The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-01-23
Repudiates Confession Which Made
to Save Step.daughter-New
Letter Found.
POLICE ARE NOW PUZZLED
BY STAND HE HAS TAKEN
Julia Flake, Fifteen Year-0ld Step.
daughter Will Take Stand
and Tell All.

Aledo, ILL.,, Jan. 22.-In reply to
Robert Higgins repudiation of his
confession that he killed his wife
of year to clear the way to mar
riage with his step-daughter, Julia
Flake, came the girls decision to-
day that she would take the stand
against him and tell all to avenge
her mother. Today was her fifteenth
birthday.
''He tempted me, not him." she is
said to have declared. "He caused
my downfall, Nothing shall stand
in the path of justice. | viii go on
the stand and send him to the gal
lows
Almost at the same time Higgins
in his cell laughed as ne denied his
previous confession to the authori.
ties.
Il agreed to the story that the
girl had told in order to save her, -
&C said. Il made no statement, my
self. can easily prove my innc~
cense."
A letter written by Julia Flake
to relatives year ago, shortly after
Higgins became the child's second
father, was found today and throws
considerable light upon the feelnEs
entertained by the two at that time.
1t is apparent that Higgins was
much taken with his stepdaughtcr
but tina, she did not approve of him
and he knew it.
The girl had regained her con
posure. She was quoted as saying
to friend that she had been a fool
blinded by an iufatuation that lIig-
gins had helped to kindle. Nov
that she realized the terrible things
that she had done she hated him and
will do all in her power to atone foe
the death of ner mother. She was
said to be determined to leave moth
ing stand in the way of justice.
She hesitated each time she was
forced TO mention Higgins name,
referring to the prisoner only as
"ho' and him ~
Higgins refused to comment on
tho sudden determination OF his
step-daughter to testify against
him. He received the news of the
girls denunciation while in his cell
in the Aledo county Jail, making no
outward signs Of emotion.
With the swagger of man al
ready acquitted Higgins boastfuiy
defied the state in the reputation
of his confession. He attributed his
previous confession of having shot
his wife dead a moment after he
had kissed her full upon the
mouth" to the trick of a trained de-
tective.
Twenty-four hours before he was
remorseful, cringing and apparently
suffering from terror.
The sudden change of this
strangest of prisoners followed a
visit of his father. It staggered the
police handling the case To them
it was battling circumstance. 1t
meant that the confession this man
made will so for aaught They
must now go out and prove that he
committed the crime.
Good morning" he cried when a
visitor greeted, him after his faith
er's visit. IT'S a fine day. isn't it?
l see you've got the girls picture in
the paper. You could have had one
of me ii | had known you wanted
it. I'm not ashamed of this thing.
My conscience IS as clear as it ever
was. 1t won't be any trouble to
prove that | am innocent"
What about this confession that
you have made?" he was asked. The
man smiled broadly and arising
strobe about his cell.
I'm Going TO Fight"
Il die it TO protect the girl" he
finally answered. THAT Chicago de-
tective was a smooth one. He put
up talk that Id be saving Julia
If I'd admit the murder. Now
know it wasn't necessary. I'm going
to ffght this case and beat it."