The Detroit times., 1909-02-16
MURDER MYSTERY
IS CLEARED BY AN
.!QN!A CONVICT
coNFEssEs HIS BROTHER. cHAs.
DAWSON, SLEW HORACE S. oA.
Wis. PROMINENT CITIZEN OF
kALAMAzoo-seEk SUSPECTS.

KALAMAZOO. Mich. Feb. by
the complete confession OF convict
In Ionia prison, "A brother and confed
crate of the alleged murderer. the
mystery surrounding the sensational
murder OF Horace 3. Davis. one or
kalamazoo's leading citizens and
we'll known throughout the state as a
prominent Mason. mas been solved by
the Evening Press after remaining In
the dark for nearly two years. The
murder occurred on Nov %. 1907.
Charles Dawson. professional crook
and burglar. Ia the man charged with
the crime. Joseph w. Wallruff. alias
Joe Croker. who has served time for
both burglary and forgery ~ the othe-
man wanted. Wsllrun. II Is alleged.
stood guard outside the Davis home
while Dawson entered TO commit the
robbery which resulted In the murder
OF Mr.. Davis.
After months OF persistent work and
unttrins efforts by ex-Sherin Charles
Shean, the latter assisted by Sheriff
Campbell. every possible clue was fol
lowed until what proved to be sue
cessful ono led to the door OF the
Michigan reformatory at Ionia. where
George Dawson. q younger brother %
the alleged murderer. was serving
sentence for forgery.
confssses Crime.
From several tips received the OF
acev we're confident Dawson knew
something about the crime. After
four hours In the sweatbox. in which
the man tied himself up in a mass o.
contradictions. he broke down and
confessed The substance OF the con
fession Is as follows.
George Dawson. Joseph w. Wau'
run and Charles Dawson. while IN
Grand Rapids. Nov. "a. 1907. decided
on a series Of burglaries In kaiama'
ZOO. Being short OF cash 10 ger OUT
OF town young Dawson went 10
small town north OF Grand Rapids and
cashed a couple OF forged checks. But
before he could leave town he was
arrested, convicted and sent to lonia.
Wallruff and Charles Dawson. learr-
ing OF the younger Dawson's trouble,
jumped freight and landed TN kala-
mazoo the night OF Nov. 20 about ii
o'clock. They hung around theoGrand
Rapids & Indiana railroad yards until
Z o'clock the following morning anc
then started out TO locate q suitable
house for their operations. They were
about TO enter the K. c. DAYTON homo
on South Burdick-st. when light sud-
denly appeared in one OF the windows
and the attempt was given up. Then
Dawson entered the Davis home.
Wallruff standing guard outside. In
passing through the sitting room Daw.
son stumbled over chair. This
awakened Davis. who demanded 10
know who was there. Davis turned on
the hight and saw Dawson standing
behind a curtain. In An instant Dav-
son sprang on Davis and terrible
struggle In the dark began. Frantic
81 his inability TO escape. Dawson
drew revolver and shot Davis
through the heart killing him In.
stantly.
Escape on Bicycles.
Dawson, who had lost both hat AMI
mask in the struggle, passed out
through the front door and joined
Wallruff. both men escaping on bicy-
cles. They went 10 Grand Rapids Oh
a Grand Rapids q Indiana freight at
) O'Clock the following morning and
remained there several weeks until
the excitement died down. Dawson
then went TO Ionia TO see his brother
and made q complete confession or
his part in the crime, getting a prom
ise from George Dawson To keep
silent. Then he disappeared and has
not been seen since. IL was learned
after months OF search that Dawson's
wife lived In Utikia. Cal. and for
months the place was watched night
and day but Dawson did not appear
Several times postofflce orders have
beer received by the woman. sup
posedly from Dawson. but always
under an alias and from different
parts OF the country. No trace has
ever been secured OF wallruf.
The confession has caused the great.
est excitement as the Davis murder
had long been put down as one OF the
states unsolved mysteries.
Beyond the fact that he was mur>
dered and no clue was found. nothing
has been known AS TO the details OF
/ the crime until now
! A reward OF 81 900 has long been
standing FOR a solution " the nys.
terry.
PARK DEPARTMENT CAN'T