The Detroit times., 1908-05-18
YOUTH CONFESSEs
HOW He SLEW 8
IN COLD BLOOD
AMAZING TALE OF ART sTUDET
WHO SHOT EMPLOYER, WIFE
AND SERVANT FOR MONEY
-HEARTrEss BUTcHERY.

NEW YORK, May Isl did il.
Now let me alone and I'll tell all. !
killed all three of them"
Frank Zastera, the boyish art stu
dent, who became farm hand when
his health broke down, glared through
the bars OF the Freehold IN. j. Jail to-
day. after confessing TO the murder of
VIM. l.. Sheppard, his wife. Mrs. Jo-
sephine Sheppard. and their servant,
Jennie Bendy, near Wickatunk. on
Saturday morning
| why didn't you kill the baby. too"
Zastera was asked.
II don't know. | never thought
about the baby" he replied
Zastera doesn't lok the blooded
murderer he confesses himself 10 be.
In appearance he is more OF the artist
than the farm hand, and uses good
English
| Given Third Degree"
! Zastera made his confession to Pros
ecutor Andrew A. c. Stokes, after he
had been subjected 10 as severe a
sweating as the police could give. He
was not permitted 10 sleep and every
moment a detective would ply him
with questions
Zastera declared for time that he
dad lost his memory; that he could
recall nothing that would in any way
throw light upon the murders. Sud
denly he screamed:
Il see II all now. | see IL all. II
has come back 10 me-"
Ibid you kill them ?" he was asked.
Killed Them for Money.
IfJ IN ufanfn1
money | knew MIR. Sheppard had a
lot OF money and | wanted it. | knew
he kept his money In a leather purse
pocket When | got up To milk the
COW, last Thursday morning. IL came
TO me 70 kill them. | hadn't thought
of II until then.
Il had gone TO the barn to milk
milk about o'clock, and then the
plan to XIII and get the money took
possession OF me. knew where the
guns were ept and | got a repeating
shotgun. Mr.. Sheppard only let me
use this gun shooting at crows and
he taught me how 10 use the pump
that threw the shells out
Jennie Bendy was In the kitchen
getting breakfast could hear Mr.
anu hib. oHCppdIu
upstairs and could also hear the baby
crying.
Mrs. Sheppard First Victim.
II saw that all six barrels OF the
magazine gun were loaded. and
took II and hid 1t in the parlor
thought Mr.. Sheppard would come
downstairs first. but instead. Mrs.
Sheppard came. She was In her night
gown and | watched her while she
went back 10 get the baby some milk.
She had returned 10 the front OF
the house with the bottle and was
starting up the stairs when | stepped
out OF the parlor door. She saw me
and screamed, and then shot her.
The first shot went into her hip or
side, and she fell in a heap on the
sairs. Then | shot her again as she
lay there, and | guess the shot went
into her head.
Shot Employer as He Came.
Mr.. Sheppard ran out of the room
upstairs and started down. was
afraid he would tear me TO pieces If
didn't shoot quick and | pulled the
trigger while he was bounding down
the stairs. The charge struck him
when he was about at the middle OF
the steps and he Just toppled over and
fell down 10 the bottom and rolled
over on Mrs. Sheppard. Then | shot
him again To make sure he was dead
Jennie Bendy had heard the shoot
ing and when | got around into the
kitchen, she was standing in the door
OF the summer house, Just looking at
me. pulled up the gun and shot at
y uI 81. San a
lay on the ground by the cans OF
milk had just put there. | didn't
shoot her again. 1t wasn't necessary.
Buried the Biood-Money.
Then | went upstairs and got Mr..
Sheppard's money from his Goa.
pocket. There was a good deal OF
money In the wallet didn't count IT,
but took Ii out and buried IL between
two locust trees in the front yard
And you say you didn't kill the
baby because you didn't think about
it?"
Yes" replied Zastera.
While Zastera was making his con-
fession, he kept his hands over his
eyes. Never once did he look at the
prosecutor or the detectives.
you TALK" asked Mr.. Stokes.
Il can't think when | loo at you
II | let the light into my eyes can
not thin what happened" replied Zas-
terra.
Zastera told OF the murders without
display OF emotion, but now and then
his talk rambled. Then he was
brought back 10 his cnfessin with a
sharp question.
Why didn't you run away after
committing the murders? Why did
you stay there. when you knew you
would be suspected" Mr.. Stokes ask
ed him.
Caught In Trap.
II had figured all that out after /
killed them" he replied. Il was Ger.
tain that | would be caught II I ran
away. II seemed a good deal safer TO
stay right here. after going across the
field TO give the alarm"
You figured all this out, although
your mind was a blank"
Il know" spoke UP Zastera, quickly.
seeing that he had trapped himself
II remember nog," he added. that |
thought about running away. told
several people who came running to
the house that thought man named
Huron had done H. Huron was the
man who worked for Mr.. Shepard be-
fore came and didn't think he was
very well liked"
Zastera was In the farm house Sat