Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-05
MAN SL.AININ
BEDBY NEGRO
There TOROB
William Carter Confesses
He Murdered Jelvek in
Cold Blood.

lying I'm bed. while his roommate lay
beside him
The victim was Peter Jelyek, aged
about 50 years, a carpenter for Stone
& Webster, contractors who have con-
struction work at the Rock Island ar
senal The alayer, William Carter, ]
aged % years, 600 Harrison street 1
Davenport. was arrested a short time |
later by the police and has made a .
complete confession.
The murder was iu cold blood There
was no struggle The victim was sit
ting TN @ half upright position Ia bed
when the black fred the shot The
bullet pierced his chest directly 10 the
middle about the fourth rib from the
Top. Jolyek's diving gasp was:
He got me.
Six hours after the murder occurred
the police department had a complete
case against Carter The department
could have gone into court immed-
lately with the trial and secured q con
yicton, authorities claim,
Carter was arrested at the corner
Of Twonty-third street and Third ave
nue. by Pairolmen Eoll and Dorman,
when he attempted to board a Bridge
line street ear. A 38-calibre army pis-
tol was found in his possession. He
also had a tlashlight,
Helvard Bangstod roommate Of the
victim was sitting in half posture
Ia bed, the same as Jelvek, when the
Negro fred. He had said nothing to
me black When tho prowler fred the
not he turned the gun at Bangstod
and kept him covered until he closed
the door
Accustomed TO arising early in the
morning for work Jelyek awakened
about 4:i5 o'clock, rubbed his eyes
and awakened Bangstod Bangstod
iold him II was Sunday and Jelyek
expressed delight that he could sleep
some more. He left the bed for a few
moments and went to the bath room.
when he returned be again mentioned
Ills pleasure at being permitted TO
leep until he wanted 10 get up and
then fell back on the pillow.
Guu Wrapped in Hand.
a minute or two later, a door was
card to open in the hall Later the
thrOOm door was heard TO open. Jel-
ak sat mp in a half upright position
in bed Then he saw the door lead
ing TO his rooiA gradually open AS
t was opened. ne saw a hand projected
INTO the room The hand was bandaged
with a cloth, the fingers grasping a re.
,olyer After having half opened the
ioor. the Negro stuck his head in tho
room
Get the h out Of here" command
ed Jelvek.
The Negro kept advancing into th,
ROOM and Jclvek continued to repea
The command. Evidently the Negr,
thought the man was armed, for there
was sudden flash and report and Jel
yek fell back in bed
The Negro Immediately turned tn
gun towards Bangstod and backed on
Of the room as slowly as he had ad
yanced into Il. 1t is manifest h.
thought one Of the two armed, for a
he stepped near the door, he caugh
hold Of the knob and pulled the doc
shut very slowly. keeping Bangsto
covered the while
Then he dashed out Of the house
Other occupants Of the house immed
lately rushed to the room. Police wer
notified and all sections of the cit
we're secured for the black Patrol
men kell and Dorman had boarded
Bridge line street car and had riddle
on It to Twenty-third street when the
noticed the Negro get on They i'm
medlately searched him and found IN
army pistol and fashlight on him. II
was taken TO the station
Yesterday morning Detective TOr
Cox secured a confession from tn
Negro His room In Davenport wa
searched. A number OF watches an
rings and other jewelry were found
the place There was also a box cor
tanning So bullets The box when pu
chased contained SO cartridges Whe
arrested. Carter had five bullets in h
pocket and six In the cylinder Of Ii
pistol. which accounts for 40 of Il
bullets The other was tho one /
discharged in shooting Jelvek, he ev
IDENTIFY having Immediately remove
the empty cartridge and placed a ne
one in its chamber The pistol had III
mistakeahle signs Of having been r
Gently discharged when the poliO
nahbed Carter. The barrel smelled
powder smoke.
Did Other Jobs.
Police are satisfied that the Neg
prowler Is the man who has entert
numerous homes IN Rock Island du
ing the last several weeks. All
the places he burglarized he enter,
without using force. the doors havig
been unlocked Local authorities e
pected today TO have some Of the je'
elry found at his room identified
persons whose homes were recent
burgiarized.
The arrest and confession OF Cart
is a clever piece of police work, ina
much as that six hours after the sroJ
ing occurred the authorities had
complete case against Carter. Til
were SO certain that they had go
structed prosecution that one poll
department official declared he Won
be willing to immediately take the ca
into court and was confident the Neg
would be convicted,
Police are certain Carter has "a
record Every endeayor to learn mo
of the Negro was made today He W
taken 70 the police station in Dave
port where he was "musged and ma
ped 20 use the police vernaCuiar I
securing a photograph ana hnE
prints. These viii be sent 10 leadi
cities in the middle west In an e
deavor TO identify the Negro
JelycG came to Rock Island tn?