The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-05
Teck Duncan Is Still Myste-
riOus Character
SOME OF HIS HISTORY
Has Been Reported as Making Con-
fessions Before and Has Been
Party in Many Mysterious
Occurrences

Another chapter in the history of Lew
isburg will soon be added and there are
those who predict it will prove the more
sensational of all.
That Teck Duncan has made a con-
fession there seems to be no doubt, but
the nature and extent of that confession
is yet a mystery. 1t is rumored that
startling disclosures will be made but
thus far this is merely rumor However,
the truth will soon be learned for he is
to be brought back to Birmingham from
the prison where he is serving a life SEN
tence to tell what he knows" If any
thing, about the assassination of Felix
j. Ellard.
Teck Duncan is unique character. He
has been in the limelight ever since the
Lewisburg tragedies were first brought
to light. In fact Teck boldly claims the
credit of making the facts known to
the authorities, for 1t was on his infor-
nation that the killing of the negro,
John Holland, was revealed and for
which crime two white men we're sem
fenced to be hanged and one to life
Imprisonment.
While Duncan was confined in. the
county Jail before he was convicted of
the killing of Ellard, he declared that he
was getting a bad deal and as he had
given the evidence and had started the
investigation that instead of being con-
fined in the county Jail he ought to be
provided with suite of rooms at some
fine hotel. But Teck not only was con-
fined in jail but he was tried in the
criminal court of Jefferson county for
the murder of Ellard, found guilty and
given a life sentence.
While the coroners jury and Solicitor
Hefin were out at Lewisburg viewing
the scenes of the reported crimes, the
news came that Duncan had a confession
to make. In the absence of Solicitor
Heflin, Special Counsel Borden Burr
was called in to whom Duncan stated
he had a confession to make but would
not make 1t to any other person tnan
the solicitor At noon the solicitor re-
turned with the coroner's jury from
Lewisburg and went to the county Jail
In the meantime Teck had for "some
reason changed his mind and later de-
MED all knowledge of his willingness to
confess and swore he had been 'doped"
by a fellow prisoner and that If he made
a statement of any kind he had not the
slightest remembrance of it. To this
statement he adhered throughout the in
vestigations of the coroner's Jury, the
grand jury and when being tried for
/ his life Henry Cole. who died rather
mysteriously i'm the county Jail few
days ago and Teclk Duncan were both
indicted for the murder of Ellard.
While Duncan's appeal was pending the
news came that Duncan had been "spir-
ited'' away from the county Jail and
taken to the state prison at Wetunlpka
His attorneys took the matter to the
higher court and Duncan was again
brought back to the county jail, Some
time later Duncan announced that he
had withdrawn his appeal and was ready
TO begin his sentence OF life imprison-
ment, and he was again taken to the
penitentiary.
For some weeks past now it has heen
persistently rumored that Duncan had
made a confession of the Ellard killing.
which gained ground when it was learn
ed that Solicitor Henin had visited the
penitentiary at Wetumpla. But as to
the nature of the confession, If one has
been made, nothing has been given out.
1t seems certain, however, that the
noted prisoner win be brought back to
the city and appear before the grand
jury. The grand jury will be organized
Monday and when that body makes its
report the full story of the confession
will he told