. He struck me over
the head and I thought it unfair, as
/ had made no resistance. Afterward
they took me back to view Titus body
and then to the police station"
Curtin became bitter and called Titus
an Indian dog and a low skunk"
On cross examination he admitted
that his wife had been found in a
lodging house in Los Angeles with a
man named Swanson. and only the
presence of two policemen had pre-
vented him from killing Swanson at
the time.
In an interview after his testimony
Curtin said: "It is for the jury to
decide whether made a mistake or
not in killing Titus. If they think it
was a mistake will take the rope
willingly. Swanson has since died and
they are both in the same place My
wife was good woman and 1 loved
her and love her yet"
Mrs. Curtin was in court for a few
moments today, and Attorney Lin S.
Church, who is defending her husband,
announced his intention Of putting her
on the stand as a witness.
During the afternoon Miss Mary
Curtin, sister of Curtin, became faint
and had to be assisted from the court
room. She has been a constant attend
ant at the trial. sitting beside her
father, Callaghan Curtin.
The case will be resumed on Monday.