The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-05
CONVICT INSISTS HE,
NOT GIRL, is SLAYER
Regan Repeats Story in Baksa
Trial and Hopes He Is
Not Gin Dutch"
JUDGE FORCED TO LAUGH
Young Defendant Breaks
Down for First Time When
Her Mother Is Called.

James f. Regan, confessed petty
thief. burglar, gunman, knife wielder
assailant of helpless women and con-
vict, left the witness stand in Judge
Rosalsky's court yesterday afternoon
after spending nearly a day and 8
half trying to convince Jury tina,
he and not Elizabeth Baksa, nineteen.
year-old girl who Is on trial. murdered
Mrs. Helen Hamel, and expressed the
hope that he did not get himself ir
| wrong"
The mental processes Of Regain, OF
| Burns. which he says is his righ'
i name, have baffled Judge Rosalsky, the
jury and attorneys for the State anC
defence. On cross examination by
Alfred ]. Talley, Assistant District AT.
torney, Regain went over his story Of
the death Of Mrs. Hamel in detail
Then he told of going to O motion pic
ture theatre in Harlem with his pal,
where they divided the spoils.
why did you go to the motion pic.
| ture show?" asked Mr.. Talley.
Il wanted recreation was Regan'i
reply.
After numbering a woman 20,
wanted recreation?"
II did not know I murdered her.
the witness declared.
do you know now that you muir
dered her?v
Appeals to the Judge.
Judge, don't want to answer tina
question: said Regain, appealing to til,
bench. ut might put me in wrong"
When Judge Rosalsky told him t,
answer Regain did not override til,
court, as he had done on several otheI
occasions. but responded:
| We'll, II tying a towel around 1
woman's neck and pulling II prett,
tight is numbering her, yes"
Quite calmly he tilted with Mr.. Tai
ley, who sought to discredit the MAR
points in his confession, and he in
variably got the better OF 1t. Severa
times he admitted that IAN answer
might incriminate me" or ut nigh
get me in Dutch"
Little things like his attempt on thu
life OF Warden Martin Moore Of thu
Harris Island reformatory. where h
spent some time. Regain cheerfully ad
mitted Asked II he tried to kill War
den Moore. he answered:
mo, not exactly"
| What did you try to do?p
| Just tried to stick a knife through
him." he answered. making an effor
to suppress a yawn.
Denies duplicating "Pals."
| Asked about a statement he is al
legged to have made duplicating TIVE
pals" in several burglaries, Regal
denied making the statement. He wal
shown the document, signed by him II
the presence of witnesses, but he re
piled:
Proof that didn't squeal on thos'
two guys is that they are still on TN
street, amt IT."
Mr.. Talley asked Regain that II b
really was confessing to the murde
Of Mrs. Hamel in the interests of Jus
tlce, would he also. in the interest o
Justice help TO restore some OF tn
property to the people he robbed be
fore his latest arrest.
mot through you. Never. never.
he replied. And not through the Po
lice Department. I will help the PEG
pie inrny own way but you guys vii
not get the credit for it."
Would you tell Judge Rosalsk
where you disposed OF some of you
spoils?"
Regain smiled at the Judge and said
Judge, you are all right. You hav
been square with me and might te
YOU. You are a good fellow"
And Judge Rosalsky Joined In tn
general laugh.
Disbelief by the jury in Regain
whole statement was manifested jus
before me left the stand, when job
T. Dougherty, an efficiency exper
formerly in the Government employ
and in this case Juror No. 3, aske
him several questions.
Dogs Not Always Unfrie udIy.
In answer Regain said he watche
the struggle between his confederat
and Mrs Hamel for twenty minute
before he interviewed and that he say
no dogs and did not hear item bark.
Another Juror asked II he coul
identify the accused as the girl h
saw in Mrs Hamel's house at the tim
OF the murder. Elizabeth Baksa wa
asked to stand up and turn her bac
to the witness. Regain said the de
PENDANT looked like the girl but h
was not positive.
The girls mother was the last wit
ness. For the first time in sewers
days the Baksa girl showed emotion
When her mother sat down the gil
burst into a violent 1T of weepinl
burying her face in her Handkerchief
Through an interpreter Mrs. Baks
said the defendant was born in Hun
gary nineteen years ago and had re
ceived about twelve years schooling
both In that country and In America
before going to work year ago. Sh
said she gave her $22 before she LEI
her homo in Freemansburg, Pa, I
come to New York shortly before tn
murder.
The examination will be continue
to-day.
61 PNEUMONIA DEATHS HERE