The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-25
STATE VICTOR
ON CONFESSION
OF HAMILT TON
Admitted Into Evidence at
Trial After Clash by
Attorneys.
By Times special

hNNNi Nv ~
By Times Special
LEBANON, Ind, Nov. 25.-ThC
prosecution in the case of Louis z
Hamilton, charged with the murder
Of Lafayette Jackson in a holdup ir
Indianapolis. chalked up a victory
Thursday when it succeeded in OBJ
tanning the admission by Judge Free
E. Hines Of Hamilton's confession.
Reading of the confession to a
Boone county jury came after a bit
ter battle by defense counsel which
started early in the afternoon, and
was not concluded until after 3
when the jury was brought back into
the room for testimony.
The confession, which Hamilton
admits signing, but claims was OBJ
tanned by third degree police meth
DDS, was obtained about seventeen
hours after Hamilton was brought
back from lola, Kan.
Wouldn't Sign Confession
It was taken by Detective Edward
Glenn, whose testimony as a state
witness precipitated the lengthy
legal battle.
Glenn asserted Hamilton at first
denied any connection with the
crime, but when confronted by a
confession of Charles Vernon Witt,
his alleged accomplice who has
been sentenced to life imprison-
ment, agreed to talk.
Il told Hamilton" Glenn said,
that since Witt has tried to shove
most of the blame on him, he ought
to clear his conscience and tell the
truth
HE'LL replied Hamilton" Glenn
testified, "I'H tell you the truth
and I won't put Witt in it more
than l do myself"
Hamilton then told us the entire
story, but would not sign it until
later" Glenn testified.
Hamilton said he advanced to-
ward the cashiers cage of the
Standard grocery in which Mr..
jackson was slain, while Witt stood
guard inside the door with a sawed
off shotgun.
Treated Fairly, Is Claim
Hamilton said he saw three or
four men in the cage as he brand
ished a revolver, and told them 1t
was stickup. He was wounded
over his right eye by bullet and
then started firing, pausing only to
put another clip of eight bullets in
his gun.
Hamilton and Witt left the store
without obtaining any money and
drove to lola, Kan, pauSing at Balm
bridge to pick up Wits wife,
Naomi"
Glenn then identified the con-
fession, and it was read to the
jury by Floyd Mattice, who is as
sisting Herbert Wilson and Ben M.
Scifres in the prosecution.
Glenn declared Hamilton COM
mented several times on the fair
treatment he received at the hands
of indianapolis police. Il did not lay
a hand on him and neither did any
other officer, to my knowledge"
Glenn said, in denying the defense
contention the confession was OBJ
tanned by duress.
Detectives Emmett Englebright,
George Mueller and John Marren
joined Glenn in denial that third
degree methods were used.
State Still Presents Witnesses
Glenn and Mueller asserted Ham
ilton made no attempt to repudiate
the confession even after he had
talked to his attorney, Ira M.
Holmes. Holmes had not concluded
his cross eXamination of Glenn
when court adjourned Thursday.
The state still has several wit
nesses to place on the stand. Chief
among these is Miss Sue Sawyer,
lola invalid, who was instrumental
in obtaining the conviction of Witt.
Chester Jackson, son of the slain
man. who witnessed the shooting,
also will testify.
Judge John w. Hornaday, who
presided at Wits trial, ruled out
Wits confession. Judge Brenton
Devol, Frankfort, who presided at
Hamilton's first trial here in July
when the jury disagreed, permitted
officers to testify to oral statements
by Hamilton up to 9 p. m. of the
dav he was returned from Kansas.