Evening star., 1935-04-25
YOUTH CONFESSES
He SLEW PARENTS
TO GET "REVENGE'
Refuses to Elaborate Rea.
son for Staying of
Texas JuriSt.
SHOOTS SELF IN ARM
TO BACK HOLD.UP STORY
Killed Mother First, Then Shot
Both Through Head,
He Declares.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
AUSTIN. Tex, April 25-Howard
Pierson, 20. clean-cut and handsome.
said today he killed his father and
mother, Associate Justice William A.
Pierson Of the Texas Supreme Court,
and Mrs. Pierson. for "a reason"
After Deputy SherifIs Sam Rogers
and Paul Blair announced he had
confessed, Pierson told newspaper
men he shot his parents to death late
yesterday on lonely country road
about Is miles from Austin. where
he had lured them on the pretext OF
viewing scenic drive.
First he shot his mother. he said.
then his father. then he sent bullet
through the head of each Ito make
sure they we're dead"
Next he shot himself in the left
arm, concealed his fathers watch and
purse, his own purse. the .38 caliber
revolver and a pasteboard box con-
tanning eight discharged cartridges in
bushes several miles away and re-
turned to Austin with a story that
two robbers had perpetrated the
crime.
Leads Officers to Scene.
Subsequently, after nine hours grill
ing. he led officers to the place where
he had hidden the watch, purses, pis-
tol and box, all of which were re-
covered. Officers found two other
discharged cartridges in the pistol
and three at the scene of the killing.
In charging the youth formally with
murder Sheriff Lee Allen said, I'VE
have found the motive" Pierson told
newspaper men he had "a good rea-
son." but officers quoted him as say
ing he did it for revenge"
Deputy Blair quoted him as saying
he purchased the revolver in Calves
ton last Saturday. driving 100 miles
out Of his way to obtain it.
Pierson made the confession after
q wild night in which he twice was
taken to the scene, once to direct off,
GERS to the bodies and again to recover
the gun and other articles. He also
was taken to the morgue to view the
bodies, during which has calm was not
broken.
How long had you been planning
the killing?" he was asked. Not very
long," he replied.
@. You don't deny that you did It?
A. No.
@. Your mind didn't suddenly go
blank out there, or something of that
sort?
A. remember it all.
@. How many shots were fired?
A. don't know.
@. Why did you tell your mother
and father you were taking them out
that road?
A. Just to show them scenic drive.
G. How die you get them out of the
car?
A. I told them I wanted to show
them an old Indian grindstone
Q. What do you think your brother
will think? C1is brother is a gradu-
ate student in the University of Chi
cago.)
A. suppose some one notified him.
He understands my troubles.
@. Did you hit your father? Judge
Pierson had marks on his head as
though he had been struck)
Young Persons eyes flashed as he
answered:
II didn't do that. He must have
fallen"
@. Why did you shoot your mother
first?
A. Because she was closest to me-
Deputies Rogers and Blair said the
former Texas University student told
them that after he had killed Justice
and Mrs. Pierson. he felt of their
bodies and then sent bullet into the
head of each Ito make sure they
were dead"
What did you kill them for?"
Rogers said he asked him. For re-
venge," he replied.
do you mean you killed your
mother for revenge?" asked Rogers.
YES" Pierson said
Bleeding profusely, young Pierson
brought the first news of the tragedy
to Austin, making his way to a hos
pital in the Pierson automobile. After
his wound was dressed he accom-
panied officers to the place where the
bodies were found.
The youth slept soundly about two
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