Evening journal., 1916-03-11
HANDSBER SAYS
HE'S Innocent OF
MATTSON MURDER
Continued from First Page.

son told them on Tuesday afternoon.
As result of this statement. the po-
lice had a colOred watchman at the
Topeka paving plant, where Mattson
and Handsber had been employed.
brought 70 the police station and
questioned. This was on Wednesday.
but the colored man was released af-
ter showing he knew nothing of Matt
sons actions the night he was
drowned.
When the body was found by
Bridgetender William Murphy on
Tuesday. it was lying in the mud in
such a position that the tide did not
rise to more than six inches above
it. so close was it TO the shore.
Handsber. who was not familiar with
statements made by Mrs Mattson,
when interviewed in his cell today,
denied that he ever attempted to hug
or caress her. The story told by
Handsber today was as follows.
81 was born in Palestine. Texas. 20
years ago, and have no relatives liv-
ing. Until ] went 10 Baltimore th,ce
years ago / was COW puncher ON the
plains of Texas. In Baltimore ! met
Alattson, but / never visited his home.
Company eight months ago, / met Matr-
son. About three months ago I went
to his home to board. when | mot his
wife for the first time. Mattson and 1
were the best of friends. ] do not drink,
although he did. Recently ] went TO
work for Hamilton Stewart. contrac-
tor, in the DUPONT yards at Hagley. and
Mattson went to work as an engineer
in brick yard near the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company's shops, over Elev-
enth street bridge. On Monday at the
supper table Mattson said TO his wife
Lou, / intend to Kill a Niger and she
replied: Perce. you ought not say that
it might drop ON you instead Mattsou
replied: There aint no one in town who
can do that
After supper Mattson and started
out, and when we arrived at a barber
shop at the corner, near the house. /
left MattsOn and went in to get shaved.
! returned home after being shaved,
arriving home at o'clock, and Mrs.
Mattson came in with the children
shortly afterwards. l retired about IL
o'clock leaving Mrs. Mattson on a
couch down stairs with the children.
During the night ] think it was about
1.3O o'clock. / awoke hearing noise
in the hall. and dressing in my trous-
ers, / went to the hall. where Mrs.
Mattson was on the floor in faint
helped her into her room and gave
her water She told me she had seen
Perce. l told her to go to bed.
"I awakened about 6 o'clock anc
Mrs. Mattson said that her husband
had not returned home. As it was
showing. ] remained home. having NJ
work. Later i'm the day 7 called NJ
the brickyard and asked about Matt
son. at Mrs. Mattson's request. Tit
owner of the phone. a Mr. Nogel. no
tilted the police of the disappearance
OF Mattson. When the police cam
10 the house and told of Mattson
body being found. / was in tn
kitchen and did not see the officers
hut ] did not try to stay out Of thei
way. Mrs Mattsop/asked me to sta
in the house. as She was afraid, an
this 7 did until / was arrested fol
lowing the funeral except when / lei
on Thursday morning with Mrs Matt
sons brother-in-law 10 rent hOus
for her. Before we left. Mrs. Mattsol
piled No AT that time ! said If W
90 living together we will get int
trouble The brother-in-law. Who's
name I don't know. said Yes. yo
would all he locked up then and Il
the workhouse.
Handsber told of going to a hous
in Union street which they looked a
but they decided 10 let Mrs Mattsol
see it before they rented il. Hands
Der was asked what he had don
with the knuckles. Mrs. Mattson SAT-
he had told her he threw them over
board after using them on her hus
band. The prisoner said he sold tn
knuckles and a revolver months ag
10 a pawn shop keeper on Marke
street. Handsber also explained tina
while looking for the house on Thurs
day he stopped at the home of Ler
Lynch. where he left word of Matt
sons death. This statement is dill
ferent from that told by Mrs. Matt
son. who claimed that Handsber oh
iected To her sending word Of he
! husbands death 10 Lynch. Handsbe
. also denied that he changed hi
clothing. after coming in on Monda
night as Mrs. Mattson alleges. Hands
Der denied ever throwing his arm
: about Mrs. Mattson or of telling he
that he loved her. He said that o
Thursday morning, Mrs. Mattson sal
to him in the presence Of her mother
"I don't know what in the name
God / am going to do with these chi
T dren." and 1 replied. Mrs. Mattson,
was an ophan child and l Will do a
can to help you"
Handsber said that he never had
fight in Texas over a woman. as Mr
Mattson said he admitted TO her. II
s said he was never arrested before an
{ he had no idea what caused the woma
{ to accuse him of the crime.
70 Detective King. who has been invei
e tigating the Mattson affair, was con
a PEELED to take to his bed this morI
ing. and il is thought another Office
will be detailed on the case with ID
tective Riley.