Omaha daily bee., 1914-01-21
ADMITS KILLING HIS SPOUSE
Julia Blake, Is, Begs Robert Hig-
gins to Dispose Of Her Mother.
SHE TELLS OF HER INFATUAT1oN
Woman Besan 60 Grow Suspicious of
Relations OF the Pair and they
Decided 60 Make Away
with Her.

GALESBURG. Ill, Jan. sO.-Robert Hig-
gins confessed today that he murdered
his wife at New henderson, H.. Jan. g. so
he would be free to marry his stepdaugh-
ter. Julia Flake, 10 years old.
He was arrested after the girl told
states Attorney John NJ Wilson Of Mer-
Ger county of her infatuation for Higgins
and that she importuned him to dispose
OF her mother who. she said, was the only
obstacle TO her happiness
The prosecutor hesitated 20 believe tho
girls story OF the extraordinary pact
entered into with her stepfather. But sho
told how they had schemed for hours de-
vising plan which would make Mrs
Higgins death appear accidental She
said she was in the next room when Hig-
gins fired the shotgun which brought In
stRnt death to her mother. She told how
Higgins raved and struggled with neigh
bors for possession 90 the gun. saying
that he would end his own life. Then
when the excitement subsidized somewhat,
she said. they explained that Higgins
had been cleaning the gun and It had
been accidentally discharged
story Convincing.
Their story was so convincing that the
coroner's Jury returned a verdict of acct
dental death. No one of the 800 residents
of the village suspected anything regard
ing Mrs. Higgins death, and they COM
forted the widower and his apparently
grief-stricken stepdaughter
c. W. Ernst. a maternal uncle OF the
girl, took two letters written by Julia
F1ake-one TO himself and one to his
daughter. to States Attorney Wilson, In
these letters the girl offered part Of a
legacy she is to receive when she be-
comes OF age provided they would help
kill her mother Mr.. Wilson thought the
! letters were written in ut of anger, but
he investigated. Saturday he called on
States Attorney A. j. Boutelle of Knox
county and Sunday they went to see Ju-
liza, who was at the home Of another
uncle. A. J. Ernst, at Hermon. They
were astounded by her story.
Higgins, who is 26 years old and sew
eral years the junior of the woman he
killed. was found today at New Hender-
son. He was questioned for several hours
and made many contradictions. En- route
| to the county Jail at Aledo in an auto
mobile he broke down.
Can't stand IL Longer.
Il can't stand 1t any longer" he
moaned. "Ill tell everything"
The journey was interrupted at Alexis,
where Higgins was taken into a bank
and signed a typewrltten confession. He
gave what he said were all the details
Of the murder plot and asserted his in.
tatuation for his stepdaughter was the
cause of It ALL He said that Mrs. Hig'
gins became suspicious of his relations
with her daughter and they planned to
get rid OF her.
Higgins condition was such when the
county seat was reached that his hastily
provided attorneys waived preliminary
examination.
The girl, who is at the home of al
aunt here, became hysterical on learning
Of Higgins confession. +.
JuIia's First Proposal.
| In the letter written to Miss Ernst
Julia made her first proposal to bargain
for the murder of her mother. This let
ter follows:
Dear Honey: / wonder IL your father
would entertain any notion OF killing
mother If he does, wish that he would
hurry up and do II. as ! am getting
awful tired. I wish he would try tC
come over here to Windhams a couple
of days next week. or course. he woulC
have to do 1t when father and l ar,
away. He could go to the house wher
father is shucking corn and l am ir
school. Tell him to come and see ms
at recess"
The letter she wrote to her uncle wal
similar.
Mr.. Ernst told the states attorney hi
did not inform Mrs. Higgins of the let
tiers because he was not on speaking
terms with her, but that he did go &c
the school house and tell Julia not &c
write any more such letters.