New-York tribune., 1920-11-30
Suspect Taken i'm
Pittsburgh Tells
OfPeirce Murder
Prisoner. " no Admits Seeing
killing, Says Companion
Named ''Al" Did Shaving
and Escaped With Party
SPECIAL Dispatch to The Tribune


PITTSBURGH, Nov. 29.-U A. Moss,
OF Philadelphia. mentioned by Peter
Treadway and Marie Williams in con-
nection with the killing OF Henry T.
Peirce in Philadelphia two weeks ago,
was arrested here tonight Moss, who
also is known as Arch and Jack. was
subjected to a long examination, and
confessed that while lie was present
when Peirce was killed he did not take
part in the actual killing. He placed
the blame on the man whom he accom-
panied TO Peirce's room, where Peirce,
Treadway and the Williams woman
were. He said that he was one of the
four who made the trip from Phladel-
phia to Wheeling, W. Va, in Peirce's
car.
His confession was as follows:
"On Saturday night about 1880
met a man known as Al on Filbert
Street in a pool room and he took me
to 1909 Walnut Street. where Treadway
roomed The three OF US started out
to get drink, when We were
stopped by Peirce and Treadway went
with him. Al and myself went TO
saloon and bought a quart of whisky
and when we came out again to Mar
ket Street Treadway and the girl and
Peirce were getting out of the auto
mobile and were starting up stairs
Treadway motioned for me to come up
stairs. Al and myself went up stairs
Al was in front. When we reached
the room Al said Hands up l thought
he was only joking until he struck
Peirce. Peirce fell. The girl screamed
and l said to her, Come on, lets get
away from here
Flight from Philadelphia
II then took her to her room. and in
about thirty minutes Al and Treadway
came in. | asked them what they had
done and AL said I killed him. We have
got to leave town Treadway and my
self went then to my room in Camden,
N. j., and l got my suitcase and came
back to the Walnut Street room. Al
was there. We then went to friend
of mine in Baltimore, on Penn Avenue
intended to leave them there and 60
on to New Hope, where ! was to re
build scale, but I did not have any
money left after paying the lodging,
so | came to Wheeling and pawned my
watch to get railroad fare to come
to Pittsburgh. where I had position
, with the Howe Scale Company, by
whom ] was previously employed"
Moss was arrested at the Home Hotel
after he had directed attention to him
self by complaining to the police that
he had been robbed of his overcoat by
man with whom he appeared at the
hotel last Thursday. This latter man
had left the hotel this morning after
complaining to the hotel management
that he had been robbed OF fur over
coat.
Suspect Barricades Room
When Moss told the police the cir-
cumstances surrounding the disappear
ance Of his overcoat it was observed
that he answered the description of
Arch Moss, alias Jack, one of the men
sought in connection with the Peirce
murder.
When the detectives went to Moss's
room at the hotel they found he had
barricaded the door, apparently before
he knew of their coming for him. He
offered no resistance. When taken to
Police Headquarters for q time he re
fused to admit his guilt or knowledge
of the crime. Under severe griling
he eventually broke down and made the
confes siOn