Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-12
DIDN'T KILL SCHULTZ!
Smith, in Confession, Says All
Convicted Are Innocent.
TESTIMONY FALSE, HE SAYS
Blames Police for Making Him Tell
Story to Clear Himself.
DOES NOT HOPE TO ESCAPE
Declares His Purpose Is to Save
Lives of Men He Unjustly Ac-
cused of Crime.
DOES NOT HOPE TO ESCAPE

with Richard Pines. Calvin Johnson and
Eugene Dorsey. of the murder OF Walter
F. Schultz, near Alexandria. last March
confessed this morning to Cranda
Mackey. commonwealth attorney fol
Alexandria county. that Johnson. Dorsey
and Pines were all innocent of the crime
He said that he. upon whose testimony
they had been convicted. had brough,
self. He insisted that he, too, was inno-
cent.
He had no thought of saving himself
in making this confession. he declared,
but did not wish TO face his Maker until
he had done all in his power to save
these innocent men. who had been brought
into the shadow of death by his state
ments.
Standing in his cell at the county court
house this morning. with knees bowed
almost to the floor and with arms raised
to heaven, Smith called upon God to
witness that the three men were not
guilty.
Appeal to Be Made to Governor.
Crandal Mackey said later to a report
er for The Star that he intended to write
to the governor of the state and ask that
the governor himself listen to the con-
fession of Smith.
Mr. Mackey said he had been asked to
listen to Smiths confession by Harry
Cracks. jailer for Alexandria county, to
whom Smith had also told his story.
From the beginning to the end of the
confession. Mr.. Mackey said, Smith en-
deavored to show that he had been led
into turning states evidence by the po-
fn1 Nr
no knowledge Of the details of the muir.
der of Schultz or of Schultz himself until
he learned them from the police.
Smith said he had been born and reared
in Richmond, Va: that he had never
been farther from Richmond than Wash
ington. When he was fourteen years ole
he stole diamond ring and served a
sentence for the crime in the penl-
Tertiary.
There he learned the trade of an up
holsterer. Later he settled in Richmond
and worked at this trade.
He said that he had bought parts OF a
harness and wagon from another man
Because he would not tell who that mSn
was he was sent to the penitentlary Tor
another term.
Later he settled in Alexandria.
Says Police Told Him Details.
After the murder of Schultz l had no
or even suspected. I knew nothing OF
Schultz and had never seen him. The
police, especially Capt. Goods and :
liceman Sampson. taught me the details
of the crime.
"a lady had given me household goods
to sell for her. l had sold them, but had
kept back the money. Her attorney
threatened me with arrest if 1 did not
make good
II learned that inquiries were being
made for me. Thinking 1t was for TINS
trouble, and that l might be locked UP
before / could attend to certain matters,
I left my home in Alexandra at night
Il told my wife I was going to the
house of some colored people to keep
away from the police for that night. !
told the woman at the house to which
went that l had struck a man in the
head with a stone and wanted to avoid
the police.
II never said. however. that l had
struck white man, as the woman later
testified.
Il walked into the police station later,
thinking 1 was wanted for the money
matter, and not knowing anything about
the Schultz murder. l was told to go or
back to cell. and did so. l was kept
there from Friday until Sunday morning
without food.
1.-The police thought they could get me
to tell about the murder Of Schultz They
told me about the murder and said first
that L was accused of having murdered
a Chicago man.
Net Drawn About Him.
Il was glad. for l knew l had never
been to Chicago. and could prove it. But
I had told people 1 learned the uphol-
stery trade from a Chicago firm, SO they
would not know ! had learned 1t in the
penitentiary So they afterward con-
nected me with Chicago.
The police told me that mob wa:
coming to lynch me. All Saturday anC
Sunday night / was in fear of my life
Sunday / was offered food. but refused
asking what was the use of eating IL the
mob was going TO kill me.
The police first suggested to me that
Pines and Dorsey had something to dc
with the murder. They told me they
were sure these men were guilty.
The net was closing in on me. | de-
cided that If / was to save myself from
the chain of circumstantial evidence
must say that Pines and Dorsey had beer
guilty.
Later l brought Johnson into the
crime to still further strengthen the
story l knew nothing about Johnson
except that he sold cocaine.
says Police Gave Him Hope.
Mr. Mackey asked Smith if the police