Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-01

statement, in reply to question as to
whether Confer had done the shooting.
Her reply was: II think So"
Makes Confession to Coroner.
Altho insisting over and over again
Wednesday night and this morning
that robbers had done the shooting,
altho admitting that he had shot once,
but only once, Confer broke down un-
der the gruelling questioning Of Cor
oner Lynn in Jail this forenoon. Lewis
Welter, who knew the Milans very we'll
and was well acquainted with Confer,
drew out the prisoner very fully In a
sign language sweat box. Confer stuck
to his story over and over again about
the robbers, reiterated his utterances
about going to bed early and hearing
shots fred: he" he ran down stairs
and fired one shot at the robbers. He
refused to admit that there had been
any quarreling, altho neighbors had
said the night before that Milan and
Confer had "rowed'' great deal. Mrs.
Gallagher told how Mrs. Milan had
confided in her week ago that she
was so tired of the constant quarrels
between her husband and Confer.
Thinks woman Still AIive.
Confer was then tried from differ.
ent tack. He was informed that Mrs.
Milan accused hm Of the shooting. He
then admitted the shooting Of both ,altho
he first admitted that he had killed
Milan but not his wife. There were
I,some discrepancies in the statement.
and some that do not appear to corrob-
crate what are the apparent facts from
observation. This, Is particularly true
as to the number. of shots fired in the
| house.
Window Of Room Broken.
| AltllO there was some difference OF
opinion at the scene Of the murder as
to whether or not the shots had been
fired thru the bedroom window, or in
the bedroom itself, the logical conclus-
ion was that the shooting had been
done in the room, altho the bedroom
window was broken. The greater part
of the glass, however, had fallen on the
outside.
AS contrary theory, the lock of
the bedroom door had been forced off,
the screws being pulled out. This
looked as tho the murderer had forced
his way into the room and done the
shooting from inside.
On the wall, near the head OF the
bed, and about opposite where Mrs.
Milan would have lain, were marks OF
one charge of shot. In the plastering,
and on the post of the iron bed, were
tiny bits of flesh and hair. Both pill
lows were bloodsoaked, and there was
pool of blood on the floor just be-
meath Milan's pillow. Some believe
that even tho Milan was hit so hard
80 - IT. - 1,n N,o n
arisen from bed and fell at the foot
of the bed. Near his hand was his
revolver, each chamber Of which. how
ever, was loaded.
Killed Both With One Shot.
Altho it hardly looks plausible, from
the nature of the wound sustained by
Milan and that in Mrs. Mlan's arm
that one shot killed both husband and
wife, Confer insists that 1t did. He
admitted, however, after lengthy ques-
tioning that he shot Mrs. Milan q Sec
ond time.
DOG Dies With Master and Mistress.
The family watch dog was the first
bloody object to greet visitors to the
desolate little home. The dog was ly-
ing dead also from a charge from
Confer's gun, near the door to the
kitchen.
AS Confer had told Gallagher in the
first place that he heard four shots,
Confer was questioned at length about
the four shots At first he admitted
shooting but once, again he, said he
had shot twice, once to kill Milan and
his wife, and another to kiln the dog.
Still again he admitted firing three
shots, one TO kill both husband and
wife, another into Mrs Milan, and
then the dog. Lastly Confer said that
he fired a fourth time at an owl in
the yard.
Altho 1t may seem strange that Con-,
fer referred to hearing the shots.
Lewis Weller explains that aitho total
ly deaf Confer probably could have
felt the conclusion Of the shots even
tho he had not done the shooting him
self, an instinct that deaf people have.
confer's Confession.
Altho Coroner Lynn has Confer's
confession in, detail as TO questions, the
confession is made III full in running
story of the crime as brought out in
the final questioning Confer's story
of the double murder follows:
4'T went to bed at $3.50, and came
down stairs at 8 o'clock without my
shoes or clothes. / broke open the
door Milan got UP and shot him
and her. I then shot again at Mrs.
Milan, and then shot the deg then
went to the crib and shot at an owl.
Went back to the house, found Milan
dead, and that Mrs. Milan was still
alive. I helped her up stairs and told
her would get doctor and the po-
lice. Then got Gallagher and he called
the police and docto:. Returned to
the house: preacher talked to Mrs.
Milan, and telephoned for help. Far-
mers then came, the doctors, police