Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-12
Roberts
Could Not
Commit Il
DORR NJ kEASEY MAKES STATE.
MENT SHOWING THAT ROBERTS
GOULD NOT HAVE COMMITTED
THE CRIME AT THE TIME
STATED.

ne declares that he was a fellow pas
senger with Roberts on a train from
Portland to oswego the nigbt tbe
crime with which Roberts is CHARGED
was committed. The statement fol-
lows:
On the night that young Stewart
and Hastings were shot Jack Roberts
was a passenger on the train leaving
the Jefferson street station for Oswe-
go at 1910 pm.
81 arrived at the Jefferson street
station at 10 o'clock that night and
while waiting for the train to leave.
walked up and down the platform by
the side Of the car, in which Roberts
sat quite a number of times.
Il observed that Roberts had his
eyes on me almost continuously, which
attracted my attention and curiosity
entered the car as the train pulled
out, passing Roberts and sat down on
the opposite Of the car few seats
in front Of him, was facing the for
ward end Of the car, as was Roberts
u had a very uneasy feeling. and
turned around slowly and found him
with his eyes still lfixed on me. Oppo-
site to where | sat and on the same
side of the car on which Roberts sat
were two seats turned together. and
as the conductor came through, got
up and took the seat facing Roberts
Aside from the occasional dropping Of
Roberts eyes we were looking square
.ly at each other for at least 10 min
utes, until ! left the train at River
dale. left the station at Riyerdalo at
.1O;2G.
Roberts features, especially the
eyes, resemblod those Of a person to
whom l had at one time taken a dis
I like, and brought this person strongly
to my mind and again when his pic
|ture was published in the papers.
"Ryerdae station is directly in
front Of Judge Careys house, where
they came with the wounded man i'm
mediately after the shooting The sta
tion stands some 10 feet below the
road in front Of Careys house, and it
is possible that the machine might
have been there, but it seems unlikely
as l heard no unusual sound or talk
ling, / knew nothing of the crime hav-
ing been committed until about I a.
m, when the patrol boat and officers
landed at our place and rushed mp the
|hill Shortly afterwards they returned
and | learned of the shooting which
they said had occurred between 9:15
and $3.50.
81 then spoke of the character who
had come out on the 1910 train with
me. They again assured me that the
crime was committed between 9:1j
and $780, and, Of course, I thought
that this person could have had moth
ling to do with IT,
"After the capture Of Roberts / was
startled upon taking up the paper to
see the face pictured was that Of the
man who had attracted my attention
on the train the night Of the crime.
81 Immediately went to the sheriffs
office and told Mr. Phillips and Mr.
Leonard, deputy sherlffs that the pic
Imre in the paper was that Of q man
who had travelled out with me ON tho
|1O1O train ON the night Of the crime
and suggested that ] take look at the
man under arrest They assured me
THAT he could not have been the man
as the crime was committed as
STATED before between O'Clock and
|g:5O They said they might send iof
me later, but ] heard nothing from
them.
"Whlle the trial was IN progress ]
again stated the matter as above to
Deputy District Attorney Fitzgerald.
He told me that confession bad been
secured from Roberts After that time
| I attempted to dismiss the matter from
nv mind. but could not satisfy my
self II the authorities are correct 90
TO the time the crime was committed,
how The shooting could have been
done BY Roberts.
"I went to the court house during
the trial and took a look at Roberts
and again satisfied myself that he was
the man who rode on the 1910 train
with me that night
or am positive 30 my Identification.
The conductor on that train also said
that he could Identify the man, but
was never called upon to do so.
"If the crime was committed at the
time and place stated and Roberts
confessed to it, he was either hno-
tlzed or crazy
OF do not mean 10 say that Roberts
did not commit the crime, but ! am
positive It was not az $780, a8 stated