The Washington herald., 1919-10-30
HAS WEBSTER MIND OF
CHILD 10? JURY ASKED
ooNrINuEp PROM PAGE ONE.

ooSTISUED FROM PAGE ONE.
Intelligence and that he was forced
y write two confessions for the
!ashington police because their
minds were stronger than his.
Webster was put on the stand In
his own behalf at this juncture. In
humdrum voice he told the story
of his life up to the time Of the
murder. Then he reiterated his sec
ond confession given to Detective
Kelly. up TO the point where he ad-
mited killing young Duvall'.
Repudiates Murder.
Webster Iepudiated this portion
of his confession. declaring Duvall
gave him his money to keep for
him and that he shot him acciden-
tally while they were seated facing
each other in the woods near
Brookland.
He said that after he accidentally
shot Duvall he does not re-
member anything until he was
down in Jackson Alley near the
Government Printing ONCE. Later.
the same evening. he said. after
he returned from Jackson court he
went to Duvalrs body and got the
revolver which was used and later
went to his quarters at the college.
why did you efve Detective
Kelly this second confession?'' Web
ster was asked.
Because I wanted the detectives
to leave ME alone" he replied.
Webster charged on the stand
that he was repeatedly grilled by
the police, that they threatened to
use the third degree and the
"sweatbox" on him and that he
was frightened by their tactics.
Denies Third Degree.
Detective Kelly vigorously denied
that anything of the kind was done
by the police.
degree is: have read OF II in cheap
truly do not know what It means"
Kelly asserted
Webster further charges that he
was struck and kicked by a detec-
tiye he knows only by sight and
II wish l had some insurance on
your life, because IL I had i could get
some money out of IL.
Webster also told the jury that he
only promised to make a confession
back out to Trinity College and let
him get a new suit of clothes.
Robert Hawkins. colored. who was
first implicated in the murder in
Webster's confession, took the stand
yesterday. Hawkins told OF his rela-
tions with Webster. particularly of
how he loaned Webster the gun which
was used TO shoot Duvall.
AIthE tnr
a definite aIibi was established for
Hawkins through the boys courtesy.
Hawkins. 1t seems, was at a motion
picture show on Seventh street when
Duvall was killed and he proved this
fact because as he was leaving he
bumped into the doorman and begged
his pardon. He told this story to
Detective Kelly and Kelly took him
to the theater after he had been
locked up and it was found that he
had told the truth.
Webster now admits that Hawkins
did not have anything to do with the
murder and that he only tried to in
volve him because he told the police
about Ioaning Webster his gun.
Webster also charged that the po-
lice told him IL he confessed he might
be acquitted by a jury on the ground
that he had killed through passion"
Justice Gould asked DR.. L9dd II he
believed a child of 10 2-5 years could
have planned 10 kill and actually
kill, and Ladd told him that he
thought this was possible.
Assistant District Attorney Laws
and Attorney Frank Smith both sub
mitted a couple OF prayers which
will be weighed by Justice Gould.
Smiths relate to the confession.
II is expected that the jury will
receive the case early this afternoon
and 1t is possible that an early YER
dict will be rendered.