New-York tribune., 1918-11-27
Swami to Push Baksa Case
Despite Man S Confession
District Attorney Says He
Expects Conviction of 49,
Year-Old Girl on Indirect
Evidence

District Attorney Swami announced
last night that he intended to con-
tinue with the trial Of Elizabeth Baksa
Friday.
Notwithstanding the confession Of
Regan," said the District Attorney,
"the prosecution has evidence which it
believes will convict the Baksa girl Of
the murder of Mrs. Hamel.
when first placed under arrest
continued Mr.. Swami, "the girl had
jewelry belonging to Mrs. Hamel in
her possession. Moreover we are
positive we can prove that the bite in
Mrs. HamePs arm was made by the
accused girl
"Regan, too, admits in his confession
that the Baksa girl was in the room at
least fifteen minutes before he was.
Inc evidence, all in all, is far too
strong to be swept aside by the unsup-
ported word of convict"
District Attorney Swann's statement
came at the conclusion of a remarkable
day in General Sessions. Yesterday
morning there was seemingly nothing
to prevent the continuance of the trial
or the eighteen-yearold girl charged
with the murder of Mrs. Helen Hamel,
owner of lodging house In West
iwenty-thjrd Street, where the girl
had made her home. Then the an
nouncement was made that the trial
would be postponed for one hour.
Confession Causes Delay
At the expiration of the first recess
1t was stated that an adjournment
would be taken until Friday. In ex-
planatlon, it was said that q man had
confessed to the crime for which the
girl vas being tried.
The girl apparently was exonerated
by the confession, which seemed to
prick the bubble Of circumstantial evil
dence which has surrounded the girl
ever since the murder, and while some
details remain to be explained it was
assumed that the charge against her
would be withdrawn. Regan said that
he strangled MS. Hamel wnlle a com
panion fought with her in an attempt
to rob her
Miss Baksa greeted the news with
her usual childish naivete.
That's just what | told you, Mr..
Aoenlg" sic said to her lawyer. ~
Cold you man did it,"
| Details Not Discussed
Regan's confession was made in an
all NJ gnt session with Judge Rosalsky,
District Attorney Swami. and Samusl
j. koenig and Thomas C. Mcdonald
attorneys for Miss Baksa. Ye eerday
Judge Rosalsky would not permit de-
tails Of the story to be discussed.
An extract from Aegan's confession
found its way to The reporters room,
OF the Criminal Courts Building.
Regarding his actions on the dav Of
the crime Regan said:
On February 13, at .. M. ! en-
tered the premises at 5O7 west twenty
third Street after another man. nv
pal, had gone in FOR the purpose Of
robbing the place went into the
basement of the house and walked
through the basement into the ward.
Il returned to the basement and
found my pal struggling with q woman.
saw him strike her with a stick. 7
did not strike q blow but tied towel
around her neck and he pulled her to
couch. She was gone then. He
struck her again with a bat or some
piece OF wood. he picked up.
II thought when I saw them strug-
Cling that she was getting the best Of
him. so | grabbed the towel from a
rack and tied it around her neck. I
also knotted it at the back. took
some money, two rings q watch and