The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-20
By John W. Kane

content of the conscience.
 No Will to Stay
 There had been no consent of either will or conscience to my killing the man, even though the will did par tially consent to my shooting him. In other words, l desired tC' shoot one of the men because l, felt that in an other instant if I did not shoot him, he would shoot and perhaps kill me; yet I did not desire or will that the shot should kill him. As to the sec ond man, he had been, as l had told my partner, hit by wild shot.
 Now I know my written confession was poorly done; yet it told the true story so far as I was able to express 1t then.
 Once it was finished I felt great relief, an exhilaration.
 I called to the guard.
 Twenty minutes later I was ush- cred into the warden's private office and was told to sit at the end of a long table, around which the city police and a few others were seated.
 'Did yCu want us, Kane?" inquired the chief.
 I answered.: "I've made up my mind that l want to tell all I know about the happening for which I'm being held. And l know quite bit about it. because I'm responsible"
 Satisfaction and curiosity could be seen upon every face.
 Were glad to hear that. Kane" the chief assured me. Do you want to put 1t in writing?'
 q do-Td be glad to have three copies made" was my answer-"one fer you, one to be kept here in the state prison safe, and the other for myself"
 The Confession Is Signed
 Inquiring glances passed between the officers but they neither com mented nor asked any questions. A clerk was called in with a typewriter. It took but a few minutes to have the confession typed. Then I signed it and two of the policemen signed as witnesses
 After the signing the chief began to ask me some questions. I could see that he was not satisfied with the confession, and his questions indi- cated that he wished me to go on and say a few other things concern ing the case, in order that there might be something coming from me that would square up with state ments that had already been given out from police headquarters. I am swered few of hls questions, but when they began to take on cross- questioning style I declined to talk further.
 You have there" I indicated the signed paper before him, "a true statement of the facts; and I don't believe I wish to say more at this time, except that I'll tell you where l to find the revolver that I threw away"
 The chief cf detectives took pen- cil and piece of paper and roughly sketched certain streets and some boardwalk crossings of ditches out in the suburbs. as l explained about the location. He said he knew the row of trees behind one of which I had thrown the gun, and thought they could find 1t without much trouble.
 You admit the murder then. Kane?" inquired the chief of police. seemingly anxious to get back to questioning. In flash it dawned upon me that he was wanting me to say something collateral to the con- fession that he might, as future witness against me, swear to.
 'The confession, written. will show that l admit homicide" I answered. but in face of everything that happened there. and particularly on account of my feelings all during the time, do not think that l am diily ol ital illui dti'
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 Traps fin Their Questions
 What do you mean by real mur- der?'" came next.
 q should perhaps have said first degree murder"
 What do you think you're guilty of then ?-second dcgree?" q don't know what the law would or will declare it to be-" I answered, but 1 was under the impression-"
 You'll find that the law calls 1t first degree murder" he interrupted me, and l believe you know its that"
 "Well. I'm nc lawyer" I essayed. He went right on.
 You're no. lawyer, perhaps, but you're q great deal wiser man and more experienced along the lines of court practice in criminal cases than you pretend to be. Whats your idea in trying to make out that you're not an educated man?" "Well, I'm not one" l was deter mined l would not discuss that part But if youll permit it. I'd like to ask you q question. and it's with a view to testing your judgment con- corning what is or is not the truth"
 "Go ahead" he returned.
 Then what do you think of that statement of mine there? Is 1t true or not?"
 He hesitated a moment 'It is just as well to tell you that I don't believe the thing happened that way at all"
 It was clear that he had figured out a certain manner in which he be- | lieved it had occurred and that he was determined not to think of 1t any other way.
 How about you men.-if may inquire" I turned to the others.
 Two of them joined with the chief in expressing flat unbelief; three were uncertain and several others de- clined to express an opinion.
 I had a particular reason for mak- ing that inquiry. As I was the only | person there who knew positively about the case-and because I knew my signed statement was the truth I was desirous of finding out how they accepted it, because I then felt that in such matters policemen were about like the average person and by hearing their opinions I might draw some conclusion as to how the public and jury might react. In that, how ever I was acting without under standing. I did not know then. as I dc now, that with practically all city police there is a belief that as be- tween lawbreakers and the police 1t | is a kind of personal issue. They are biased to begin with. It was an attempt. though in what I believed to be the right direction--the direc- ton whereby I was to make such an uphill fight for my life as few men in this world are ever called upon to wage.
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 'I Want to Congratulate You!" The officers began to rise from | their seats.
 The chief Gf police said: "If at any | time there's anything further yOu