Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-26
REPORT THAT NEGRO WOULD
THROW HIMSELF ON MERCY
OF COURT NOT CREDITED.
WORK OF CHOOSING JURY
is NOW PROGRESSING
Junkin BIames Negro Detective for
Preparing Alleged confesson-Pris-
oner Kept in Court House Under
Close Guard-court May Rule Out
Confession.
special to Times.RenuhlIcan.

Special to Times Republican.
Centerville. May 26.-The report sent
out during the night that John Junkin,
on trial for the murder of Clara Rosen.
the pretty Ottumwa choir girl. would
enter a plea of guilty and ask the
mercy of the court in the hope of es-
Gaping the gallows. Is without founda-
ton, as the trial is proceeding today
and the work of securing a jury is in
progress.
1t is apparent that Junlin's lawyer
will devote his efforts solely to an At
tempt to prevent the infliction of the
death penalty. Sentiment regarding
capital punishment is the principal
by Judge Mitchell. Junkins attorney.
Six veniremen had been examined up
10 noon.
Junkin is kept in the court house
during the intermissions of the trial,
and is fed there. it not being considered
safe to take him to and from the court
house to the Jail, which is two blocks
distant. He is closely guarded at all
times.
Junkin in a recent statement, de-
clares the alleged confession obtained
from him in the Abba Jail was pro-
cured while he was mentally ire
sponsible for what he said and greatly
frightened. and he blames the negro
detective for tricking him into making
the damaging statements, which he
signed when reduced to writing.
Confession Is lmmaterial.
Centerville. May 26.-County Attor-
ney Seneca Cornell, already deep in the
murder trial of John Junkln, against
whom he hopes to- secure verdict OF
hang by the neck until dead" doesn't
care whether the sworn confession Sc
cured from the negro upon Saturday
| February 81, ten days after his sec-
ond arrest, will stand in the trial
which began yesterday afternoon, o
whether 1t is thrown out.
The confession which John Junkin
unable to withstand longer the vigor
Gus sweating process administered b,
Chief Peter Gallagher. Pinkerton De
tective B. D. Way and others. made
in the Abba Jail, is complete as fol.
lows:
II. John Junl1n. do state that OF
February 5, 1909, ieft my house a
6: 80 p. m, and walked north on JEFF.
ferson street over the hill to Dutro':
| grocery, and met woman at the cor
ner of Dare and Cara streets, whom
struck and robbed of eleven dollar!
and seventyfive cents, a diamond ring
handbag. bracelet. string of gol,
beads. mirror. pocket knife and stiel
pin. These articles I took home. ThC
! same night at $3.50 p. m. / went tt
| Mrs. Ray Cutters home and showed
her the ring, telling her 1 bought 1t o
sheeny. giving him twenty-five
+ cents for it, on February Is. Tuesday
I took the stone which 1 had remove,
from the ring, to Redmans pawn sho1
and sold 1t to him for s5.75, getting
S2.75 in cash, the balance l allowed
on a suit of clothes which l had II
pawn at the store. The bracelet, sticl
pin, beads. mirror and pocket knife
secreted in the attic of my mother!
house on Mill street. No one knew
those articles were there except my
self. i had been drinking considerabl,
during the evening. 1t was about {
p. m. when / murdered the girl WHOM
I afterwards threw in an old cellar ~
the hill above where | committed th
deed. The ring l threw in the catal
basin in the mems toilet room at m
Wabash depot. This statement / mull
voluntarily. without any promise o
clemency or any inducements being Of
fered to me whatever
(Signed) John Junkin"
Il Witnesses B. ID. Way. Peter Gal
lagher, H. C. Williams. w. b. Griffin
John w. Gray, Ed Webb.