The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-29
AMURDERERAT
Youth Caught at awrence Tells
of His Grimes.
'sHaint Done NOthin' So Awful, =
He Says.

St Louis, Nov. 29.-Charged with the
gravest offense possible. that of taking
human life. Albert Merk. confessed
slayer of Deputy Marshal Frank w.
Guinard, regards his crime lightly. He
declares ne "hain't done nothin' so aw-
full bad" and tells of a career of law
breaking which began when he was 3
years old.
Merk was captured nearly a month
after the murder at Lawrence, Kan,
and before leaving that city confessed
to the officers that he had killed the
man who sought to arrest him for a
petty theft But he declares he did
not intend to kill the officer, firing
merely to brighten him.
1t is believed here that Merk will
likely be required to pay with his lie
for the crime he committed. In telling
of the murder and his wanderlngs Merk
says:
Il didn't kill that guy cause I had
somethin' agin him. For I didn't have.
1 never seen him before in my life l
just saw a policeman's badge on the
man with him, and I knew they We're
after me. And I hadn't done nothing
to be arrested for.
Course, 7 had been arrested before:
1 was pinched the first time when L
was a kid years old. I lifted some
thing that time, but don't remember
what it was.
THE next time was arrested it was
for stealing, too, but don't remember
what it was I took that time.
but they have done nothin' with
me. They took me to the juvenile court.
They went through with a lot of dom
that don't understand but didn't send
me to no house of refuge. 1 reckon
was paroled. My father went to see
Mr.. Baldwin, who was the man at the
juvenile court. and got out both times.
'Nothin' Against This Guinea"
This guinea that shot didn't have
nothin' against, and I didn't mean to
got off hobo a day or two before.
bought it for a dollar, and was goin'
to sell it.
when 1 see him and the policeman
L know it won't do to be caught with
the gun on me, and I try to take it
off. But it gets caught in my belt and
in my sweater, and 1 can't get rid of
it. I wanted to throw it in the closet.
When I gets it, they are standing
on the front porch. I think it will
bluff them off if I shoot the gun. I
point the gun in no way in particular
and shoot. I didn't know that I had
killed him when I started to run.
Il hiked out the back way and ran
lumber yard and hid until
it was night 1 heard someone say
that I had killed the man, and then
knew it was up to me to get out of
town. had 40 cents in my pocket
when I left.
Ct went to the Tower Grove Station,
and when a passenger train comes
I sees fruit car in front of
the coaches. I climb this car and hide
and stay there until 1 hit Texarkana.
Then 1 gets out and begins hunting
for work.
'Bummed' and Did Odd Jobs.
II didn't steal nothing While I was
away. I bummed around the South
west country and did odd jobs. The
best job I had was in Dallas, Tex +
worked in a restaurant there. Some
times I washed dishes and som etimes
1 waited on table. Anyhow, I got
plenty to eat.
4 never started back home. I didn't
want to come back and get arrested again
and go to jail
But they can't do much to me, any
how, for 1 didn't mean to kill the man,
and didn't point the gun at him. I just
pointed it at nothing and pulled the
trigger
Il got a brother at home that is older
than me and one that is younger. The |
oldest has been arrested, but for nothing |
in particular. He amt a thief. And my |
younger brother, he amt but 3 years old. |
My older brother, he is a good boy. |
reckon I amt been so good myself. but [ I
amt done nothing so awful bad, at