Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-08-27
MURDERER MAKES
confession Of
TRIPLE CRIME
Lee SLEW FATHER, MOTHER
AND YOUNGER BROTHER
Indiana Youth BareS Horrible
Details Of Butcheyi Set Fire
to House in Effort to Hide
Evidence of Deed,
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Evansville, Ind. Aug 26--Wilham
Lee. 20 Years old. today confessed
that he murdered his father. Richard
lee. and his mother and younger
brother, Clarence. ana then set fire
10 the family home at Bonneville
early Thursday in the hope of con-
ccaling the crime.
In verbal and written statements 20
Sheriff Davis Lee said that his mo-
tive was anger because his parents
would not consent to his marriage
with Nina Taylor, which he had
planned fer ThursdaN evening ana
would not give him money with which
To set up housekeeping.
When the confession was made
made public, officers started Win
Leo in an automobile for the state re-
formatory AZ JeffcrsOnville tn prevent
possible mob violence.
Lee had previously made a state
meut that ne had killed his father IN
self defense with an axe after the
father had murdered his wife and
younger son. but sheriff Davis re-
lentlessly pressed the prisoner for
the true story" and this afternoon,
Lee asking for pen and ink, wrote
haltingly worded confession and af-
terward pieced together In answers to
questions. fun description of the
horrible butchery In the cottage room
at Bonneville.
Lee said that he went Wednesday
night TO Newburg and called on his
fiancee. They talked of the arrange
ments for their wedding He had
had St00 In the bank, but had spent
IL A. -. ~,
the house. He returned home late at
night and his mother reprimanded
MIN. lie told her he was determined
to be married the following day and
she answered that he should not that
he must stay at home.
Going to his own room, Lee said
he "brooded until he was out Of his
mind" Suddenly he rushed into the
room where his father. mother ana
brother slept.
| II grabbed an axe by the door he
said. and struck for my father, but
! II hit my mother My brother rose
!, up ana struck him. Then my father
who had been outside ran In and
started to grab me by the throat.
hit him and he fell. | was scared SO
badly that | did not know what | was
father had threatened my life, and [
was angry at what my mother had
said.
Lee said he III a match to see what
he had done and then dropped the
flaming match on the bed where his
mothers body lay. THE flames
flashed up ana blinded me- he went
on, and | jumped into my room, put
on my trousers and ran to alarm the
lneighhors. | would not have done this
thing for anything II ! hnd had any
sense at all
The fire in the Lee home was put
out before the bodies had been more
than scorched.
Lee Is illiterate and has been an
idler since boyhood, according to tes-
timonY at the coroners inquest, which
closed today at Bonneville. His
father, plasterer, appeared to fear
him and supplied him with money
even giving him a fourth share of the
proceeds Of the sale OF some prop-
erty recently
Evidence produced today rofuted
Lees statement that he rushed from
the house Immediately after he start
ed the fire. A basin stained Win
blood in. which he had washed his
hands was found. Long gray hairs.
supposedly his mothers, chung to the
sides Of the basin. Hidden behind
door was basket filled with dishes.
knives and forks and kitchen utensils,
which II Is believed he had packed
with the idea that he would escape
the consequence of the murders ana
would soon have his own home. The
lives Of his father and brother were
insured for 500 and this would have
come to him on their death and that
Of his mother