Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-04
DOYIM 8TT0.
GARDINER, (NIaiue)


Murder WiH out" For some days past a consider.
able excl ement has existed in this place and
hood on account Of certain disclosures OF cinl acts
aud intentions made by a Young man ON his dc ath bed
week before last in Lcheld and as the public cannot
but be deeply interested in the subject, deem
duty TO give statement as TO the facts
BILE to collect them.
young man in Lchhed, eighteen or twenty wears
of age, by the name Of Edmund Williams, was, some
few weeks since, taken dangerously ill., As the pros
peet oil his recovery became smaller he appeared TO be
IN some great and unaccountabls mental distress A,
length he took occasion to reveal TO friend the
OF his trouble, declaring that he could leave the
world in peace without making certain disclosures OF
crime in which he and two others had been
He sta ed, understand thai about four years ago.
he was en,iced by Two OF his relatives living in Itch
held, viz: Levi Williams and Isaac Arno become an
accomPce with their in the business of stealing store
breaking, aud robbinr il not, also, the sequel would
seem to show, OF numbering. That, being young he
was Instructed by them in the safest of carrying
on the work OF crime;-that he was first directed to
steal articles particularly exposed, which he did such
clothing lett out during night, bee hives, Sc That
from these beginnings he advanced with them to the
breaking open OF stores, SC. In tn particulars of his
disclosures, he mentioned several OF two in
Bowdonham. one in Richmond, and in this town
which this criminal trio had broken open in the mig hit
time AMI robbed That his statements were true an.
pears not only from the circums stances under which he
made the disclosures, but from the fact that the own
ers oil those sores on applying to him, previous to his
death, were able, under his direction, to find where
their goods were secreted and obtained many Of them
gain.
But the horrible disclosures of all is vet 10 come
Many OF our readers probably acquainted with the
name OF Rotert Paten, Esq wealthy and respectable
old gentleman residRg in Litched. Surprising that he
had rsiierable OF money in his
monsters had formed the design OF entering Eis house
in the night numbering the old gentleman and his fam
lily ii necessary, and, after securing the money, setting
fire to the house The instruments Of death we're pre-
psred-ong knives. daggers attached to handles sever
al iset IN length, clubs, &c.-aud the night fixed
upon for The execution of this horrid purpose. But
special providence 10 have been interposed 10
prevent this accursed work. On the day but day
two previous to the nigh gne the Younger Will
lisms taken SICK and the business was
TO await his recovery But he grew worse, and a.
length his life despaired Of In this sation con.
could no longer conceal what was the cause Of his
mental agony FEEL ling that he was about to an.
other world, he constrained 10 confess his guilt 10
both Tod and man; and accordingly he made the dis.
closures before mentioned. He died about fortnight
since. Previous to his decease, we understand, he
gave his dep rsition under oath before magistrate OF
all the iacts, and probably more than we have been
BILE to collect His disclosures are fully credited War
rants have been issued for the Apr sion of Levi
Williams, and Isaac Arno but they effected seasona-
BILE escape and il is not known where they are. Ii
Is greatly 10 be Hoped, that all good citizens will endea
vor to aid the civil authorities in bru sng the 10 trial
Williams is said to be spare short Of thirty wears
oil age Arno about thirty two. Previous TO the dsco.
sures Of the deceased Williams, do learn az any
suspicious Of crime attached to them. They were far
merS.
As might be expected runor with her thousand
tongues has framed many reports Of crimes acknowl-
edged by the deceased 10 have been committed-such
az that they murder ed pedIar in this town year ago
and sunk his body in the Kennebec they assaulted
and attempted 10 rob several individuals but such
reports have not come 10 sufficiently authenticated
to arraht us in believing them.