The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-02-01
yOL 8 NO, 8 WHOLE no. sIL !.

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TO be produced by this confession that tshoud rend tho
sacred veil of domestic privacy and give sdetailed ac-
count of all that there ahspifd-or that should now
indulge nAuuvaiing regrets as to the manner in which
was reared. Let this simple remark suffice -thisono
simple declaration be understond andlet il knock i'm
Fortunately at the doors Of the hearts of parentshat,
had there been proper attention paid to my early eduea-
ton g moral culture, hadnotnow perhaps been ncar-
cerated in the prison of Muskngum county soonto e1-
plate with my fe the blood of my brother which stains
my hands, r s,,s ,g,b.2 gstgfs Sd
Let me now state the immediate causes which dA
this most iamehable catastrophe bee8me ae4uAiht-
ed with young girl of our neighborhood, named MARY
JANE MCFARLAND. That acquaintance soon npened
into intimacy, and in short time engaged myselfto
her in marriage My father having learned ofthis en-
gagement peTmptoriY forbade, and solemny aveTred
that if should be contaminated, he would utterly dis
own me- This threat did not believe he would carry
into execution, as there was then verbal undestafd
ing between u.s. and which tobe reduced writing
that was to have one-half of the farnsomething
bove three hundred acres He had beside broken OFF
two other engagements, which at the times Of their oc-
currence, naturally gaveme pain and latered myself
/
short time and every thing would go on smoothly and
happily, So regarded him not and went on with my
arrangements The day of dur marriage was appoin-
ted, and the guests invited But my father, becoming
aware OF this again declared his opposition in deter
mined manner on the morning of the marriage day,
as to swerve me from my purpose and mounted my
horse and paid visit in another direction sixteen miles
distant and did not return until The next day. then
learned that suit was about being commenced against
me for breach of promise Of marriage, and that the
damages were laid at $3,O00-This troubled me exc
ceedngly. .-, & .;..t 1fes8
1--WE here asked SoIoMoS, why, when the reputation
of the girl was much spoken of in the neighborhood
he did not at once abandon her. and give up all idea Of
a marriage with her2 He replied a never heard any
thing against her up to this time. My fathers opposi-
ton had determined often TO leave her. and days
did not see her But it was of no use il seemed 10
be my fate-that things have happened just as they
were ordered" Here his voice assumed tone Of deep
feeling, ond he added with emphasis--"f loyed her--
she 7as hef COUGHING his breast several times with his
finger )-"I acOrc her IN my heGrtF']
After silence of several moments he proceeded--I
however went and Mary Jane, and after positive
and solemn understanding between us that the matter
was to.be kept profound secret as long as it was
possible were privately married. had hoped that
my father would not make the discovery for some time
but he soon heard of it through the agency OF
neighbor woman. He became very much excited, and
after some alteration with him, agreed not to bring
her on the farm, but would stay with him, while she
could lodge with her mother Things went on in this
way for time, occasionally visiting her without
my fathers knowledge She visited around in the
neghborhood and sometimes came to my fathers house
after all the family had retired would take her in,
and let her out in the morning before was light ard
send her to my sisters.
will here mention fact or two that shotld have
mentioned before this A young man who was abor4
ing with my brother told that Elias had boasled to
him Of his frequent sexual intercourse with both Mary
Jane and her mother This was told ne before my
marriage but after my engagement This, It's true rou.
sed my jealousy and many angry feelings, but ihfatuae
as was, full determined to marry her, and gu, my
revenge in satisfactory way Afterwards, for the
idea of killing had not then entered my brain.
In addition, the following occurred between Mary
Jane and Elias also before our marriage but alter our
engagement, and to which was an eye-wilnes. q,
bad gone evening to my brolher's to see some
of my cousins, who there on visit. Mary Jane
was there. but Elias was not After time she started
10 90 nOHle. BosWIh uut IoLuulucu
for little while in conversation with my cousins until
she had got some abort distance from The houe Then
started and had approached her within some hundred
y yards when ! saw Elias coming from the other wEy
meeting her. The evening was fms and moonlight, and
some snow being the ground, / was enabled TO re.
cognize him. Placing tree in line betixt them and
! me- approached so near that could hear distinctly
what was said. As he met her he threw hs axe from
his should Tho had been out chopnng wood accosIed
her in alterng and persuasive manner, declaring he
must 90 home with her. This she most positively re-
+ fused to permit. Some other words passed between
them when he turned to- leave. He picked up hs axe
and just as he started from her, she cried
will see something before you gethom you won't like.
This convinced me she had discovered me before hat
reached my hiding place behind,heiree, &hatths war
ming was intended for my ear. Ashe came up, lstep.
red out and said to him, "Eias, is is pretty work.
I. But little passed between us then and we sepata
ted. @ 80
:. When was first told by the young man what Elias
had said then threatened to beat him until he could no
stand or tho poison bad been mbbed and rendered ny
;. passions almost uncomfortable. That which saw q
related above added additional keouesS to the isach
. rage with which was torn and blinded ard maddone'
: by conles |lbgs, married her. Ny autpath!
. to myb when told by The young man wha
e Elias lad wife visiting his house so ifs
! louently. a06 married, added certainty 10 m