The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-21

hope that the court will give him a
much lighter sentence than life term
in the penitentiary. He even reHark-
ed that 1t might be possible for him
to gain liberty at the end Of a year
'I think God will pardon a man who
confesses his sins. don't you?" he ask
ed. 'I know that 1 have been 3 back
slider in religion, but at one time I
was a member of the Methodist
church.
eff have to go to the penitentiary,"
he continued, at will endeavor to be
model prisoner. A man can gain some
time by doing what is right, can't he ?"
Regarding the commission of the
crime Monroe makes no effort to say
that he is not guilty.
''Why I did such a thing I can not
say. Speer was my friend and I had
no feeling against him. he said. "I
do not know but I think I must have
him."
Despite his ghastly crime, Monroe
seems to be of the opinion that he will
be looked upon as a man of good
marked that he never had been in
truble before and that he thought this
would be in his favor. He said he
had gotten in debt through having had
to support his sister after her hus-
bind had separated from her.
This was why I got discouraged
and why wanted money" was his ex-
PLANTATION. ''I couldn't find work and
while my sister had not been depend
ent upon me recently. I still owed a
hold off,
Monroe's Tale of Killing.
The confession of Monroe reads as
follows:
'I was slow in making up my mind
to kill Frank Speer. I was broke
and down and out and needed money.
wrote to Englewood and other
places around to get a position, but
could not. I went to Dr. Bars Fri
day night: I got poison at DR.. Barr's
Saturday night; I think 1t was strych-
nine. I carried it way in capsules.
Sunday 1 went to Frank Prices and
got some candy and put the poison
in part of it and put the poisoned
candy in another sack 1 intended to
poison dog with it. 1 never intended
to do anything but get money. If had
to kill him.
"I had my gun with me all the time,
the .32 had at Turon. 1t is a Har-
barrel. I don't just remember, but I
thing I started from Bars around 4
O'Clock Went west from Bars a
quarter of a mile and crossed over
toward Speer's house The tracks you
found were my tracks. I got over the
was at the house a half hour or so,
heard the clock strike 5. sat near
the stove and talked with him. ]
never asked him for money. I was
sitting on chair, Frank was talking
about the boys hunting rabbits on his
place. Said he didn't want to make
the boys any trouble and so on. He
got a law book and read the law on
hunting I said. Leave me see the
book and stepped over to my coat and
got the candy. and put the candy on
the table. He took the candy and ate
one piece. He said: Gosh. you must
have put some quinine in that I said
NO. nothing wrong with 1t that ]
know Of I didn't intend to put the
poison in for him, but was scared
when I saw that he had got piece OF
| the poisoned candy. He took the lamp
out and filled 1t and came back into
! the house and kept splitting several
| times He said: .'By gosh, this is the
| bitterest stuff ever tasted in my lie
what the devil did you put in that :?
said: Nothing that I know Of
was guilty then. When he walked he
| did not have the use of himself. He
got nervous and looked out the win
dow / said: Frank, you had bettel
| lay down. but he wouldn't lay down
He got out doors and led him bach