davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-11

Chief Ross received a letter this
morning asking hi INTO pick up a
crOss-eyed man, wanted for beating
his board bill. The letter was writ
ten in Leavenworth and the lady who
wrote it neglected to give the culprit's
name.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Prosecution Says Etchison
Faces Prison

The case seems to me without pre-
cedent in the way the facts followed
each other and practically developed
themselves.
"Etchison faces prison-there can be
no way out OF that. AS for the first
degree murder charge under which he
Is now held. that may be changed ow-
ing to the circumstances Of the late
developments. I made him no prom
ises and no one else has. The length
OF his term ] cannot forecast.
II am absolutely convinced Mrs.
Etchison had no knowledge OF the
facts before we heard them In the Chi
csgo hotel. She says she still loves
her husband and that whatever the
outcome maybe she is glad that she
was instrumental in urging him to
what was right-and that 4 knew God
would tell him what was best
When Etchison was carried back to
Minneapolis he went with Mr.. Arm
strong and detectives to the cliff where
he alleges Price killed his wife. There
he re-enacted for the benefit of the au-
thorities the alleged crime. The Wash
ington man elaborated on his Chicago
confession, accusing Price of commit
ing wife murder.
Etchison first had the police automo-
BILE stop on the bluff near the place
where he said the woman was hurled
over. He told where lie stood and
where Price stood. He declared that
Price grasped Mrs. Price and threw
her. over the clin. Then. taking the
party to the river level, thirty feet be-
low. he showed them where the body
OF Mrs. Price was found when he and
Price walked down the bank.
1T was with . piece OF rock about
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
perhaps it might rebound to his ad-
vantage In court. .....
II must have divine guidance" said
Etch son. at last. Let us pray"
Thev all knelt about bed In the
note. the "Amcns' of the wife and
Etchisons accusers ascending with his
supp.ications.
Give me strength. the strength to
oeil the TRUTH he prayed. MAKE me
az r.snt. snow me the way, o Lord!"
inc hotel is located on one OF Chi
caRos busiest thoroughfares. Through
the window as Etchison prayed came
the noises, OF the street.-the cry of
newspoys, the clang Of trolley cars. the
tumble Of drays. and the wnistlc ot
tiafhc OFFICERS. Page boys BUSTED about
Inc hostiery ana suests moven down
me carpeted corridors-but none knew
.ot, the tragedy staged behind the locked
aoors OF Etchisons room.
before ne prayed, EIchison told his
inquisftors that ne once had bccn o; n
ueepy religious turn or MIND 81
tnough he might have straycd from the
strict paths of righteousness now anS
then. he added, he still believed IN the
efficacy OF prayer. OF the comfort tina |
comes through appeal to what some
cali the conscience, others the spirit,
ana still others God.
go iar as 1t was recalled today Etchi-
sons Confession was maze under un-
Drecedented circumstances. Accused
persons have confessed many times
under the stress or remorse, through
nope OF reward, or because OF tho re-
lentiessness of a police third degree.
Etchison, however, apparently told MS
story because of revfvltied memories OF
boyfiood moments spent kneeiing az a
mothers knee, and the awakening
latent beliefs In the comfort that com, )
through appeals TO one 3 Creator.
The alleged crime about which iItch-
son told is no ordinary murder case.
If. the Washington mans narrative Is
true. Price not only had the nerve to
siay his wife, but to seek damages
from park board because she tell
over a cllt on an automobile ROAD.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

cago as the latter was being brought
bn"k to. MINNEAPOLIS. tells a dramatic
story OF ~Etchison's confession. In an
exclusive interview for The Times,
Prosecutor Armstrong; says he met De
sheriff Archie Buck, who had brought
Etchison from Washington.
Mr.. Armstrong continues:
I'VE all went to the Hotel Brevoort.
and so convinced were we Of Etchisons
the hotel resembled more a gathering Of
friends than anything more sinister.
Etchison In fact carried our grips In
which were leg irons and manac cles
which had been intended for the pris.
oner. We engaged a suite and spent
half an hour or so discussing our plans
for return to Minneapolis.
Then had a sort Of premonition. ]
don't know just what 1t was. but l de-
cided that Etchison should be put under
Of Mrs. Etchison. and the ADVICE OF my
associates ] took Etchison to the CEN
trail station. and had him placed in
cell--and dark one. at that. He re
mained there about three hours. and
told the rest of the party that I intend
ed delaying our departure for awhile.
called and had a talk with the pris-
|, oner.
"He had not changed since being lock-
ed up. He was perfectly calm and abso-
lutely coherent in all OF his explanations
in reply to questions from mo. left
him for another hour. and then request
ed that the captain OF the Chicago de-
tectives assist me in interrogating Etch-
ison.
He was brought from the cell sec
ond time. Again he was questioned by
myself and the Chicago police captain
and for more than an hour he preserved
the same manner and utterly detached
air he had assumed since he was taken
into custody.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

the hotel room. Mrs. Etchison knelt
near her husband. forming half a SEMI
circle on Etchtson's right We Joined
them: Deputy Sheriff Buck. Detective
''As the prayer progressed, in which
the prisoner asked for aid in ais pre- .
dicament. we ,ould hear the roar OF
the the sS poss SSse spd the o,ds sh5 blasts of of
the busiest streets in the world. 1t
seemed the droning chorus of 'Amcns
were from congregation.
Then Etchison wept-in fact We all
cried.
Suddenly the prayer was ended.
"Etchson closed his eyes a moment
then he rose slowly.
"'Gentlemen.' he said. Price killed
her. Mrs. Etchison swooned.
"Etchison then detailed a remarkable
statement. He steadfastly refused to
admit knowledge or implication in any
thing preceding the actual murder. In
concealment of guilty knowledge. in
substance that he was guilty as an ac-
cessory after the fact.
"He said he had concealed the facts
of the crime and that he received
5000. He then told how the money
was spent and how he allowed his wife
to share in the ill-gotten gains while
she remained innocent of the source.
the crime he said. and after I had
received my money. First / purchased
an automobile. told Mrs. Etchison
that ! had been lucky in a financial
machine and we Immediately purchas-
ed It,
Then told her I had a surprise
for her. She had often wanted to
travel and I purchased transportation
for a trip to the Coast. We took the
trip and returned shortly before l was
arrested
! In commenting on the Chicago ex-
periences with Etchison. Mr.. Armstrong
said.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Salient Points In
Etchison's Confession

The salient features OF the Etchison
confession held bv the Minneapolis au-
thorities are said by the police to be Is
follows:
That Frederick Price planned the
unash or his Wlte Tor 1T least three
That Price offered him a large sum of
money to help him.
That the offer was at first refused by
Etchison.
That Price kept working to persuade
him. even following him to the state
Of Washington to do so.
That Etchison finally consented.
That the two men drove over the East
river drive and carefully picked out the
place where the woman was killed later.
That every detail of the tragedy was
carefully gone over in advance 50 that
there would be no slip.
That Mrs. Price was invited to attend
. matinee and later taken for a drive on
the evening Of November rs. 1914, SO
that the plans could be carried out.
That; when when the SPOT picked for the
tended to have engine trouble with his
car so that there would be an excuse
for stopping.
That Price urged his wife to get out
OF the car in order to give "Chum." her
That Price had stopped the car within
eis shteen inches of the brink in order to
make it easier to hurl his wife to her
death.
That Price and Etchison started to
assist Mrs. Price to alight.
That Price gave her IAN almighty
heave" that sent her crashing down
over the bluff.
That they heard her BODY strike far
below them.
That Price then picked 10 the pet dos
and threw 1t over the bluT.
That the two then made their way
down q path. picked out the day before
to the place where Mrs. Price Law.
That the woman was stu alive wher
they reached her.
That Price knelt bv his wife's side
and he. Etchison, then heard sounds
that led him to believe the woman was
being struck on the head with heavy
That jrresistibly attracted to the SPOT
tho next day, he found large stone
stained with blood and with bloody
iinEer prints upon it,
From the moment that Etchisor
blurted out in Chicago. after his fer
vent prayer. that Price killed her.
Mrs, EtchisOn was insistcnt that heI
husband tell everything. when it. was
ali over she said IN Minneapolis:
Il am glad he told II. but please don't
ask me 10 talk about it,"
Price expressed amaZement when told
of Etchison's confession.
II can hardly believe that EtehiSoI
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
You CAN Bs Free from Trus

Are you going about harnessed like an
overburdened tTuck-horse with an ILL
fitting truss or makeshift contraption
gouging into your flesh or slipping out
Of place. causing you endless misery?
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Price Said Etchison
Burned Wife's Clothing

II felt that ! was at the end of my
rope, so to speak, and was on the verge
OF returning with him to the hotel when
in finishing up my session l suddenly
remembered what we had considered q
rather peculiar explanation Price had
given as his action brought against the
Minneapolis park board for damages on
the ground that Mrs. Price had met
death as a result of an accident due to
the unprotected state of the river boule-
ward driveway.
Price had been asked what had be-
come of his wife's clothing. An effort
by attorneys for the park board had
failed to reveal the whereabouts OF the
were so ood-stained that they were
burned He said "Etchison burned
them"
Il remarked casually to Etchison that
asked him why 1t was that he had
taken 1t upon himself to destroy the
clothing.
"Etchison paled-he started, beads Of
perspiration appeared on his forehead,
and he trembled violently.
For the first time l was convinced
that Etchison had guilty knowledge. l.,
;, Il asked that he y be e. again ga placed in
Il told Mrs. Etchison that was posi-
tive that her husband was guilty of
knowledge. concerning the crime, and
| explained to her that she could aid
her husbands chances for consideration
in the light OF What might, develop II
she would urge him to speak the truth
and tell whatever he knew concerning
the crime.
she tainted, but after recovering ex-
pressed absolute flith In her husband.
Charlie can't know anything-it Is in
conceivable. He would have told me.
! can't reconcile myself to the idea OF
his being anything but the loving hus-
band and upright man have loved and
cherished"
She agreed. however, to talk to him,
and went to the station and had him
brought to the hotel.
He was still trembling violently. and
when he entered the room he rushed
to the arms of mis- wife
They stood apart for long time The
wife wept. Then .Etchjsoa sa'd:
Gentlemen: want time to COM
mune with my God. want Divine
| guidance in this matter. ! was once the
strictest OF reh: ious believers ard
| while may have strayed at times
from the paths of righteousness. have
faith in the Lord and knew He will
help me. | want To- pray and ! want
you TO pray ith M.
! . Then, SAYS the prosecutor:
I'VE, all knslt down in the middle Of
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

Of a cliG more than jro feet high. that
inc sides OF the clin. thou IN prtcir ito Us.
arc oNergrown with trces ana heary
underbrush, and that line drawn
cs,na frIm me ne BODY 10 the antoihobile indi;
down the hill by. a ciTcuitous route.
IL vas prov ed nj parcntiy to the satis-
iacLon OF the court and later OF the
granu jury. that the woman could not
nave fallen To- the point. where she was
picked up. -.
The de,ense will use this evidence to
discredtt the statement OF Etchison that
Mrs. Price was hurled down the cliff
and later KILLED with stone: Etchison
where che lay after he had pushed her
from the top OF the cliff.
To John J: Ioy. superintendent Of tho
Hoy Detective Agency: in MINNEAPOLIS.
SOC credit for unearthinE evidence
which resulted in the ection OF the
grand jury, and tho subsequent confcs-
sion of Etchison.
Detective Hoy was employed BY tn.
FriGlcy family shortly after the death
of Mrs. Price. He was told that. while
indications seemed hardy SUSPICIOUS
they theyo wanted to assure thsmseIyes that
friends Of the family had suggested that
there was ample cause aid motive for
crime on the part OF the husband. but
no one as able to rovca! anything tanSi-
on but the surmisc and fears of friends.
and in spite of the failure on the part
of city detectives to ascertain anything
that would warrant an Investigation OF
a murder theory. Hoy began operations
which lasted until both men were ar
rested.
The investigation proceeded before
ana after Price fled suit against the
Minneapolis park board, and continued
during the hearing Of Prices suit. IT
was Hoy who furnished evidence raising
the issuc that Price was guilty Of big
amy, and which resulted in Price asking
that his SUIT be dismissed on the
grounds. Ee said. that he would rather
sacrifce the money than have his fam
lily history dragged through the courts.
T'ut the detective did not stop with
evidence of Prices former narriag ges {:
he uncarthed. further evidence along
lines which resulted in Prices indict-
mont tor bigamy; went further. and
discovered facts which assured him that
Price had been active In having several
thousand dollars worth of bonds trans
fnrred that be might have control Of
them. and then he Went before the
grand Jury and outlined such q story
that both Price and Etrhison, were &C
Sused OF murder in the first degrS.
hr.-or- the experiences 1f the detec-
tive was a stay at the home OF the
United states Government dam tender
for more thar. a week in the G,l'se Of
steVcdorc. A queer tale was told the
detective bv the other workers Of Incl
vents which proved TO have figured in
he -
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Alleged Murder Year Old
Before There Was a Clue

the charge will remind Washing
tcnians somewhat Of the Bcattie inur-
der near Richmond; the crime OF the
young Virginia husband who took his
wife out on lonely road slew ner.
and then brought her body back TO
town with the claim that she had Decn
shot by highwaymen. Henry Gay
beatty, whose case interested q nation,
was found guilty and electrocuteu.
Already the case ccntering ABOUT
Frederick T. Price and his friend Etcn-
lson,- Is described as the most sensa-
tional the North>Sst has offered IN
many years. and the alleged murder
mad been committed n year before there
was tangible clue.
With friends. almost under the caves
of the HeIinepin county, Minnesota.
courthouse, in which the men are held
for trial on January 3, Is Mrs. Etchison,
young wife of the Washington man. who
declares that whatever the verdict may
be, she will stand by her husband as
she swore in her marriage vows to do
The prominence of Prices wife.
daughter Of a wealthy landowner liv-
ing In the suburbs of Minneapolis. the
story that Price and Etchison told after
the ~onan's death on November 2s. 1914,
a suit for damages brought against the
city by Price. who alleged that his wife
fell over the bank because there was no
wall there, all combined to place the
fession. calmly awaits the trial saying
ne Is confident he will be acquitted or
that the part that he intended to play
Equally as confident is the trusting
vile who daily visits him in his cell,
and tells him to keep up his courage.
a,,r 1t was because use. Of the intense love this
that no told the story which the prose-
cutors say will clear up the case.
Price. had the crime never been
charged to him. would have. obtained
approximately 100000 from his wife's es-
tate. for on the very dav that she was
killed her father David H. Fridley, had
decided her valuable lands and had given
her bonds worth $4,000
The nerve and GOODNESS Of the two
men in the face of an investiga ton that
they are said to have known was going
on. in supporting a suit against the city
for 1880 damages for Mrs. Prices death
and their appearance at the home OF the
dead woman's parents shortly after the
funeral. tended to delay the investiga-
tion for months.
!. Even when Price was arrested and
Etchison was sought. those familiar
tive. John P. Hay. who ran down the
case. was on the wrong track.
lieve that Etchison played any impor.
travelled out Of MINNEAPOLIS. has many
friends there. and these friends are
standing by him.
So strong an impression had Etchisor
made in his stay in Minnea polls. and
when on the witness stand in Prices
suit against the city. that the lnvestiga-
tion was almost stopped. His story to
the effect that Mrs. Price had fallen over
the cliff while trying to rescue her pet
dog. "Chum." made a deep impression
on everyone in the courtroom.
Even when the prosecutor met him ir
Chicago and talked with him before the
confession. he turned to the private de.
tective who accompanied him and said
You have an innocent man here
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

this size and about this shape that
Price beat Mrs. Price over the head"
Etchison said to the officers. She lay
on the ground moaning and. ] believe.
unconscious Price beat her and then
, l went to the top Of the bluff and
stopped an automobile owned by Prof.
and Mrs. ]. B. Minor Of the Uni
versity Of Minnesota. Prof. Minor and
a man who lives near here helped US
carry Mrs. Price up the bluff.
Price remained with Mrs. Price while
I went to a telephone and called the
ambulance. After that, she was taken
to hospital. Price accompanied her"
, When Etchison was taken back to the
courthouse Mrs. Etchison met him in
| the corridor, threw her arms about his
| neck and kissed him. He told her he
was feeling well and would stand back
Of his story. Then he was locked up.
Mrs. Etchison said she would remain
| in Minneapolis as long as she could be
| of service to her husband.
The full confession of Etchison. as
made at Chicago and Indiana polls, is
vehemently assailed as false in every
: particular by Price. Price says that
Etchison told the truth during the for
mer's suit against the city. at which
| time Etchison and Price were agreed
that Mrs. Price fell over the embank-
ment while hunting for her pet dog.
| "Chum."
| Before he confessed at Chicago. Etchi-
son repeatedly asserted that his orig
inal narrative. as told during the civil
| suit. was correct. and the police had
about given up the idea of questioning
| him further
| 1t is claimed by the Minneapolis au-
| thorities that the subsequent confess
| sion of Etchson goes into minute de-
tails concerning not only the alleged
murder but the alleged plot engineered
by the husband to get rid of his wife.
II Etchison's charges are true. the hus-
band went about his plans with great
| deliberation and precision.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Mrs. Etchison Stands By
Husband In Any Event

Minneapolis people, however, are
deeply concerned in Mrs. Etchison who
has announced that whatever turn the
case may take, no matter what may be
revealed against her husband she will
stand by him and wait for him.
Yet, II he is convicted. he will be i'm
prisoned for participation in one of the
most brutal murders on record In Min
nesota, for he claims that Price, after
hurting the woman over the cliff, went
down and in the presence OF Etchison
beat her over the head with a rock
Etchison's defense is that at the cru
cial moment, when put to the test, his
conscience stood by him and he did not
help commit the crime. though he stood
by and saw 1t.
He stands steadfast on every detail of
his story, and the threats of Price to
reveal things about Etchison that will
make 1.-The whole State sit up and
wonder" fail to move him; He deties
Price and declares he is willing to take
his chance with a jury and with his
God.
The two men are contrasted strangely
enough. Price frequently flies into a
rage In his cell. curses Etchison. and
declares him to be insane. Prices al
legged fourth wife. instead of standing
by him seeks shelter with Prices sis
ter in Neenah, Wis.
Etchison, on the other hand, visited
daily by his wife. declaring that he
holds no malace against Price nor the
police. calmly awaits his trial. His
wife is strangely calm for one who has
passed through the ordeal of seeing
ner husband arrested and accused o.
murder and hearing him confess that
he agreed to assist in the crime when
promised $500 and a cancellation OF
his debts to Price.
The trial OF the two men is expected
to furnish features as spectacular and
as unique as those already developed
IL is the plan of the defense, in the
Price case at least. to turn upo2 the
State evidence, furnished bv detectives
and counsel for the park board TO the
effect that the woman's body could not
have fallen over the cliff and reacEGd
in the fall the point where 1t was found
This evidence given the grand jury
was Instrumental in brinSinE the In
dictments.
Al the hearing of Prices sui against
the park board. e.. J. RocSwood. gen
oral counsel for IN" beard. produced
plats and maps TO show that the WON.
~As boSy Was picked up at me too'
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

made such a statement" said Price.
The man accused OF murder by his
former friend was calm but very earn
est in discussing Etchison's story. 1T
Is not true" he declared. 'If Etchison
said 1t, he must be having hailucina-
tion. ...
The story OF the fall was told cor
rectly by Etchison and myself at the
trial OF the civil suit. Etchison Is en-
tirely wrong now when he says he
stood at one side of Mrs. Price and
at the other as she got out of the auto
mobile.
I'VE were both at the very front of
the car. when Mrs Price got cut OF the
rear seat. did not touch Mrs. Price,
and neither did Etchison. We were al
most the full length of the car away
from her"
How about the money Etchison say.
you gave him after what happened?'
Oh Price replied. Il have had some
money dealings with Etchison. He
worked for me. He did owe me some
money, and he still owes me some,
don't know just how much, but not any.
thing like $500. / have given him
money for work he has done for me
but nothing like $500