The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-08-14
ADMIT crime AND
ARE SENTENCED TO
LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Slew Two Young Couples on
Lonely Road Near Ann
Arbor, Mich, Tuesday
MODS HOWL FOR VENGEANCE
Police Protect Three Prisoners
With Difficulty; LYNCH
ing Attempts Fail
MODS HOWL FOR VENGEANCE

Ann Arbor, Mich, Aug. s14-Re
Three torch slayers. called "fiends" In
human form" by the Judge who SEN
fenced them, were in solitary confine-
ment Friday In Jackson prison, sery-
Ing the first day Of . lifelong penalty
for killing and burning two young
couples on q lonely country road near
here early last Tuesday.
They confessed, were sentenced to
life imprisonment and placed In the
Jackson institution within six hours
time last night.
A new angle to the affair not
mentioned by the mel In their o n
LESSONS was revealed early today
with the arrest Of Catherine Keller,
Is. at her home In Ypsilanti. She was
brought to the county jail here. Of
Ulcers began an investigation Of re-
ports that she accompanied the kill
ers early Tuesday when they robbed
the young couple. attacked one Of the
girls. killed them and then burned
their bodies. Deputies said the wom-
an wa the sweetheart Of Smith. ono
OF the convicted men.
She admitted being with the men
Monday night, but said she left the
party before the holdup and killings
occurred.
The closing Of the doors Of the
prison at Jackson, 80 miles away, a
few minutes before midnight, ended
the most riotouS day In the history Of
this university community.
Battle Angry Crowds
Four times angry crowds attemuEed
to snatch the prisoners-Fred Smith.
"a. ex-convict: David Blackstone. 50.
itinerant negro. and Frank Oliver, 10
year-old painter-from Z hair hun.
dred officers guarding them. and I'm
pose their own penalty.
The first attempt occurred ct Yp-
slant. eight miles away, where tho
three men were arrested and uues-
toned and confessions were obtained.
The second came when they were
brought here and placed In the ooun-
ty jail.
The third, In which tear bombs
were used to disperse angry residents
pressing against police cars, took
place as the prisoners were being
transferred to the court house for
sentence.
The fourth attack was made a. DO
lice began the trip to jackson with
the prisoners.
The wtnd-up Of the most sensation
al crime in Michigan In many q
came with breath-taking rapidity.
The clue that provided the key for
the solution Of the case was the find
Ing OF the gun used to slay the VIC
tins.
The weapon wa turned over to
Washtenaw county deputies by an
undercover man for the Ypsilanu po-
lice department. It was established
the gun had been In the possession Of
Smith as late Is Tuesday morning.
Grflled BY Prosecutors
The arrest OF Smith and Blackstone
followed Thursday morning. Then
came several hours Of grilliug by
prosecutors Of Wayne and Washtenaw
counties. The q In which the
charred bodies were found marks the
boundary between the two counties.
Finally Blackstone gave In. He adj
rnitted that he. Smith and another
white man killed the couples after
robbing them, put the bodies In the
rear OF the automobile Of Thomas
Wheatley. one Of the victims. drove
past the home Of Harry Lore. the
other boy, and then, seeking to dis
pose Of the evidence Of their crime,
soaked the bodies and the automobile
with gasoline drained from the tank
OF the machine and applied q match.
Soon Smith. who was being ques-
toned In another room confessed.
Blackstone had named Oliver as
the other member Of the murder par
ty. He was arrested while painting q
house in Ypsilantt A few minutes
after being taken to the YpsilanN city
hall, where the questioning was being
conducted, he cried out, II did 1t, I
did it." and then gave q full confess
sion.
Smiths statement that I'VE rot dis.
orderly on hooch" before the crime
added to the indications that the slay-
ers were berserk with alcohol.
Crowd Begins to Gather
1 0OOAA 64tC4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WA mace
OF the confessions, q crowd began
| gathering around the Ypsilanti city
hall. Officers then made prepare
lions to bring the prisoners here for
arraignment at the county seat.
As the men we're led out, the crowd
surged forward and attempted 70 lay
hands on the prisoners. Oliver was
pummelled and scratched. but tho
officers rescued him ana the trip hare.
. distance Of eight miles. was made
without incident. although roads weFe
blocked by the many automonilee
which swung IN behind ths polics
party.
Reaching the county jal hsro,
another crowd gathered and ropog
were stretched by state police . bod
hack the thrcng.
The crowd around ~ jatl lneAAod
ii the downtown Docfton, rev SApt1~
y. At length Z company of nat1onn1
guardGmen Ms caIIod ouf.
At So =. m. n hour and Nv uln~
utes af11r IL oon6onojoa0 6AA noun
otvon % xpnllan11. ~ u1ncnoca 49,
&soiGnoa hoocee $500
I ecenttpan4 -