Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-19
CONFESSES TO MANIA
FOR STRANGLING BOYS
Buffalo Police Have Mysterious
Buffalo Police Have Mysterious
rieS of Murders
by Associated prsss.l

to at least three murders and admission
that there are "still more" is the start
ling disclosure contained, in postal cards
from a modern "Dr. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde the murderer of six-year-old JOS
made public here tonight.
/ The murder of the Josephs boy, whose
entire body is badly decomposed, frag-
ments was found today in a cesspoi
near his home in Lackawanna, N. Y,
after a search of over year, is believed
/ by the police to be one or long series
of similar crimes committed throughout
the country by the man who, according to
his own confessions, has an irresistible
mania for killing boys Today's grue-
some discovery was made by following
the minute instructions contained in the
cards.
! Young Josephs disappeared on the aft
ernoon of October u, 1911. 1t was al
4 first believed he hat been drowned, but
his father George Josephs, a prominent
| merchant Of Lackawanna, insisted that
the boy had. been kidnapped and a country
wide search was instituted. The case at
tracted widespread attention as the
father from time to time received anony-
nous letters warning him to discontinue
the search under threat that his son
would be murdered. Today's developments
\ indicate that the murderer took this
| means of creating the belief that the boy
was still alive.
MURDERED NEWSBOY.
! In one postal card mailed from Boston,
the unknown writer speaks of numbering
a hoy in Central Park, New York City.
/ 1t reads:
"Wednesday night, December 10, 1912,
enticed Michael Ricao Kruck, a newsboy,
into the park opposite the entrance to
the arsenal police station. l strangled
hi mand just escaped the officer who
found him. Three times have 1 taken life,
II times have tried and cannot help it. q"
| Another unsigned card dated Boston,
Mass, November 9, 1912, and written ap-
parently by the same person, says the
writer unfortunately had too much
money" that he was a prominent frater-
nifty man of a high degree, "honored ana
respected" my son. it continued, lis
married and happy. Can under the cir
cumstances give myself up? I can, of
course, but there ar still more murders
have not told you. Shall 1 Gomez"
The first postcard received was post
marked Boston, Mass, September IL, 1912,
and was addressed TO Superintendent Re-
gan of the Buffalo police department. 1t
read:
ALSO sTRANGLED OTHERS.
Il am sick of trying to fool myself. L
have a homicidal mania. 1 killed Joey
Josephs, of Lackawanna, N. Y. 1 stran-
gled him as did others Please advertise
the fact. Post it or write for the infor-
nation. Come to - Qnk smudges make
the rest of the card inlegible)
The second postcard addressed to
Chief ellison, of the Lackawanna police.
follows:
Boston, Mass, Sept. II, 1912
IF you only knew the remorse in my
heart on account of the murders 1 have
committed as the result of my homi-
cidal mania, even you and George Jo-
sephs would pity me. l am writing this
Just getting over another drunk to try
and forget the ones L killed, but, like
Banquos ghost, it will not down. I am
fast going to pieces mentally and spirit
ually."
The next card, also from Boston, post
marked October %, 1912, read:
LOVE TO KILL"
Am so sick of this business that
shall go to Buffalo next Sunday and will
call you on the telephone. My brain is
worse, and all 1 think of is murder, and
/ love to kill. Shall kill some kid be-
fore 1 leave here Sunday"
Another card, dated October 80, 1912,
apparently written as a fellow to the
one mailed October 30, was as follows:
Joseph Josephs will be found in tho
bottom of clubhouse back of saloon near
Doyles on Ridge road. A drunk-crazed
brain done the deed, and remorse and
sorrow for the parents is bringing the
results which win soon come to an
end The demon whisky will then have
one more victim, making four in all.
The next morning / tried to kill little
newsy, an Italian, who always stands in
the morning, at Seneca street. The boy
knows me Well. Ask him. 1 wish to
pay the price, but will not let the Bos-
ton police get me for my family's
sake"
The last card was dated New York,
November -, 1912, and stated that the
writer expected to be in Buffalo We'd
nesday, the 18th, and would call at the
police office at IL a. M, $50 shall expect
you to be in your office" 1t W. S
signed ar. Dennison" and was the only
card of the series to bear a signature.
The writer did not keep the appoint
ment. The police and federal authori-
ties in Boston and New York have been
asked to assist in the attempt to locate