The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-15
ERICSSON IS WROTH
Detective Scores County Attorney for
Releasing Boyle.

Detective Ericsson is grievousty
peeved because County Attorney simon
refused to arrest William Boyle for the
Platt killing and declares that simon
pIavet to the galleries at the expense or
Justice and the enforcement OF his
duties as a public prosecutor AFTER d
good nights sleep Erricsson's sense OF
hurnor had not improved and IN an IN
terview today the state administration
spotter lambasted the county attorney
for dropping one of his faNorlte cases
Simon showed that he was playing
TO public opinion instead of trying to
perform his duties, said the detective,
land showed his weakness when he IN
sisted the people demand a conviction
of either first or second degree murder
Third degree manslaughter was all
Boyle was guilty of and it was all |
asked The man was willing to plead
guilty to this and the notes taken by
the county attorneys stenographer
shows just what was said
Those notes will also show, con-
tinued Ericsson, that Boyle admitted
he knew what he signed, that the state
ment was true, that no lenlency had
been promised and that he was not
drunk. when he signed the statement
Yet Simon refused to issue warrant
II was the same old thing. Simon has
repeatedly said that it is ticklish work
to revive dead issues. That's all right
AS far as I am concerned the matter
may be dropped. It's not my funeral
it's Judge Simons''
That wasn't all. Ericsson said that
both Simon and James Mcclure, his as
sistant. showed more anxiety about a
nights sleep than they did about get
ting to the bottom of the murder case
"A murder is such a common thing IN
Shawnee county, sarcastically remark
ed the detective that a prosecutor
must not lose any sleep working on the
case. In st. Joe, Mcclure went to bed
a 1 o'clock. We worked with Boyle all
night. The next morning Boyle re-
pudiated his confession. Mcclure could
not stay. He had some sort of case in
the city court here that needed his at
tention. SO he hurried back to Topeka
1T was the same way when we
brought Boyle here. Boyle told Simon
he would plead, but Simon let down the
bars and the man said he wasn't guilty
We would have got the whole story if
we had stayed with our man. But
Simon looked at his watch and said the
last car for home was nearly due and
ordered the man sent to jail. Then I
knew it was all off. AS soon as BoyIe's
friends and a lawyer got to him they
would undo all our work. I wasn't a
bit surprised the next morning when
Simon turned the man loose.
Il am perfectly satisfied with my
work and if given a chance would de-
liver the evidence in court to convict
Boyle. Had Judge Simon prosecuted
the case and the man been acquitted,
Simon would have at least shown his
good faith. I do not claim especial
credit for the case, many of my details
being secured from local police officers
familiar with the case"
The break between Simon and Err
ricsson has been the subject of much
discussion in Topeka. Ericsson was
one of Simon's staunchest friends With
other spoilers and the aid of the State
Temperance Union, Ericsson furnished
Simon evidence in numerous liquor
cases and the men were close friends
until the Boyle affair.
In statement made at the Jail yes
terday. James Mcclure was given a
clear bill by Boyle, who said the as
sistant county attorney had treated
him fairly in the examination in ST
Joe.
Mr.. Mcclure was fair and treated
me like gentleman was the frequent
statement made by the man, land my
mistrea tment was at the hands of Med
lock and not Mcclure"