The Detroit times., 1908-04-07

080 60 ~
previous, stories. before ~ 1w3>'
Monday. under the searcD5A p1}<l61u
cross-examination OF Assistant Proo1<
cutor Crosse, he was fUrced repeatedly
to admit that be had lied on the Wit
ness stand. He had made % many
changes and alterations In the story
he told on his direct 'exa41tnatiOo,
which was In substance thRt Mrs.
Welch had given him her diamond
earrings and si4 as result Of q buei-
ness transaction, that his testimony,
was greatly discounted.
But there was one thing he couldn't
get away from. He did confess 20 the
police and he later repeated In sub
stance the same story 10 Judges Phe-
Ian and Connolly and Times report.
er, and the greater part OF that story
Is corroborated by the testimony Of
some 80 witnesses.
One OF the conditions on which he
confessed, Bowin claimed, was that
Capt. Mcdonnell promised to keen his
story out OF the newspapers; yet. Al
the earliest opportunity Bowin HIM
self discussed his crime fully and
freely with reporter, knowing full
we'll that the interview would be pub
lished. Bowin had to admit this. :..f'
This reporter offered you no prom
ises or inducements OF any kind?" Mr..
Crosse asked.
mo, sir"
He was an absolute stranger to
you. was he not"
Yes, sir"
Can you give this jury any reason
why you confessed TO this man, q
total stranger to your"
mo, sir, / cannot"
Admits Times Interview.
The Times interview in question
was read by Mr.. Grose and Bowin ad-
mitted having made many OF the
statements credited to him. When
reference was made to the days when
he sang In the church choir In Osh-
ava. and recited whole passages Of
the Bible by heart. his mother. who
has maintained her composure
throughout the trial, gave way to-
tears and buried her face In her
hands.
Bowin testified that Capt. Melon
nell had told him to plead guilty to
the charge OF murder. and that was
all he had told him to do. So Mr..
Crosse wanted to know why he had
said. when asked to plead: I'm
guilty, but didn't kill her willfully
Por wickedly."
"You didn't follow Capt. McDon.
nell's instructions In that particular,
ibid your" demanded the assistant
prosecutor.
mo, sir. You see. couldn't stand
for what 1t said In that paper. It said
l did 1t willfully. wickedly. feloniously
and all that"
But you were under the influence
of Capt. Mcdonnell
Yes; that's trps But ! couldn't
wosKd have to5id Capt. mtD 8dn1ii IL
the first place to mind his own busi-
ness"
Then why did you confess to
him?y
Repeats Pardon story,
Because he promised me q pardon
in five years"
But you were not guilty OF the
crime?"
'Oh. no. sir; l wasn't guilty"
Then you pleaded guilty to ac-
commodate Capt James Mcdonnell
and for no other reason?'
Yes, sir. and to accommodate my.
self, too"
"You were willing to spend Ave
years In prison for crime you did
not commit just to accommodate
James McDonneIl?"
Eyes, sir"
The prosecution scored q strong
point when 1t sprang Bowin's state
ment TO Judges Phelan and Connolly
on the defendant. In this statement.
which. like all the others. was taken
down In shorthand. Bowin again con-
fessed his crime and declared un-
equivocally that no one had told him
to plead guilty. that no promise had
been offered him and that his action
was wholly voluntary. OF course. to
make his own story good, Bowin had
to say that many OF the statements
made to the judges at this private ex-
animation. the very purpose Of which
was to And out II any coercion had
been used. we're false. Yet. he could
give no reason for telling falsehoods
to the judges. and no one had told
him what to say to them--no one had
put these statements into his head.
BowIn Near BREAKDOWN.
Several times during the trying
ordeal, which lasted from the opening
OF court in the morning until late In
the afternoon. II seemed as though
Bowin were on the point Of . break
down. but he managed to keep up
the semblance OF front" to the
finish. The effort. however. left him
nerve-wracked and worn and he lost
no time In getting down from the
stand when an adjournment was an.
nounced