The Mena weekly star., 1908-06-04
CONFESSES A CRIME
A CHICAGO YOUTH TELLS OF RE CENT MURDER OF A BUSI-
 NESS MAN.
BODY OF ROB'T HOLMES FOUND IN ALLEY
David Jacobson, 19 Years of Age, Confesses to Participation in the Crime-ImpIicates Three Others Sixty Dollars All the Murderers se- cured-Gives Full Details to Police.

Chicago, May 31-David Jacobson, 19 years of age, who was arrested on the suspicion of having knowledge of the murder of Robt. c. P. Holmes, the purchasing agent of the Edison Com monwealth company who was found dead in an alley on the morning of May 21, Friday confessed to the police that he was present at the killing of Holmes, although he denies having taken part in the actual murder.
 Jacobson in his confession impli. cates three other men who are also in custody. These are Samuel McEwen, colored, Charles Lewis and George Miller. Their ages range from 19 to 24. Jacobson told the police that Me- Ewen attacked Holmes and knocked him down and that Lewis struck Holmes on the head with a hammer.
 Jacobson said that he, McEwan, Lewis and Miller had been employed at the Randolph street depot of the Illinois Central passenger depot until midnight. They came up the street together and near Adams street saw a large man who they determined to rob. MeEwan, Jacobson declared, struck Holmes knocking him down, and Lewis beat him on the head with a hammer which he drew from his pock- ct They then dragged Holmes into the alley where his body was after ward found, and robbed him
 Jacobson told in detail of the doings of himself and his associates from early evening until midnight. when they were sauntering along Wabash avenue toward the north.
 At Adams street and Wabash ave nue." he said, q saw a big man who appeared to be drunk turn west in Adams street Suddenly McKernan turned to Miller, Lewis and myself, and told us to go across the street. We did SO McKernan went up to the man and said: Mister, give me your watch and chain This was between midnight and one o'clock, I think The man refused to give him the watch and chain and McKernan grabbed him by the legs and whistled to the three of us. Lewis and Miller ran over to about 20 feet east of the alley along side Lyon & Healy's place where the man was stooping over trying to get a hold on McKernan Lewis struck him on the back of the head with a hammer he had bought the day before to use in breaking the netting on a pigeon loft that we intended to rob, The man fell to the sidewalk and the blood ran through his hair and down his face. There was no one around and it was dark As the man fell ran to the middle of the street and threw Miller a stickpin from the mans tie, and McKernan took his watch and Lewis his money I started to run west in Adams street and heard Lewis say: I got about fifty or sixty dollars. McKernan ran into the alley and then south. I ran all the way to Cleveland and Madison streets. Then I bought some newspapers and sold them. A short time later l was picked up by the police and taken to the station
 Jacobson was taken to the scene of the murder, after which he changed his story in some particulars, and af- ter being confronted by the three men whom he accuses, he made still furth- CT conflicting statements.