The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-11-30
AN ACCIDENTAL KILLING
INDUCED HIS MANIA
Declared Hickey, Who Confessed to Mur-
dering Two Boys and Numerous
Assaults on Others--His
Confession Was Not
Forced.

| Buffalo, n. Y, Nov. 30.-The acci.
dental killing of man in Lowell, Mass,
~ years ago. was given last night by
John Frank Hickey in signed eonfes-
sion as the starting point of career
OF debauchery and crime that covered q
period Of 20 years, during which he
murdered two boys and assaulted many
others. Hickey's victims, according to
| his confession. were Ed. Morey of Low
ell, Mass, poisoned with laudanum over
20 years ago; Michael kruck. l2 years
old, New York newsboy strangled in
Central park in 1902, and Joseph Jo-
scphs, seven years old, the son of George
:enh. merchant of Lackawanna,
killed in similar manner October IL.
1911.
"The details of Hfckey's last two
crimes are too revolving TO make pub
lie" said District Attorney Dudley.
"Hickey is apparently a man with a
dual personality. He is intelligent He
is now overcome with remorse and says
again and again that he cannot compre-
hend what possessed him to commit the
crimes. He asserts that he became
maniac only when filled with whiskey."
Hickey agreed TO sign confession
and shortly after ) o'clock last evening
he was brought through the tunnel con
Meeting the county Jail and the city hall,
used yesterday for the first time since
Leon Czolgosz was taken through it aft
er being sentenced to death for the
assassination of President Mckinley.
ShaekIed to Sheriff Frederick C. Beck
er, Hickey was taken to the district at
torney's office. where, in the presence OF |
Mr.. Dudley, the sheriff and stenogra-
pher. he again went over the details /
of the crimes. In addition to the mnr-
ders, Hickey confessed to many assaults |
and attempted assaults on small boys, |
the last being committed in Lawrence,
Mass. on August 5.
Hickey said repeatedly during his con
fession 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 vic
Tins, as related in the confession, were
frightful
After signing his confession. Hickey
said he was glad his life of crime was
1t an end.
II have made my peace with Cod I
ne said. Il am ready to pay the penalty
'or my crimes demanded by man"
The killing of the man, Ed. Morey. in
lowell, according TO Hickey's confession,
vas accidental He was then clerk
n drug store where Morey frequently !
allied TO beg for whislley. To get rid
# him one day, Hickey said he put
audanum in the whiskey that Morey
h.. 20 1,-fa f,,fapl,ue, IN Ir. /
i'm sick. but the man. weakened by
died from the effects of the
rug
The crime, preying upon his mind for @
ears, Hickey said. ultimately drove him Z
o drink 4
After killing the Kruck boy in Cen i
raj park. New York. Hickey fed TO :
'oston, but returned to New York in ;
few days and read in the newspaper n
les in the public library stories about o
he finding of the little fellows body a
nd the search for his slayer. G
The post cards written from Boston q
/ which Hickey told of killing the 10. /,
aph and Kruek boys and indicated i,
here the body of the Josephs boy could
e found. Hickey states. were written :
desk in the general delivery room
I the main postofiice building.
District Attorney Dudley said that
ickey's confession came from his lips
ithout much persuasion.
"There was no grilling examination
lr resort to the so-called third degree"
said. Hickey became quite confiden-
al with me, and at times would tell me o
T. of his life history. IL was on the :.
ain that I made remarks about differ /.
Il points of evidence we had against .
m. This seemed 20 worry him con- .
ierably. | told him that ne could not .
pect anything from me and that any .
ing said would be used against him :
FINALLY he launched into detailed .
story Of his life. He said that when .
was boy in lowell. his birth place,
mething happened to him that he .
ver forgot. He then related the acci =
utal killing OF the man Morey. This =
said was followed by periods Of re
Drse that he sought to obliterate from 7
) mind with drink Bit by bit the ]
Dries Of the other crimes came out.
I'll he finally broke down completely
d between sohs told me how be mur-
red the Josephs and krick boys
A Murdered Boys Father Writes
Police Chief Michael Regan Yesterday
.risrea = letter from Henry krl1rk OF