Evening star., 1912-11-17
CLEARS BOYS DEATH
Post Card Leads to Finding OF
Decomposed Body.
DISAPPEARED A YEAR AGO
Unidentified Writer Confesses to at
Least Three Murders.
SAYS, II JUST LOVE TO KILL"
Modern "Dr. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde"
Declares Remorse for His Crimes
Is Killing Him.
DISAPPEARED A YEAR AGO
SAYS, Il JUST LOVE TO KILL"

BUFFALO, n Y. November 16-Con-
fess1on to at least three murders. and
ADMISSION that there are still more" is
the startling disclosure contained in
postal cards from modern "Dr. Jekyll
and Mr.. Hyde" the murderer of six
year-old Joseph Josephs. received by the
police and made public here tonight.
The murder Of the Josephs boy, whose
entire body, in badly decomposed frag-
ments, was found today in a cesspool
near his home in Lackawanna, n. Y.
after a search of more than a year, is
believed by the police to be but one
OF long series of similar crimes COM
mitted throughout the country by the
man who, according to his own con-
fess1ons, has an irresistible mania for
killing boys Today's gruesome discov-
cry was made by following the minute
instructions contained in the cards.
Young Josephs disappeared on the aft
ernoon of October II, 1911. 1t was at
first believed he had been drowned. but
his father, George Josephs, prominent
merchant of Lackawanna. insisted that
the boy had been kidnapped. and a coun-
try-wide search was instituted.
Wrote Anonymous Letters.
The case attracted widespread atten-
ton, as the father from time to time re-
ceived anonymous 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.
In one postal card mailed from Bos-
ton the unknown writer speaks Of
numbering a boy in Central Park, New
York city. 1t reads:
"wednesday night, December 10, 1902.
I enticed Michael Ricao Kruck. a news
trance to the arsenal police station. I
st:angled him and just escaped the
officer who found him. Three times
have l taken life. twelve times have
tried, and cannot help it,
Says He is Honored and Respected.
Another unsigned card. dated Boston,
Mass, November 3, 1912, and written
apparently by the same person, says
the writer unfortunately had too much
money" that he was prominent fra
ternity man of high degree. "honored
and respected my SON." it con-
tinues. lis married and happy Can 1.
under the circumstances, give myself
up? l can, of course, but there are
still more murders l have not told
you. Shall / Gomez?
The first postcard received was post
marked Boston. Mass. September II,
1912, and was addressed to Supt. Regan
of the Buffalo police department. 1t
read
Il am sick of trying to fool myself l
have a homicidal mania. l killed joey
Josephs of Lackawanna, N. Y. l stran-
gled him. as l did others. Please adver-
tise the fact. Post it or write for the
information. Come to - Ink smudges
make the balance of the card illegibe)
Remorse in His Heart.
The second postcard, addressed to Chief
Gibson of the Lackawanna police, follows:
,sBoston, Mass, September II, 1912. If
you only knew the remorse in my heart,
on account of the murders l have COM
mitted as the result of my homicidal
mania, even you and George Josephs
would pity me. l am writing this just
getting over another drunk, to try and
forget the ones I killed; but, like Ban
quests ghost, it will not down. l am fast
going to pieces, mentally and spiritually"
The next card, also from Boston, post
marked October 23, 1872, read:
Am sick of this business that L
shall go to Buffalo next Sunday and will
call you on .ne fone. My brain is worse
to kill. Shall kill some kid before
leave here Sunday"
Another card dated October 30. 1912 ap-
parently written as a follow to the one
mailed October 23, was as follows:
Reveals Location of Body.
Joseph Josephs will be found in the
bottom of clubhouse back of saloon near
Doyle's on Ridge road. A drunk-craZed
brain done the deed, and remorse and
sorrow for the parents is bringing the
results which Will soon come to the
end. The demon whisky will then
have one more victim, making four in
all. The next morning L tried to kill
a little newsy. an Italian. who always
stands in the morning at Seneca
street. The boy knows me well. Ask
him. l wish to pay the price. but will
not let the Boston police get me for my
family's sake
The last card was dated New York,
November H. 1917. and stated that the
writer expected to be in Buffalo Wednes-
day, the 18th, and would call at the police
office at II am, 80 shall expect you to
be in your Office 1t was signed .'R.
Dennisson," and was the only card of
the series to bear a signature. The writ
er did not keep the appointment The
police and federal authorities in Boston
and New York have been asked to assist
in the attempt to locate the murderer
Handwriting experts tonight stated that
the signature to the postcard was .'R
Deumessori" not ''Dennisson" as origf-
nalIy believed. The word is a combina-
ton of Latin words meaning Gods
reapers.