Show CONFESSES SLAYING WIFE Hit Bigamous Spouse With Ball Bat Threw Body in River Admits MAUSTON l Wis Jan 24 AP- AP William Coffey Madison bond salesman salesman sales sales- man confessed today that he murdered murdered mur- mur dered Mrs Hattie Hales Coffey his bigamous second wife and threw th the body in tile the river at Dubuque la 1 Announcement ot of the confession confessIon confes- confes sIon was made by District Attorney Robert Clark Coffey told Sheriff Wright that he hit the woman over the head with a baseball bat in ina camp on the Mississippi river at Dubuque on October 11 before throwing throwing- her body loay into the water The old 48 Madison l bond salesman who married Mrs Hales Coffey at Winona Vinona Minn last September Sep Sep- I although he had a wife and three children In Madison had refused refused re- re fused to admit his guilt in a several hours grilling last night Well are you ready to confess yet Sheriff Wright inquired I killed her all right Coffey replied You did Sheriff Wright said with amazement HIT HER WITH BAT hit hither hither Yes Coffey continued I her with a baseball bat It was in incan can camp just below the high bridge IlL at Dubuque I had been In Dubuque that night and got back to camp late She accused me of being out with other women I hit her over the head with the baseball bat i 1 think the blow killed her Her heart wasn't beating She was in her night dress I threw her body in the river er It was so late that I 1 dont don't know whether It was October 11 or October 12 Coffey was arrested Friday when he appeared at Elroy Wis Vis to attend attend at- at tend a meeting of the board of directors directors di- di rectors of a company in which his wife held stock The meeting was arranged as a ruse by Mrs Anna Holdridge Rockford ford Ill sister ot of Mrs Irs Hales Coffey widow of a railroad ran rail road engineer who was a saleswoman man in La Crosse when wooed by Coffey FORGED HER NAME Mrs Holdridge had grown Ln suspicious suspicious cious when she received letters from Dubuque la Ia signed Bill BUI and Hattie Hattie Hat Hat- tie but obviously written by Coffey Cof- Cof fey who each time added the phrase phrase- Hattie is sitting by my side as I write Coffey refused until today to tell where his bigamous bigam- bigam ous wife was but confessed previously previously to using a rubber stamp to forge his wife's name to secure the transfer transfer-of of stocks and securities District Attorney Clark made known last night that Coffey had admitted he was the author of a typewritten communication from the woman which he previously maintained she had written before he said she left him at Asheville Ashe- Ashe ville N. N C C. C The note said When you get this I hope yoU will not hate me too much I love Mr St. St Claire more than anYbody else in the world He has come after me Billy and I am going goin wIth him I shall always think of you of-you you as a wonderful par pal I had might as well say it would be beof beof of no advantage to you to follow |