The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-11-25
THE DYING CONFESSION OF
JOHN Ygn1 1TERnIAY.

Made during his Imprisonment, oJoFr Se0-
crai hcrSonS.
] was born in Northampton county IN thc
State OF pennsy ylvania, Ill the year lHf l.
NV father'sname was Leonard Zimmerman,
nv mothers name Sophia. In carly youth,
/ conducted myself as 4 wild boy-was fond
uf youthful sports, and always OF lriitdote
and ironical disposition, but at that period
addicted to no particular vice. Nay parents
were Mrthodists. who were in the habit OF
nrayinr on their knees morning and evening
at their meals. To this laudable practice
they cndeavourcd to cXhort me, but conld
never bring me to devotion. Instead OF DC
votion mmickel their positionand motions,
for which | was frequently turnfa out oi
doors and reprmauded for my conduct. o1it
Of doors, | would then usually out OF mock
cry act over again every thing remarkaoie
that could observe.
In my Youthful days was sent to l'ef-
man school, and went cheertully, but mere
Iy for amusement. My parents often heard
Of nv pramks, and often chastised me for
them, but without producing any anchu-
mcnt. NV mother in particular, frequently
represented to me the consequences Oh my
behaviour, and ciD!eavoured thereby 70
bring me to obcdicncc---otson whch had
proceeded to extremes She threatened "that
if run On this way would at last CONG 10
tIc gallows" Poor woman, her prediction
was too true Yet all representation, admo-
nitions and nlenanccs were in vain yet with
much difficulty ! learnt to read and write
German.
.AfterI had received t'te necessary impress
sons Of tho truth Of religion, ] adopted the
creed of tho Reformed Church but must
1.44t5. - iFf
of tio,., but ON the contrary paid my dcvo-
ton more to Bacchus, ] never acquired a
particular profession or trade, but made a
subsistence by burning tar, making shingles.
burning Goals, rafting, and was occasionally
employed at farming. At these pursuits |
became addicted to the vice of drunkenness
and swearing on account Of which often be-
cane intolcraLlc to the society of decent
people.
was always a'zealous democrat, and of
ten had disputes with the opposition, nay
sometimes fought was particularly warm
at the last Governors election, and Shulac's
Justice would then only have appeared con-
spicuously to me, fhc had sentenced all who
! were for Gregg to the halter. At that time
| little thought that my Governor would
condemn one favorable to him, much less
hiM who was very Jealous But the tables
/ are turned and the friend must now feel the
\ keen edge Of the friends sword--Justice is
! stronger than fricndship--but what rctiec-
tions-my sentence is just, it is reasonable
that my blood should flow.
IN nv 22d year Was married to Eve, he,
maiden name WittcrStiue commenced and
| followed the aforesaid pursuits alternately,
and would 1T all times have well supported
my family if whiskcy had not always robbed
me of the greater part OF my earning. When
intoxicated was untract.ble and furious, and
more like a tiger than a man. My wife
loved notwithstanding, and never left her &c
suffer for ncccssaries she too, knew well
how to accommodate herself to my temper
and would not even incur her displeaslrc tc
u great extent, when in a state of intoXica-
ton turncd her and the children out OF doors
and threw parcel OF furniture out attei
). thcm-I became rcconciled and VIC agar
lived IN peace. My wife gave me birth to
: children, Of whom have departed from TIN:
vale of sorrow, viz: sons and j daughters
I, two sons and two daughters, arc liv-
ing, who are now to witness the lgnomlnlou'
death Of their unhappy father. My two
Youngest children who are female twins, ARK
now about years OF age. One OF ~!
daughters, whois no more, burnt herself ac
EItiCntdiiN VI utSiSllcN!il eiit1 S'iN ''iNe
q in few hours after. My other daughter
. ,licd during my imprisonment and my eld
,, est daughter who had attained the age OF 20
7 sent in a barbarous, never heard of, an,
humanity revolving manner, to another worl'
on "Wednesday the 2Gth, Of November, 1928
choalicd and kicked her to death.
t The following circumstance led to tn
: cause: NV daughter Rosna was hired at TIL
h coal mines of Afauch Chunk, Northampton
c County there in one year she became init
i maze with Irishmen, which was intolcrabl
$ to nc. She became afflicted with the agut
!, and was brought home. | however trcatc
+ her during thc first few days after her re
e turn as Il father nurscd and waited On he
q but occasionally reproachcd her bitterly o
q account the llis,lmen who has sintercours
y with the lrisl, has dealings with the dcvi
= thought |. Now some Irishmcn came t
=; nv hotisc to visit her on her bed Of sickness
io and gibbcrished with her, which hig'y enra
IS grd nc ; therefore told my Rosina to spea
to her fathers that ] might understand he
"a upon which she told me in German what til
It Irishmcn wanted and, what was the objcc
Of their visit. After they left the house,
s. the most raging manner upbraided her, an
50 told her if the irish did not stray away
v- would shoot them. Rosin9 rcprimandcd II
nc behaviour with scnSibility, saying that n
ny thing of the kind that suspected took pla'
ie. between her and the Irishmcn, and that, il
nH went on in this manner could not be i'll
nd good way. AS she frequently had done b
fore, she admonished me to change my CO