Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-16
MAY CHEAT JUSTICE
ls Suffering From Dreadful Disease
Which May Defeat the Ends Of
Justice and Cause His Death;
Says He 10 Born Criminal.

has disappeared, giving him the ap-
pearance of one having been impr1s-
oned for many years. His high strung
nerves, after relaxation, have left him
resigned to his fate, with no thought
of his coming punishment. He IS lit
orally a nervous wreck. This collapse
has not been sudden. Slowly but surely
did. it come upon him, gradually creep
ing into his conscience as he was
made to think of his awful crime.
From the first time he viewed the mu-
tilated and disfigured body Of his VIC
tim. Monday afternoon, the horror OF 1t
all began to dawn upon him. His ar
rest only fastened the inevitable
breakdown. In his cell at the police
station for the greater part of the day
he was alone with the thoughts OF MS
crime: hardly a sound to detract his
mind from the one supreme vision.
The climax has been reached, TOP
pling him over into stern conviction
of his crime, the killing OF his fellow
man.
May Cheat Justice.
Young may yet defeat the ends OIL
Justice, escape life imprisonment OF
death on the gaalows. He is now ana
has been for some time past. suffering
from dreadful and loathsome disease
which has reached its incurable state
and may cause his death in a short
time. His stricken conscience, wnicn
is now fast sapping his life and
strength, will aid the disease In It's
terrible work and hasten his death.
This was not known to the police at
the time Of his arrest, but Young told
Chief Beeman Friday night that such
was his condition.
Davis Exonerated.
Chief Of Police J. E. Beeman dis
covered Young's nervous breakdown
Saturday afternoon when he took Jim
Davis. the man thought to be the
Davis named by Young in his COMES
sion as the Nels Nelson hold-up man.
to Oskaloosa, to give Young chance
to settle the doubt. The murderer de-
clared that this man was not the Davis
that did the Job, thus generating
Davis from any connection with the
robbery at ALL Chief Beeman took
Davis up to the Mahaska county seat
in an automobile Saturday afternoon,
but before allowing him to see Young
he questioned the latter as to the &C
cused hold.up mans description. liter
thorough questioning Beeman was
convinced that this was not the Davis
and when the two men were allowed to
meet. Young declared Davis was not
the one who had held up Officer Mel
son. Davis was therefore turned loose
the moment he reached Ottumwa.
Young Isolated.
Chief Beeman states that Young Is
kept isolated from any communication
whatever with herother prisoners in
the Oskaloosa Jail and that no one is
allowed to see him. Many have applied
at the Jail but were refused view OF
the murderer.
Young talked short time with Bee
man In regard to the crime he had
committed, but at the same time
seemed to be very reticent, not that
he was unwilling to let anything he
would keep secret slip, but he was
morose and quiet. He told the chief
that he wished they would get ready
for him in Ottumwa right away as he
wanted to get his sentence and have
it over with.
Had Told Everything.
When asked If he had anything to
say about himself, Young declared
there was nothing as he had told
everything. This question of the
chief was put in a casual way and just
In the course of the short converse
ton. It is probable that before Young's
case is taken to court he will be
questioned again and prevailed upon
to make a statement as to whether or
not there were any other deals in
which he has figured. Young's pres
emit condition, however, does not war
rant such action and 1t is thought
that IL there is anything more of his
crimes that he has not already told OF,
he will do 80 without much hesitation.
Several other remarks were made by
Young to Chief Beeman bearing on
this crime but they were of little i'm
portance.
A Born Criminal.
After giving his confession Friday
night, Young declared to the chief
that he guessed he was born GRIM
final as he had been stealing since he
was old enough to know what it was.
He said that he often took things not
because he wanted them but because
he wanted to steal them. He used
to steal stuff and then lay it away,
perhaps never to touch it again. 1t
was a sort of habit or an instinct
with him. The first time he landed
in court or was arrested was six years
ago when he stole little pile of old
Junk from a man. He frankly adj
mitted his guilt and went to Jail just
as II it was a matter of course with
him. Since then he has been arrested
several times on various charges.
May Have More To Tell.
Young NAV have more To tell Of l1is
crimes 1t was not more than five
minutes after the officers began their
sweating that Young gave in and con-
fessed. His first denial was weak
but he gradually gave in. When he
did confess 1t seemed to come all at
once and he could hardly wait to tell
it. The delay in getting pen and pa.
per caused him considerable discom-
ei4 90 ho could hardIvA he held hack in