The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-01-30
OFFERS TO PLEAD
GUILTY TO SECOND
DEGREE MURDER
soYNE MAKES PROPOSITION
THROUGH ATTORNEY, euT.
CAPT. MCDONNELL SAYS IT.
WON'T BE ACCEPTED.

Chief OF Detectives Mcdonnell re-
ceived word from the Buffalo police,
Thursday morning. that the diamond
earrings stolen from Mrs. CorneIiA
WEIGH by Percy Boyne at the time of
her murder, and later sold In Buffalo
Tor $40, have been expressed to him.
and II Is expected they will arriva
here during the day. If Boyne is
placed on trial the diamonds will he
valuable as evidence, but win be or
nc use 10 the police otherwise. Capt.
Mcdonnell has the name OF the man
who purchased the diamonds. and the
latter VIII be subpened as a witness
In the event OF trial, but the police
are withholding his name for the
present.
Capt. Mcdonnell says the slones
VIII not be returned TO the purchaser.
but intimates that way may be found
TO reimburse him, for he bought them
In good faith. The properly ultimate
ly VIII be turned over 10 Mrs. Weicn'S
son, the only heir to her estate
Capt. Mcdonnell says hat the de-
fendant. Boyne. has made q proposi-
ton through his attorney. that a plea
or guilty to murder in the second de-
gree be accepted. When the PROPOSE
ton was submitted to the captain he
promptly put his foot down.
Won't Accept Plea.
Il would not consent to that In
thousand years" said the captain.
"Boyne vii either plead guilty to-
murder in the first degree or stand
trial. as far as | am concerned. A.
understand IL, IL person kills an
other In committing the act OF robbery
he is guilty OF murder In the nrst
degree under the statute"
AT Attorney Kennedy's request,
Judge Phelan, Thursday morning. de-
ferred action In the Boyne case until
Monday morning to give Mr.. Kennedy
more time TO consult his client In
the meantime Boynes conditional plea
OF guilty stands. That Boyne will
stand trial is certain.
Il will never plead guilty to murder
In the first degree" said Boyne TO
The Times. Il had no intention OF
killing Mrs. WEIGH. just as / told the
Judge. Wednesday"
do you think there is chance that
you will be convicted Of a lesser crime
than murder In the first degree IL You
are tried by iury?" was asked.
We'll, life Is sweet, you know, and.
while there Is life there is hope" SAID
the prisoner. There is always n
pardon TO look for. of course. IL there
| Is anyone to intercede, and I think
Epossibly there is some one interested
enough I'm me to make the attempt.
My hope is that may be pardoned or
that may be given a term of years
rather than HE sentence
Sweetheart Still Loyal.
From Boyne's talk, 1t Is evident that
he reposes great confidence In the
young woman he has regarded as his
sweetheart, and whom he had expect
ed to marry some day. She is still
| loyal to him, he declares, notwith-
standing the grave charge against him.
Boyne resents, however,, statement
In local paper to the effect that he
had received money from this girl He
Is also greatly annoyed over report
that he ran away from home.
Those statements are absolutely
false" he declared, land I wish you
would deny them for me-
The girl. whose name and address
Is withheld by The Times out OF re-.
spect Tor her and her family, has not
visited the prisoner, In the Jail as yet.
but Boyne expects she will come.
Boyne spent a sIeepless night In
mis- cell and his boyish face had lost
some OF its freshness Thursday morn
ing but withal he seemed more cnm.
posed than on Wednesday. Once.
however. when reference was made TO
his mother, he broke down and avert
ed his face 10 hide his tears.
II can't think of my mother with
out going to pieces" he said. II doubt
whether she'll live through it,
Boyne was tried" by the Kangaroo
court in his ward Wednesday after.
noon and was fined so cents, the
amount assessed each newcomer. In
default of the fine he was sentenced
TO sweep and scrub the floor every
morning for a given period.