Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-20
eELF. CONFESSED MURDERER is
ARRESTED BY CLINTON
POLICE.
KILLS LAsALLE TAXI
DRIVER AT LADD, ILL.,.
Story Of insane Youths Life Reads
Like Dime Novel - Killed Three in
Texas Three Years Ago, and Was
Committed to Asylum - Escaped
But Il Ready to Go Back.

Clinton, July 20.-Bernard l.. Sher-
man, aged 20 years, self-confessed
slayer of Joseph Derix, chauffeur for
the Central Auto Company, of LaSalle.
H., and former inmate of the Elgin
hospital for insane. has been arrested
here by Captain Oster and Officer Hol-
ling of the Clinton police force after he
made an attempt to dispose of the car
which had beeun driven by the dead
chauffeur.
Following his arrest he made a COM
plete confession to the officers and re-
peated his confession yesterday. The
authorities at once notified the police
at LaSalle and officers Wednesday ar
rived from that place, while the sheriff
Of Bureau county left for Clinton and
arrived here yesterday afternoon.
Sherman will accompany the officers
to Princeton without eXtradition pa
pers.
Sherman Tells Of Murder.
Sherman, who declares that he is
insane at times, especially when he has
been drinking or losing sleep, talked
freely to any person who happened to
be in the ROOM
Il have been travelling about in
Aurora, Elgin and Woodstock for the
past three months" he began. and
got on an electric car in Chicago night
before last and rode to the end of the
line which is at LaSalle. Here I was to
meet some friends from Peoria, but
they failed to arrive. After staying
about the depot for some time I called
the Central Auto Company and hired
taxi to drive me to Ladd where !
wished to catch a train on the c., M. &
ST. P. railway.
"We left LaSalle for Ladd just
ABOUT II o'clock and arrived there at
11.45 o'clock. AS the train did not
leave there until 1880 the chauffeur
suggested that we drive around for
while. Then we got out Of the car for
a time and just as was getting into
the car he grabbed me and said, NO,
you don't l turned about and grappleu
with him and saw he had my revolver
In his hand.
Murdered Man Held Gun.
Il grabbed his wrist with my lett
hand and sunk my thumb nail in the
tiesh.y felt his wrist give and heard
The report Of the gun. He just crum-
pied in my arms and fell to the road
side. took the car and beat it, COM
ing thru Princeton. West @of Sterling
l picked up another boy and brought
him with me. There were two shots
but I don't know how the second one
happened. When saw the officer
come to my. room I knew it was all
ever and l am willing to 80 back and
get this deal over with
Has Killed Four Men.
He said that he had been addicted
to liquor and cigarets SO long as he
could remember. In his spells Of In
sanity. frequently he seems to want III
kill. He said he had murdered father
and son and shot third man on
ranch in Texas in November, 1913, and
that he had been brought back to Elgin
where he was committed to the state
hospital for the insane in February.
1914. He escaped from that institution
Aug. of the same year and after be-
ing free for ninety days, applied for
his discharge from the institution
which he was entitled to, according to
the rules of the institution.
Since that time I have been trav-
cling too fast Tor them to catch me-"
he said.
RES 70 SoIl Gar.
After placing the auto, which was
practically q new Overland car, in the
McEleney garage, he asked If the pro-
prietors would like to buy it as he was
out Of money. When asked how much
he wanted for it he offered it for $500.
After he and his partner had left, the
garage owners telephoned the police
who later investigated the car and
found letter addressed to Mr.. Fitz-
gibbons, Central Auto Company, La
Sale, Ill.
This aroused their suspicious and
they went to the European Hotel anu
found the lad in bed. He opened the
door, after some hesitation and was
placed under arrest. He had a loaded
3s-caliber revolver in bed with him
and number Of rounds Of ammunition
as reserve supply. He made no re-
s;stance.
Dispatches from LaSalle say that the
body Of Derix was found by a farmer
early Tuesday morning lying face
downward IN the dust in an unfre-
ouented road near Ladd. Blood hal
flown freely from two bullet wounds in