The Detroit times., 1908-11-06
AWFUL STORY OF
BUTCHERY IS
RET0LD
CONFESSION OF JOHN kuRkA,
SLAYER OF ANTHONY SCHULTZ,
ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE IN
MuRpERER's TRIAL.


the table behind his attorney, Samuel
H. Crowell. He was q pitifui looking
object and apparently realises the po
sition in which he r. placed. He
crouched In his chair, resting his chin
on his hand. and looking steadily 81
the door. Only at intervals did be
appear to take any interest In the pro
ceedings. and then hs would straighteu
up and glance hurriedly at his attor
ney or the witness. Then he would
sling back into his chair and apparent
ly lose himself In deep study.
Among the exhibits to be shown the
Jurors IL q blood stained pane OF glass
taken from the bedroom OF Schultx's
home, In which the man 10 believed
| to have been battered to death. There
is also the az with which II IL be-
lieved the death blow was struck. The
AK Ii also blood-stained.
The prosecution IL represented BY
Assistant Prosecutor Louis McClear
and beside him sat Detective Ell Bak
or and Deputy Sheriff Martz.
County Physician Grimes was the
first witness. He told OF the post
mortem performed on the body OF the
murdered man, and described the
wounds which caused death. He said
Schultz's skull was fractured. the low
er part Of the Jaw broken. and the
throat cut In seven places. One OF
these cuts extended from the right
ear almost to the left.
Frank Demer, one Of the young men
who found the body. told of the dis
covfiery.
Prisoner Identified.
Mrs. De Wolf, who lives near where
the body was found, testified that she
saw Kurka driving west near her home
early on the morning or Oct TO-
About 8 o'clock on the same morning
she saw him return. She described
his clothing accurately, and readiiy
picked out Kurka from among those
seated about the courtroom tables.
Hrs. Stocker. q neighbor OF the
Schultz family, Identified the AK shown
her as one taken from her yard. She
said that Kurka asked to borrow IT,
and she told him where he could mo
il. but she did not see him take II.
Mrs. Maud Lapham. who lives on
the farm where the body was founo
identified Kurka as the man she saw
driving out the lane on her husband 3
farm. She also saw him driving back
ON this return trip he drove into the
wrong lane. and was compelled TO ASK
her for directiocs. She described the
wagon. and said II was partly willed
with straw. when he drove out the
lane. but was empty when he return
ed.
More Damaging Testimony
August Broze said that he saw
Kurka driving west on Michigan-ave.
about o'clock on the morning Oh
Oct. Is and also saw him returning
to Detroit at 8 o'clock. He spoke 70
Kurka, he says, but received no an
swer.
Deputy Sheriff Martz identified the
ak shown as one he found at MRS
Suckers. He Identified II by means
of blood works on the handle. he
also told of the condition Of tbs
schultz home as he found II. OF the
blood on the glass. floor and walls.
Lieut.. of Detectives Baker descri0
ed the house much the same as Ole
the previous witness He was Their
questioned as to certain statements
made by the prisoner at police head
quarters.
Confession Admitted.
H. r. Bliss. stenorapher In the
prosecutors once was summoned u
read the confession made by kurks
In police headquarters. Attorney Gro
well objected. He claimed that con
fession made under the circumstances
was not competent. He referred Il
the prisoenr as an ignorant younf
man surrounded by ofiicers Of the Law
of whom he was frightened. and any
statement he made amid such sur
roundings should not be brough
against him now. Judge Mandell rul
ed that in Michigan such evidenc.
and directed the witness to proceed
| On Mr.. Crowelps request Capt. Nc
Donnell, who questioned Kurka while
he was making his confession. wa!
called and admitted that Kurka hat
never been warned that anything M
might say would be used against him
! Kurka, did admit. the captain test
I fed. that no threats or inducements
| had been held out, and his statement
was voluntary. The confession wal
then read by the stenographer. Kur
ka In his confession. told of the crime
emitting none of the sickening details
He told of going into schultz's room
and while the latter was asleep. strik
-lsg him with the az. causing him Il
fall out Of bed. Then he rained blows
on the mans head. pounding 1t almos
Ito pulp He claims that Mrs
Schultz knew what he was doing. as
sisted him In disposing of the body
and while he was gone away with thu
wagon, she tried to wash away the
blood.
County Chemist Clark testified tina
the stins on the AK were made b.
human blood. He also showed pieces
OF wall paper taken from the room ir
which the crime was cbmmied, which
were spaered with blood. He testi
| fed that this blood came from the
nrtery Of living person. and were no
mere stains. The paper was cut from
the wall about four feet from the floor
and the spots indicated that the blood
came from below.
Detective Baker told Of his work ir
tracing the crime. the only thing new
he testified to being relative TO tall