Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-01-22
RICH JERSEY MAN
DEFENDS LAD WHO
SAYS HE SHOT HIM

New York, Jan. 19.-Paul Carl, the
youth who yesterday, according to pri-
vate detectives, confessed in Somer-
VILE, N. j., that he shot and dangerous
~ wounded Monroe Ellis. a wealthy
lumber merchant at Basking Ridge, N.
Ellis home last night, where he was
questioned by Mr.. Ellis, Frederick A.
Pope, county prosecutor, and a deputy
sheriff.
a returned to the Jail at Somer-
vile after the interview and Mr.. Ellis
issued a statement saying:
These statements and confessions
are all rot. l am convinced that this
boy, whom I know and once employed
in my office, did not shoot me, and did
not hear any such yarn as he is said
to have been told by a woman"
In the confession alleged by the de-
tectives to nave been made by Carl
he is quoted as saying that he shot
the lumberlman because he was en-
gagged to Go so by a woman, neal and
dear to him. This woman, the con-
fession went on, told Carl that Mr..
Ellis had wronged her and had failed
to keep his promises to her and then
she asked the boy to hire a Su1llnan
to hoo Mir Ellis and she would pay
$500 for the job.
Fired Load of Buckshot.
Mr.. Ellis, who is president of the
Conkling Lumber company, at Ber-
nardsville. N. j., and also heads the
New Jersey State Lumber association,
on November 20, 1911, was hit by a
load of buckshot fired through a Win
dow Of his dining room. He fingered
near death for weeks, but eventually
recovered completely.
1t was the unknown oma &C
cording to the alleged confession, who
urged Carl to obtain a clerical position
in the Ellis lumber office to eliminate
from him all suspicion. He remained
whore his aunt, Mrs. Grace Holly, a
widow, also had been employed for
several years. Mrs. Holly was pros
trated last night because of her
nephew's arrest. 1t became known to-
day that it was not Mr.. Ellis who en-
ployed the detectives, but a wealthy
contractor who lives near Bernards-
vile. The contractor became deeply
interested in the Ellis shooting, he be-
ing a student of criminology and an
amateur detective. He paid for the
investigation.
Detectives Statement.
A statement issued by the agency
reviews the details of the Ellis shoot
ing and adds:
tive gain the confidence Of Carl, Who
was living with his mother at East
Stroudsburg. Pa. Carl told this opera
tive that in the summer Of 1911, while
he was working in Jersey City. he met
a certain woman by appointment and
she asked him to hire somebody to kill
Ellis, saying that she would pay $500
to have his done.
Being very much attached to this
woman. he consented TO get a man for
this purpose. Failing to hire others,
Carl decided to do the job himself.
On the evening of November 20. he
went to Ellis home and saw Ellis at
the table in the dining DON with his
family. Taking up a position about
Is feet from the window, he fired q
charge of buckshot and fled.
con the woman's advice Carl later
came to Bernardsville, and got en-
plyoment in the Conkling Lumber COM
lpany. of which Ellis was the head, thus
to divert. suspicion. Then the strain
proved too great and he left. For the
shooting, the prisoner admits having
received $500. The woman in the case
is under surveillance"
Carl is 90 years old.