New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-11
KILLED MAN FOR g,
YOUNG WITNESS SAYS
Declares Prisoner on Trial for
Murder Hired Him to
Avenge Beating.
TELLS HIS STORY CALMLY
Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter,
but Says He Expected De-
PENDANT to Fix" 1t 30
He Would Go Free.

Thomas Cannon. who. does not look
more than seventeen years old, although
he passed his twenty-rrst anniversary in
the Tombs last week. calmly told a jury
in Judge Mslone's part OF General Ses-
sions Yesterday that he had done murder
for s. Cannon has pleaded guilty TO
granddaughter and was the principal wit
ness against Frederick Spence. who is on
trial before Judge Malone for murder. 1t
il alleged that on March "a Cannon. at
Spence's bidding. shot and killed Chris
topher Larsen, with whom Spence had
had a quarrel.
The boys answers 10 the questions pat
by Charles c. Mott, jr.. the Assistant Dis
tlict Attorney, came promptly. and at 10
time did he display the slightest emotion.
he is slender Young chap, alert and
fairly intelligent in appearance No Cne
would pick him out az a ''sunman.'
Cannon said he was IN the habit OF
dropping In at a saloon al No. eyl Second
avenue. where Spence Was bartender. ana
was there on SUNDAY, March a. having
"a merry time" After Spence had been
out for his supper he came back. Gan
non said. with bruises on his face and On
his hands.
Il asked him what was the matter.
said Cannon. an he says, Oh. I had a
little fight Who was you hshtin - |
says, an he says. on, its muffin.
war up TO 10Th street
Switches His Drinks"
An then he says-he wss on duU
then--he says will We have drink with
him, an me an Bill Clesry an Tom
Callsha n and d couple more lines up at
the bar I'd been drinkin' beer. aud I
SAYS Will have some OF the dark, hut
Spence says why don't | take whisky
an ginger ale and has some, ] seen
Spence put down dollar bill 10 pay Cor
the drinks.
Then Spence SAYS DO Iou mind
comm up TO l0th street 10 clean up That
49, - mob OF Polacks sp' Swedss that
Just trimmed me an kicked me down
stsirs?' says. What. me alone an
ne saws, oh. no; some OF the bunch will
20. too. An then lie .tells again how ne
was kicked downstairs an what a dump
this Mr. Larsen Was runnin' there, an
SAYS they ought 10 De cleaned out.
we went out in the hall. an. he said.
Here, take this an showed something
into my hand. II was a gun, an We were
just getting out to where the street
LIGHTS ~ss an / showed ii, la my pocket
quick"
The young man then hesitated and apol-
ogized before he told the court the Ian
guase he said Spence used In describing
Larsen. lie then said Spence waited out
side while he and tuo OF three others
went up to Larsen's nat, Oh the third
fioor OF No. .3S4 East t0th street, and enc
of the precautions the gang took chang
ing hats all around, 80 that they might
not be easily identified. One who wore
q SLOUGH brown hat" he said. knocaed
at the door.
Mr.. Larsen came out" Cannon con-
tinued. AN said: What DO you want
l hadn't never seen him before. an |
SAYS. Are you Mr.. Larsen lie says
Yes an / asks him did he have any
trouble with Fred Spence. lie says lie
did an what 10 1t 10 me. I says, 'Nuttin'
at ALL but you better get back before
some trouble starts wit that he makes
a run at me an 4 pulled the gun an
shot him.
II ran down With the rest and We met
Spence al the door. Did you get him
Spence asks. an ! says. i got somebody
that said he was Mr.. Larsen, and he
says, That's good he won't trouble no.
body no more
After the killing they went.to several
saloons, Cannon said, and in one OF them
Spence searched his pockets for some
money 'IIe gave me bill" said
Cannon IAN says. Take that an I'll
see you again when l got more money.
The witness said Spence had sent word
10 him in the Tombs not to worry. az he
would AK" the witnesses or spirit them
away, 10 nothing could happen.
ON cross examination by Clifford Sea-
songood. who with job r. Hedges. is
counsel for Spence. Cannon said that up
to the time Of his appearance in coIrt
when he learned that the witnesses
against him had not left town, he had
had no doubt that Spence would keep his
word and get him of. His cross-exdm-
ination will he continued to-day.