South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-14
.BURCH DENIES ALL
IN CONFESSION
Brands Alleged Statement of
Killing Kennedy as In
fernal Lie"

Los ANGELES, Calf, Sept 10
, The Obenchain- Burcu- Kennedy muir
der case did battle with the Fatty"
Arbuckle case for the first time in
the point of public interest here to-
day when the publication of a three
! page copyrighted story in the Los
Angeles Examiner saying that Arthur
Burch had confessed completely in
the Staying of J. Bolton Kennedy .
Chandler Sprague, a newspaper re-
porter, was followed by Burch's We
hement denial
1T is an internal lie, from begin
ming 10 end"
Speaking in a clear, firm voice. and
/ looking the interviewer squarely in
the face. rs he pressed his cheek
close 10 the bars Of his cell in the
county jail today. Arthur Burch
/ branded the reporters statement
/ that Burch had confessed 20 the
murder Of J. Bolton Kennedy as q
tissue of falsehoods"
There isn't a word of truth in H. q"
said Burch of Sprague's copyright
article in which Sprague claim
Burch confessed TO him that he kill
ed Kennedy with the knowledge Of
, Mrs Obenchain as the only means OF
ending an intolerable situation.
1T is q complete fabrication and
/ tissue of falsehood from the first to
the last word" Burch continued.
Il have talked with Chandler
/ Sprague. but I have never uttered a
word 10 him that would warrant his
writing such a completely unjusti-
| fed and untruthful statement
Mrs Obenchain also firmly denle !
at the county jail that there was a
word OF truth i'm Burch's purported
statement insofar as she is concern
4 ed.
/ Sprague's story told in graphic de.
/ tail how Burch had told him Of the
Staying of Kennedy lie said Burcn
declared that ne and Mrs. Obenchain
/ had decided, because Of Kennedy :
/ treatment OF her, that Kennedy must
/ be done away with.
They decided. Sprague declares.
Burch confessed. that the Staying
| should be done in Beverly Glen and
I AIRS. Obcnchain was delegated 20 see
that kennedy was induced 20 so
there. This was accomplished.
F Spraguc asserts Burch told him.
when Mrs Obenchain told Kennedy
sac was COINS 20 leave Los Angeles
.f suggested a motor ride 20 vari-
Gus points that had been favorites in
t4e aaYs ~ their intimacy.
Burcn then went 90 the glen after
dark, Sprague said. and when NADIA
lynne Obenchain and Kennedy drove
/ up In the car. he was hiding under
the steps of the cabin porch. While
Kennedy was seeking a light with
which 20 End his way into the cabin,
T Sprague charges Burch with saying,
Burch fired. missing his mark the
/ first shot but finding Il with the seU-
ond.
Burch then drove TO santa Monica,
/ Sprague's article alleges, hurled the
gun he had used into the sea. drove
back 10 Los Angeles, Went 20 bed
and the next morning bearded a
train for Chicago.
According 20 Sprague's story the
confession was made while tho two
f conversed in the Los Angeles county
/ Jail on Aug. u, 10 days after Ken
nedy's murder. He killed Kennedy.
/ Sprague alleges Burch told him, be-
cause Il was the only way 20 free
I Mrs. Obenchain from Kennedys ma
|Hgn influences. Burch, Sprague ce-
clared. regarded himself as knight
errant" rather than a murderer and
believed the killing justified