davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
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 AZ
follows:
That Frederick Price planned the
S oGath OF bis wife for At least three
That Price offered him a large sunn 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
place where the woman was killed later.
That every detail Of the tragedy was
carefully gone over in advance so that
| there would be M slip.
That Mrs. Price was invited to attend
. matinee and later taken for a drive on
the evening OF November Is, 1914 40
that the plans could be carried out.
That, when the SPOT picked for the
tragedy scene was reached. Price pre-
! tended to have engine trouble with his
car 80 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
eighteen inches Of the brink in order to
death.
| That Price and Etchison started TO
| assist Mrs. Price to alight.
| That Price gave her IAN almighty
heave" that sent her crashing down
THAT they heard her body strike far
| below them.
That Price then picked 10 the pet dog
| and threw II over the BLUFF.
| That the two then made their way
down a path, picked out the day before,
| to the place where Mrs. Price Law.
| That the woman was stu alive when
they reached her.
| That Price knelt by 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
! the next day, he found a large stone
| stained with blood and with bloody
| finger prints upon ii.
! From the moment that Etchison
| blurted out in Chicago, after his fer
| vent prayer that price killed her.
| Mrs. Etchison was insistent that her
husband tell everything. when H. was
| ali over she said in Minneapolis:
al, am glad he told II. but please don't
ask me TO talk about IT,"
Price expressed amaEement when told
OF Etchisou's confession.
Il can hardly believe that Etehisou
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Alleged Murder Year Old
Before There Was a Clue

The charge will remind Washing
tonians somewhat Of the Beattie muir
der near Richmond; the crime OF the
young Virginia husband who took his
wire out on lonely road, slew ner,
and then brought her body back TO
town with tho claim that she had peen
shot by highwaymen. Henry Gay
beatty, whose case interested n nation,
was found guilty and electrocuted.
Already the case centering aDout
Frederick T. Price and his friend, I1tcn-
lson,- Is described as the most sensa-
tlonal the North SSst has offered IN
many years, and the alleged murder
was a tangible clue.
With friends. almost under the caves
OF the Heiinepin county, Minnesota,
courthouse. IN which the men are held
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.
daughter OF wealthy landowner liv-
ing In the suburbs of Minneapolis, the
story that Price and Etchison told after
the NornaTl's death on November 28, 1914,
a SUIT Tor damages brought against the
city by Price, who alleged that his wife
tell over the bank because there was no
wall there, all combined to place the
case In the, ranks of the unusual.
u.
fession, calmly awaits the trial, saying
he Is confident he will be acquitted or
that the part that, he intended to play
VIII bring slight punishment.
wife Yeho daily visits him in his cell,
anu tells him to keep up his courae &c
1t was. because OF the intense love this
young man bore for his wife, It is said.
cutors say WIN clear up the case.
Price, had the crime never bean
charged to him, would have obtained
approximately 100000 from his wife's es-
tate. for on the very day 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 investigation 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-
!. Even when Price was arrested and
Etchisen was sought. those familiar
with the case declared the private detec-
tive. John p. Hay. who ran down the
case. was on the wrong track.
. Many seem reluctant even today to be-
ueXe that Etchison played any impor-
tant part in the alleged crime. He once
travelled out of MINNEAPOLIS. has many
LneTGs anu .IHSSe are
standing by him.
So strong an impression had Etchisor
made in his stay in Minneapolis. and
when on the witness stand In Price
suit against the city. that the lnvestiga-
ton was almost stopped. His story to
the effect that Mrs. Price had fallen over
the. cliff while trying to rescue her pei
dog. "Chum.'' made a deep impression
on everyone in the courtroom.
Even when the prosecutor met him In
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
Price Said Etehison
Burned Wife's Clothing

81 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 / suddenly
remembered what we had considered 4
rather peculiar explanation Price had
given as his action brought against the
Minneapolis park board for damages on
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
clothing. Price replied that the clothes
were so blood-stained that they were
burned He said "Etchison burned
Il remarked casually to EtchIson that
Price had made the statement, and
asked him why It was that he had
"Etchison paled-he started, beads OF
Precipitation appeared on his forehead
and he trembIed violently.
For the first time / was convinced
that Btchison had guilty knowledge.
81 asked that he be again placed in
the cell and rushed for the hotel.
II told Mrs. Btchison that was posi-
tive that her husband was guilty OF
knowledge concerning the crime, and
l explained to her that she could aid
ner nu6Dand s chances TOT 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 fainted, but after recovering, ex.
pressed absolute flith I'm her husband.
Charlie can't know anythlng--it is In.
conceivable. He would have told me
/ can't reconcile myself to the idea OF
| his being anything but the loving hIis,
band and upright man have loved and
( cherished" GOV
"She agreed, however, to talk to him
and I 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 a long time. The
wife wept, Then Etchjson said:
Gentlemen: I want time to COM
mune with my God. J. want Divine
guidance in this matter was once the
strictest' of rehs iouS believers and
while / may have strayed at times
from the paths of righteousness. have
faith In the Lord and Know He will
help me. want To-. pray and want
you TO pray with mo
] : Then, saws the prosecutor:
I'VE, all GDslt down In the middle Os
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

cago as the latter was being brought
back to Minneapolis, tells n dramatic
story Of -Etchison'Bs confession. In an
exclusive interview for The Times,
tective Michael Duffy and Deputy
Sheriff Archie Buck, who had brought
Btchison from Washington.
Mr.. Armstrong continues:
I'VE all went to the Hotel Erevoort.
aud so convinced were we OF BtchiSon's
Innocence that our party as We went 70
the hotel resembled more a gathering OF
friends than anything more sinister.
EtchisoR IN fact carried our grips In
which were leg irons and manacies
oneT. We engaged q suite and spent
half an hour or so discussing our plans
for return 10 Minneapolis.
Then had a sort Of pPemonition.
cided that Etchison should be put under
lock and, key. Despite the entreaties
OF Mrs. Etchison, and the advice OF my
associates took Etchison TO the CEN
trail station, and had him placed IN q
cell--and a dark one at that. He re-
told the rest Of the party that intend
ed delaying our departure for awhile.
l called and had a talk with. the pris-
oner.
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 interrosating Etch-
"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
Mrs. Etchison Stands By
Eusband 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.
Ysts{tf he is convicted, he will be inn
prisonSd 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 defies
Price and declares he is willing to take
his chance with jury and with his
God. 49,,
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.
lstchison, on the other hand, visited
daily by his wife, declaring that he
holds no malace against Price nor the
police calmly awaits his trial. Ills
wife Is strAngly calm for one who has
passed through the ordeal OF seeing
nep husband arrested and accused OF
murder and hearing him confess that
he agreed to assist In the crime when
promised $500 and a cancellation OF
his debts Ia Price.
The trial OF the two men Is expected
to Furnish features as spectacular and
as unique as those already developed.
IL 10 the plan of the defense, In the
Price case at least to turn upor the
state evidence, furnished by detectives
and counsel for the park board. to the
erect that the woman's body could not
have fallen over the cliff and reached
in the fall the point where II Was found.
This evidence given the grand jury
was Instrumental in bringing the In
Al the hearing of Prices suit against
the park board, G.. j. RockwOod. gem
eral counsel for the board. produced
Blata and maps TO show that toe wont
$a's bosy was picked up AZ The foot
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

Of a ella mora than Ito feet high. that
inc sides OF tho clit. thou IN prtciI ito ",
arc overgrown with trCes ano hcaVy
undtrDrush, and that a line draw n
rom the body 70 the automobile indi-
Gated that the body had bee. carried
down the hill by q eiTcuitous route.
II vas prov ed apparently 20 the satis-
lncdon OF tue court and later OF the
grelld jury. that the woman could not
nave fallen to the point, whore she VAS
.9he defense VIII use this evidence to
discredtt the statement OF EtchiBon that
mrs. Price was hurled down tho clift
and later KILLED with a stone; Etchiaon
says the woman was killed by Price
where she lay after he had pushed her
fri'm the top OF the Cliff.
To John J.. Hoy. superintendent OF tho
Hoy Detective Agency. In Minneapolis,
city and county authorities attribute the
soc credit for uneaTthing evidence
which resulted in the ectlon OF the
grand jury. and tho subsequent confess
sion OF Etchison. ..s
Detective Hoy was employed by tha
FrlGtey family shortly after the death
OF Mrs. Price. tie was told that. while
indications seemed hardly, SUSPICIOUS,
they wanted to assure themselves that
there was no basis for oubt, ,IntimALa
friends Of the family had suggested that
there was ample cause and motive for
crime on the part OF the husband. but
no one vas able to reveal anythlngtangi-
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
reStOd. t.
The Investigation proceeded before
ana after Price fled suit against the
Minneapolis park board, and continued
during the hearing Of Prices suit. II
was Hoy who furnished evidence raising
the Issue that Price was guilty of big
amy, and which resulted In Price asking
that his SUIT be oisrnisscd on the
grounds, he said, that he would rather
sGcrifice the money than have his fam
lily history dragged through the courts
Tsut the detective did not stop with
evidence Of Prices former marriages .
he unearthed. further evidence along
lines which resulted in Prices indict-
mont for bigan1y; went further. and
discovered facts which assCrcd him that
Price had been active In having several
thousand dollars worth of bonds trans
frrred that be might have control of
them, and then he went before the
grand Jury and outlined such a story
that both Price and Etchison, were &C.
cused of murder in the frsf degrcNs.
Ars-ong the experiences Of the detec-
tive was a stay at the home OF the
United states Government dam tender
for more than week II the gIIise OF
steTedore. A queer talc was told the
detective bY the other workers Of Incl
vents which proved to have figured in
the caSe.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

the hotel room. Mrs. Etchison knelE
near her husband, forming half a semi
circle on EtchiEOn's right We Joined
them. Deputy Sheriff Buck. Detective
'tAs the prayer progressed. in which
the prisoner asked for aid in ais pre-
dicament, we sould hear the roar of
the traffic and the shrill t'asts of
the busiest streets in the world. 1t
seemed the droning chorus Of 'Amens'
were from a congregation.
Then Etchison wept-in fact we all
Suddenly the prayer was ended.
"Etchison 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
other words, he confessed nothing but
conceaIment OF guilty knowledge, in
substance that he was guilty as an &C
cessory after the fact
HE said he had concealed the facts
Of the crime and that he received
money for. so doing-the equivalent OF
1900 He then told how the money
was spent and how he allowed his wife
to share In the nl-gotteu gains while
she remained innocent OF the source.
-. cri returned ed t to washington 55 atteI
received my money. First / purchased
an automobile. told Mrs. Etchisor
that had been lucky in a financial
deal. We had always wanted a new
machine and we Immediately purchas-
ed IT,
"'Then I told her I had a surprise
for her. She had often wanted ia
travel and purchased transportation
for a trip to the Coast. We took the
trip and returned shortly before l was
arrested
pcriences with Etchison. Mr.. Armstrong
said:
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Girls Story First
Link In Evidence


Hoy says the girls story was the
FIRST link in his evidence He said the
tale was the most convincing discovery
he had made tending to convince him
that a crime had been committed. and
that he worked from that point and
later the girl was approached by some
one who offered the family round
sum IL the girl were not allowed to
testify at the Price hearing against
the park board. BY order of the de-
tective such evidence was kept secret
by the bridgetender and the workers
there. Hoy revealed his identity after
he had secured the girls story and
pledged all in the house to secrecy
Etchison, before and after the alleged
crime, was a frequent visitor at the
Fridley home, and was. at the head OF
delegations of friends who condoled with
the family. He returned from the scene
carrying with him the lap dog "CAuln,"
property OF the woman he says now he
saw murdered. He wept with the fam
tly and ostentatlously assisted in brac-
ing up and commiserating with the hus-
band.
Price drew notes against money Of his
wife for funds with which to- carry on
prosecution against the Minneapolis
park board. He refused oYertures Iof
settlement on the part Of the board s
attorneys. and belligerently argued with
them and faced their threats. He in
bringing the suit, and braved out the
procedure until he was charged with
Then he withdrew the civil action and
left the city, but returned of his own
volition when he was told an indict-
ment had been returned against him
accusing him OF bigap1y. He. faced the
court and demanded that he be allowed
bail. Then he left town again.
He returned before his case was called
for trial. Meanwhile Hoy had furnished
| the grand Jury with evidence. and A
suggestion was made. that by artifce
| Price be brought in for fear he might
| lump hail on the bigaIny charge and so
be away when the murder indictment
should be forthcoming. A bench war
rant was issued on the ground that the
county prosecutor had asked that the
| bail on the bigany charge be raised.
Almost before the warrant was issued
and before sheFiff's deputies had oppOr-
tunity to serve 1t, Price appeared and
asked what was wanted of him. He
said he had heard that the court wished
When he was told that the court had
decided TO raise the bail-a prohibitiye
amount was named-he nonchalantly
said he had better await trial in jail
and surrendered himself to the court
bailln.
When the murder indictment was re-
turned and he was advised OF the action
while In jail. he remained composed and
showed very little interest! saying:
Stranger and more foolish things
than that have happened.
let come what may. | refuse 10 be-
copie perturhed over foolish accusa'
tons snd indictments"
George Armstrong, assistant county
prosecutor, who met Etehison In Chi
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Prosecution Says Etchison
Faces Prison

1.-THE Gaze 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. made him no prom
ises and no one else has. The length
OF his term cannot forecast.
II am absolutely convinced Mrs.
facts before we heard them In the Chi
cago 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 rlght-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 rnurder. ....
Etchison first had the police automo-
bile stop on the blum near the place
whore he said the woman was hurled
over. lie told where he stood and
whore Price stood. He declared that
Price grasped Mrs. Price and threw
her. over the cliff. Then, taking the
party to the river level. thirty feet be-
low he showed them where the body
OF ATrs. Price was found when he and
Price walked down the bank.
IT was with piece Of rock about
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
went to the top OF the bluff and
stopped an automobile owned by Prof.
and Mrs. J. B. Minor of the Uni
Versity Of Minnesota. Prof Minor and
q man who lives near here helped US
carry Mrs. Price up the blum.
Price remained with Mrs. Price while
went to telephone and called the
ambulance. After that, she was taken
to Q 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 we'll 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, a.
made at Chicago and Indianapolis, Is
vehementlY assalled 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
about given up the idea of questioninJ
him further. .....
1t is claimed by the Minneapolis au.
thorities that the subsequent comics.
sion of Etchison goes into minute de.
tals concerning not only the alleged
murder but the alleged plot enginsere.
by the husband to get rid of his wife
II Etchison's charges are true, the hus
band went about his plans with grea
| elaboration and precision.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12
Girl Near Scene
Was Kidnapped

Virgil Deneson. twe.ve-year-old'd augn-
ter of the bridge tender. was first to
arrive at the time Mrs Price was killed
on the river banks. The girls home Is
within one hundred yards Of the scene
high up, on the crags and cliffs border
ing the Mississippi. 81. -
BY degrees the detective pieced to-
pfther the story. OF the girl and her
mother, which indicated to him that
, Mrs Price was murdered.
Tho GIRL, 1t seemed, was playing on
the blum at nightfai; when sne was
/ ary on the bouIevard and by the SOUND
Of some one cIambering down the cliffs
by a zigzag path which wound It's way
from where the machine stopped to-
II followed the men," she said. land
saw them when they picked up the body
of Woman all covered with blood
screamed and then Ned. Both men
on a red dress and the lights from
the river made things plain"
The girl Is said to. have told. her
| mother, and when Price and Etch!son
assembled the banks with the body the
girl and her brothers had arrived at
the machine and the boys helped the
men,. The two men looked SHARPLY at
the girl and in less than two weeks the
raced down the boulevard and the girl
was snatched from the roadway. she
said later she was taken to one OF
THE high cliffs near her home and but
/ for the protestations Of one Of the men
the other would have hurled her down
the cliffs. She said both men were
masked.
She was not able to say whether her
abductors were the same men she had
seen pick up the woman at the foot
| of the cliff two weeks tbefore,
! The two men argued, she said. and
then decided that they had better let
her go. She was stripped and toppled
down tho hill and after several hours
ing was found by police, who made a
| futile inYeatigati ton Of the case.
The Washington times., 1915-12-12

Are you going about harnessed like an
overburdened truck-horse with an ILL
fitting truss or makeshift contraption
Souging into your flesh or slipping out
OF place, causing you endless misery?