Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-05

Buffalo. N. Y, Nov. c9-The accidental
Killing of a man in Lowell, Mass, 20
years ago was given tonight by John
Frank Hickey in a singed confession as
he starting point of career OF de-
bauchery and crime that covered n
period of % years during which he muir
1ered two boys and assaulted many
others. Hickeys victims, according to
his confession, were Ed. Morey of Low
ell, Mass. poisoned with laudanum over
20 years ago; Michael Kruck. II years
Old New York newsboy strangled in
Central Park in 1902. and Joseph Joseph,
seven years old. the son of George
Joseph, merchant of Lackawanna, kill
ed in a similar manner October L.. 1911
"rhe details of Hickey's last two crimes
are too revolving to make public" said
District Attorney Dudley. Hickey APP
parently is man with dual personality.
He is intelligent. He Is now overcome
with remorse and says again and again
that he cannot comprehend what pos
sessed him to commit the crimes. He as
serts that he became a maniac only when
filed with whiskey."
Hickey's full confession came after a
. long series of admissions made to Dis
trict Attorney Wesley c. Dudley and
Chief Ray r.. ellison Of Lackawanna,
that began Wednesday morning when
the two officials left New York for
Buffalo with their prisoner. To-day
Hickey agreed to sign a confession and
shortly after five o'clock this evening
he was brought through the tunnel con-
Meeting the county Jail and the city hall.
used to-day for the first time since Leon
Czolgosz was taken through it after
being sentenced to death for the assas-
Nnation of President Mckinley.
Shackled to Sheriff Frederick c. Becker
Hickey was taken to the district attor-
ney's office where. in the presence Of Mr..
Dudley. the sheriff and a stenographer, he
again went over the details Of his crimes.
n addition to the murders, Hickey con-
fessed to many ASA ults and attempted as
saults on small boys. the last being COM
rpitted In Lawrence. Mass. on August g.
Hickey said repeatedly during his con-
feesion that all his crimes were commit
ted while he was drunk. Sober. thought OF
crime never entered his mind. But when
he became intoxicated there came over
him an Unsuitable desire to kill small boys
The tortures Of his victims, as related in
the confession. were frightful.
After signing his confession Hickey said
ne was glad his life Of crime was at an
end.
II have made my peace with God"
he said. Il am ready to pay the penalty
for my crimes demanded by man."
The killing of the man, Ed. Morey, in
Lowell, according to Hickey's confession.
accidental. lie was then clerk In
drug store where Morey frequently
called to beg for whiskey. To get rid of
him one day, Hickey said he put
laudanum in the whiskey that Morey was
about to drink, intending to make him
sick, but the man. weakened by dissipa'
hon, died from the effects OF the drug.
This crime. preying upon his mind fol
Years, Hickey said, ultimately drove hin
&c drink.
After killing the Kruck boy in Contra
Park, n. Y, Hickey fed to Boston but
returned to New York in a few days anC
read in the newspaper files in the public
library stories about the finding OF thu
little felowss body and the search FOL
his slayer.
The post cards written from Boston II
which Hickey told of killing the JOSEPH
and Kruck boys and indicated where thu
cody of the Joseph boy could be found
Hickey states were written at desk II
the general delivery room Of the mail
postohice building.
District Attorney Dudley said tina
IIickey's confession came from his lip
without much persuasion.
There was no grilling examination no
resort to the so-called third degree n
aid. Hickey became quite confidential
nth me, and at times would tell m
its of his life history. 1t was on tn
rain that / made remarks about DIFF