PARKER TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1927, Page 3

PARKER TRAGEDY

'Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) SUSPECT ARRESTED. NEW YORK, Dec. 22. A young man resembling the Parker murder suspect was arrested at Salem, Oregon, to-day. The officers admit that they have nothing beyond pyhsicnl appearance as a basis ol holding him. Identification will lie attempted ns soon as possible.

HICKMAN ADMITS KIDNAPPINC NEW YORK, Dec. 22.

A message from Pendleton, Oregon. States that u sheriff has announced that he has arrested Edward Hickman, suspected of the Parker murder. Hickman admitted Hint he knew Parker, mid confessed that he kidnapped the girl, hut denied Hint he murdered her. He said: "Some fiend killed her. I know who he is.” lie refused to divulge the name, and said he kidnapped the girl in order to get money to pay his way through college. Hickman asserted that wire hound round her throat caused death, and not chloroform. He declined to discuss the matter further. Officers state that they found the MOO dollars ransom money in Hickman’s pockets. The police are questioning him further. A great crowd of officers, reporters, and others, is round the jail. MONEY IDENTIFIED. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 22. |

The youthful kidnapper was near collapse, and showed tin* effects of his attempted escape by a long drive in n stolen automobile. The officials are keeping a heavy guard ill and outside the gaol at Pendleton, pending instructions from Los Angeles. Hickman is showing no wish to attempt to escape. ’I lie police have checked the money found in Hickman's pockets and state that they identified the gold certificate's as Parker’s. Officers sav that there is not llie slightest doubt about the prisoner’s identity. When arrested by two officers Hickman laid two companions in an automobile, one armed with a sawed oil shot-gun, and the other with a pistol belonging to Hickman. I hey surrendered quietly. AI, LEG ED Mill IYER ER IDENTIFI ED SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 22.

A special session of the Los Angelos Grand Jury is called for to-morrow, to vote on the murder indictment. John and Jane Doe are also likely to he named. The indictment is to cover an unknown man or woman.

Extradition papers to firing Hickman to California, were rushed to Oregon bv aeroplane. Hickman's mother in Kansas C ity said she was not familiar with her sou’s desire to attend college. She was glad her son was not guilty ol the murder. Hickman’s lather, a steam shovel engineer, said lie wanted to see his son punished to the extent that lie was guilty. “ I will he ready to help him all I can.” The sheriff’s officer at Los Angeles identified the alleged murderer as tlio youth who came to Los Angeles with Hickman from Kansas City. ACCUSED’S STATEMENT. SAN FRANCISCO. Dee.. 22. Hickman repeatedly denied the murder. and said that another man and woman, whom lie ret used to name, were responsible for tho act. lit' said:— “ They wound wire round her neck and choked her to death.”

In a recital of the facts ol the abduction to tho officials. Hickman, always smiling, was unnerved (it the mention of the gruesome details. He snid he really did not intend to he ii crook, because “ You’ll find out soon enough you’ll get caught, but I "anted to go buck to Kansas City and go to work there to get enough money to go to college. I thought if I were able to get enough for tuition that it did not matter how I got it. I would g" .1 i niHil I poll I ben on. 'hi "i.iu n-ked me what I thought ol kidmippiiig someone. I said I would not mind doing it. I remembered Parker’s daughter. It "ill probably he the chair lor me now.”