The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-03
confesses to tho Crime and Uses the
coward's Defence That He Was
Afraid She Would
Hurt Him.
TOLD THE REPORTERS
After Collecting $3.50 for Tobacco
and Cigars, Murderer Calmly
Relates HE Version Of the
Assassination.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service. 1 |
CHICAGO, Nov. Charles Conway |
this evening confessed that he struck
Miss Sophia Singer, the Baltimore
heiress, knocked her senseless with q
cloth-covered doorknob stuffed tow
Ell In her mouth and bound her.
His confession was not made until
he was confronted with the statement
of Beatrice Ryall- Conway, his actress
wife. He smiled as he told Captain
Max Nootbar and the other officers
present OF the killing, and then asked
that the newspaper men outside the
captains Office be admitted and that
he be allowed to tell them the story
himself.
Conveys confession came after a
third degree examination that lasted
the entire afternoon. The questioning
was pressed by fifty-two hours OF
silent treatment during which time
Conway was alone in his cell, where
none Of the guards or officers was al
lowed to speak to him, and where
4 large clock licked Off the seconds
slowly and loudly
He was defiantly sullen at first, re-
fnsing to admit any part Of the muir
der. His denials sometimes were
spoken with sneer, and at other
times he calmly answered. well, If
that's what you've been told, believe
lit IL you wish; / know nothing about
it,
i His composure was not broken
when his woman COMPANION was
4 brought into the room. Sha was seat
ed facing him, and at word from
Captain Nootbar, repeated the sub
4 stance Of her confession of yesterday
in which she said that Conway killed
the Singer woman. When she had
finished she stepped over and kissed
q Conway. He smiled and patted her
| arm
!. II did my best, Con-, she said, put
!. IN had to tell"
1 WELL said Conway, his smile re-
naming, you've got me. I'll tell you
about It,"
I After he had finished long recital
, of the details Of the crime, William R.
! Warthen was brought into the room.
. Warthen still showed visible signs of
, the anguish he has suffered since the
killing of the woman he said he was
going to marry.
Conway arose and offered his hand.
Warthen glared at the prisoner and
, pushed his own hands deep into his
> pockets.
1 you won't feel that way Bill. when
( you know all the facts said Conway.
: Warthen turned and went out Of the
/ room where he broke down and wept
t Conway appeared not to hear his
5 sobs through the door and asked Cap.
tain Nootbar II he might talk to the
: newspapermen. The reporters were
i ushered in.
, Now, gentlemen said Conway
, cheerfuliy, FIRST / want to see II
) you're good sports. need some to-
: bacco and cigars. You can all chip in
t LIZ you want to-
/ The collection from the reporters
!. totaled $1.9c Conway pocketed the
money and then said, Now I'll an
! swer anything you want to ask me.
In answer to the questions the con
fessed slayer told his story.
Il killed her in self Defense, he
). said The trouble that led to II
started when Sophia came into the
: room where my wife and / were sit
ting. She kept her hand behind hel
!. back. She asked Beatrice to come
:. with her, that she wanted to STAR
right away on an immoral life, as
!. :. she had threatened to do before, and
get some money because we all need
ed it.
9 'I told her to go ahead if she want
p ed to, but that my girl would not go
!, That made her angry and when sh'
9 pulled her hand from behind her saw
It she had razor. I remembered tina
y she had cut Warthen on the shoulder
t. not long ago, and ! didn't hesitate u
e hit her on the head with the door
h knob.
), did YOU take her money!? one o
l. the reporters asked.
it mo- replied Conway. she gave !
4. Ito us. Yes, and the clothes, too
o "Why did you stuff cloth dowr
" her throat?''
It For few seconds Conway appeare'
q at loss for an answer Then HI
said that he was afraid he woult
: scream and attract some Of the per