Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-03-13
KILLING IN %
CONFESSED To
PHOENIX POLICE

Fugitive for twelve years, conceallng
his identity behind an assumed name,
and fearing arrest at any time without
knowing whether he was wanted or
not. David Poplinski. aged "a, walked
into the police station yesterday
morning. told Chief of Police George
O. Brisbois that he had killed a man
named Johnson near Nashua, Montana
in 1905. and asked that he be locked
up. Unable to withstand the ever
increasing remorse and almost physi-
cally and mentally wrecked from
anguish growing out of the secret
within his breast, Poplinski broke into
tears as he related his story and de-
clared that he didn't care what became
of him now That he had killed john
son with a rifle, after Johnson had
attacked him with knife, did not
matter with Poplinski, who felt that
his hands We're stained with human
blood and that proof that he acted
solely in self defense would not mitl-
gate his culpability before the law or
in the sight of his fellow men.
According to Poplinski, when still
mere boy he made homestead entry
upon 100 acres about one mile from
Nashua. He made the required i'm
provements and part of the year
worked in Nashua to provide means
upon which TO purchase necessities
and to carry out his Improvements. A
man named Johnson took up an ad-
joining homestead and the two became
neighborly. although their humble
dwellings We're located at least quar-
ter of a mile apart.
About the first of January. 1905,
Poplinski leased a portion of his
claim for pasturage and cattle were
turned upon his lands. There was little
fencing and Poplinski could not afford
TO build an enclosure which would
keep the lessee's cattle from wandering
over on Johnsons homestead. This
engendered feeling but Poplinski en-
deavored to meet the situation by
riding the line and keeping the cattle
herded Working part of the time IN
Nashua, made it impossible to be on
the line at all times and it was while
he was absent from his homestead that
the cattle wandered towards and upon
Johnson's holdings.
Trouble Led to Killing
Small game abounded in the new
country and along Milk river and
Poplinski frequently mounted his
horse and taking his rifle along rode
forth in search of meat. 1t was on
the occasion of one of these trips early
in January. 1905. that Poplinski came
to Johnson's cabin and engaged in
conversation. According to Poplinsk'
Johnson renewed discussion of the
situation growing out of the absence
of a proper fence and of the cattle
coming on his homestead Johnson
became more angry as the talk con-
tinued and finally, after calling Pop
linslli various vile names, rushed al
him with q knife in his hand Pop
linslli says he attempted to get away
and finding himself cornered, threw
his rifle to his shoulder and fired.
Johnson fell mortally wounded anC
died within a few minutes. Frightened
at what had happened and beheVlns
the law would class him a murderer
Poplinski waited until night threw
mantle OF darkness over all, and thei
placing the body of Johnson across nj
saddle he proceeded to the river, wher
along the banks he found an accumuia
tion of brush. There he concealed sth
bodv and the SHOWS of winter sool
covered even the brush and assure'
discovery would be deferred until tn
warm spring rains came and melte'
away the white shrOud.
In April; Poplinsk realized that
would not be long before the body o
Johnson would probably be recovered
Although there had been little or n
interest in the disappearance of John
son. Poplinski feared that the flndln
of the body would direct suspicion a
him and he left Nashua, abandonln
his homestead upon which he had live
nearly three years, and went to Grea
Continued on Page Three