The Semi-weekly leader., 1919-08-30
THIRD DEATH ENDS MYSTERY
Murder and Suicide in Story Of HOr'
ror-Woman in Leading Role.

PnliA00lpnldJ MISS aug. 1os-
Death at his own hands sealed the
lips of Ben Fitzpatrick, held here in
connection with the double killing
of Thursday last, before he could en-
tirely reveal the mystery that sur
rounded tragedy which shocked
the community to its depths.
Fitzpatrick, however, made con-
fession shortly before his death in
which he took the blame for the kill
ing of John Breland, one Of the two
victims, claiming that Breland killed
Louis Burnett, the other Of the two
men involved in what was supposed
to have been duel to the death
with hammer and crowbar.
The coroner's jury indicted Kill
patrick for the killing Of both men,
and the belief is general here that in
spite of his story he was guilty of
their deaths.
Kilpatrick's confession came after
long strain. He helped to wash and
dress the bodies of the two dead men,
helped to make their coffns and sat
up with their bodies. Brought to
prison, he gave way, and told the fol-
lowing story.
HERE is CONFESSION.
Both Burnett and had been at
tentive to Breland's wife. Thursday
afternoon the three of us were work
ing on a fence, when Breland and
Burnett began Quarreling, BrelaRd
struck Burnett in the head with an
axe, attacking him from the rear,
and cracking his skull.
'Breland then turned to me and
told me to let his wife alone, threat
ening me. The axe was lying near.
When Breland turned his head, ]
struck him with the axe, thinking it
would be a good time to get rid of
him.
"He fell across crowbar he was
carrying, dead, with his skull frac-
tured."
Fitzpatrick then left the scene of
the killings in the night. Burnett
who was badly hurt, staggered to-
ward his home, and his two sons
heard him calling. They went to him
and found him suffering from a Sc
we're wound on his head.
FITZPATRICK HELPED THEM.
They called Fitzpatrick and another
man named Carter to help them
bring their father in. They found
him difficult to carry, and Kilpat-
rick sent them to get a wagon, send
ing Carter away with lantern to
search for short cut across the
fields.
When they returned they found
Burnett suffering from a new wound
in the neck, and bleeding profusely
from the mouth and nose. It is sup
posed that Fitzpatrick indicted the
wound while the boys were away.
Fitzpatrick denied this however DUR
ing his confession. He said, "I'll tell
you about that later"
When he completed his confession,
he was taken to the ''bull pen" of the
Jail, which opens into the cell where
condemned prisoners are hanged. He
went into the cell taking with him
two strands of wire from his cot.
Twisting the wire into a moose, he
climbed upon the gallows, fastened
the wire to the ring from which the
execution rope hangs, and stood upon
chair, which he fixed above the
trap. He kicked the chair from un-
der him, and dropped, with the moose
fastened firmly about his throat.
CHOKED TO DEATH.
Some time after he had hanged
himself, the body was seen by a SON
of the jailer. Fitzpatrick had choked
to death. The body was stin warm
when discovered.
Fitzpatrick is survived by nve chill
dren. He was forty-fiye years Of age,
although he looked younger, and was
very popular here, and in great de-
mand as singer for church services.
Mrs. Breland was locked In the jail
last night. She is thirty-one and
pretty. She has three boys, the old
est fourteen, the youngest three. She
spoke Of separation from her chill
dren and said this is my first triI
to Philadelphia. and my only time IN
jail"
"It is the nrst time have evel
been away from my baby at night
He cried when ! left him, / mis-.
him very much At moments it seems
/ won't live through all this, but
hope God will restore me to my chill.
d.nr, Az 4 .,.,nr. L. ,..air,nd