The Washington times., 1908-05-18
Man Who Confessed Killing
Farmer, Wife, and Servant,
Almost a Wreck.
PRISON GUARDED;
LYNCHING FEARED
Police Hunt Farm for Stolen Money
and Jewels Artist-LabOrer
Says He Buried.

FREEHOLD. n. J., May 18.-His I'M
settled mind and weak body racked by
hours of sweating Frank Zastera, the
confessed murderer OF William b. Shep-
pard. his wife and their servant, has
almost collapsed.
T4e covers IN the darkest corner Of his
cell in the jail here, while he is con-
stantly watched lest he do himself
harm. From time TO time he moaningly
admits killing the three persons, and al
IN the same breath insists he cant re
member" Every now snd then detect
ives ask Zastera where he hid me
money he stole from Sheppard. but
they get no coherent reply
The discovery OF the murder wrought
the county up to a high pitch, and
since Zastera's confession County Pros
ecutor Andrew A. c. Stokes has taken
especial care 70 have the prisoner well
guarded, fearing an attempt may be
made to lynch the man.
Robbery Prompts Crime.
Robbery was zastera's motive Broken
in health, OF a peculiar temperament, hs
felt that his work about the farm was
too inadequately paid. Sheppard car
ried a large sum OF currency with him
and frequently displayed IL. This knOw!-
e6g proved the undoing OF Zastera, ac-
cOrding TO the prosecutor and che police,
and he planned the crime Tor robbery.
The officers today began search OF
the Sheppard place for the wallet stolen
from Sheppard which ZasJera admits
burying but just where. Stokes AYERS,
he does not now remember
His tale Of murder shows absolute alb
sence of pity. Hidden IN the paTlOr
with Sheppard s repeating sEot gun he
saw Mrs. Sheppard descend in her night
gown 10 get the baby's milk bottle. AS
she went up the stairs he fired two
loads OF buckshot tearing away her
hip and side. Failing. her scream Of
agony and terror, rang through the
house. and Sheppard rushed TO her res
cue TO be himself shot down
The Zastera searched SEeppard's body
and stole the pOcketbook he always car
ried. II was nlled with money. out ne
did not count IL
Searches House fer Money.
After searching the house and secur-
ing more money and jewelry Zastera
according 10 the story told by the po-
lice, buried the loot. He has mentioned
three places as the cache, but so far
none are right. Because OF his condition
the police believe ne has forgotten the
hiding place or desires to get the money
into other hands, and they viii now
search the farm for It. A guard has
been placed about the place. and ex-
perienced police are now searching for
the buried loot.
Zastera said that he IS twenty-one
years old and that he came to this
country when he was two years old
from Hungary. He secured the place
with Mr.. Sheppard. through an adver-
tisement, inserted in New York news
paper.
Until he went 10 work for Mr.. Shep-
pard. Zastera made his home with his
father and mother. Anthony and Anna
Zastera, at 347 East Seventy-second
street Besides being an artist Zastera
played on the fiddle in Bohemian cafes
on the East Side.
Sheppard was a lieutenant IN the
Spanish-AmeriCan war, and served in
company N, Seveuty-first Regiment.
with exceptional bravery. He was known
as one Of the best shots in the Amerf-
can army. The gun with which he his
wife. and several were murdered was a
gift from some officers of the regiment.
whom he entertained on his place last
winter.