The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-30
HICKEY CONFESSES
 ID KILLING BOYS Makes Signed Statement to
 Lackawanna Officials HAD THREE VICTIMS
Claims Accidental Killing of Ed Mercy Started Him on His Ca reer--Glad His Life of
 Crime Is Over

Buffalo. \. Y November 29.-The ac- cidental killing of a man in Lowell, Mass, twenty years ago was given tonight by John Frank Hickey, in a signed confess sion as the starting point of career of debauchery and crime during which he murdered two boys and assaulted many others. Hicl1ey's victims, according to his confession, were: Ed Mercy of Lowell Mass, poisoned with laudanum over % years ago: Michael Kruck, F years old, New York newsboy, strangled in Cen tral Park in 1902, and Joseph Joseph. the 7-year-old son of George Joseph, a ,aer- chant of Laekawanna. killed in a similar manner October F. 1911.
 "The details of Hickeys last TWO crimes are too revolting to make public. ? said District Attorney Dudley Hickey apparently Is d man with dual person. ality. He is Intelligent. He is now over come with renorse, and says again and again, that she can't comprehend what possessed him 10 commit the crimes. He asserts that he became a maniac only when filled with whiskey."
 Agrees to Sign Confession
 Hiekey's full confession came after a series of admissions made to District Attorney Dudley and Police Chief Gilson of Laekawanna, that began Wednesday when the two officials left New York for Buffalo, with their prisoner Today flick ey agreed 10 sign a confession and was taken to the district attorneys office through the tunnel connecting the county jail and the city hail. used today for the first time since Czogosz was taken through it after being sentenced to death for the assassination of President Me- Kinley. There he again went over the details of his crimes. In addition to the murders. Hickey confessed to many as saults on small boys. He insisted that all his crimes were committed while he was intoxicated. Whenever he became drunk, he said there came over him an unsuitable desire to kill small boys. His victims were tortured before being killed.
 After sienias. lis confession Hickey said he was glad his life of crime was at an end
 T have made my peace with God" he said: q am now ready to pay the penalty for my crimes demanded by man."
 First Killing an Accident, He Says
 The killing of Mercy in Lowell, &C., corindg to Hickey's confession, was acci- dental. He was then clerk in a drug store and Mercy frequently begged him for whiskey.
 TO get Ild or lHe Ind0 OIe udy, f1lckey said. he put laudanum in the whiskey, in tending to make him sick. but Mercy, weakened by dissipation, died.
 This crime. preying on his mind for years. he said, ultimately drove him to drink
 District Attorney Dudley said Hickey's confession came from his lips without much persuasion.
 Police Chief Began today received a letter from Henry Kruck of New York, who says he is the father of the mur- dered Kruck boy, begging permission to see Hickey.
 ''I am not happy since the child was lost" the letter reads. No matter where go or what I do, my child is always in my mind. Maybe peace will come for re when the murderer is dead"
 In reply Kruck was told he might see the prisoner provided he submitted to q search at police headquarters before going to the jail.