Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-09-25

writing down all he should have to say.
represented 10 him that the present
was preferable moment for that pur-
pose. and urged him to make his s,aie-
ment at once. He however persisted
in the postponement, and a, length
was reluctantly obliged to acquiesce.
Upon my calling mex. morning, he
appeared in grea. agllation-sald he
had passed sleepless night and had
finally concluded that he could make no
revelation as he had previously prom
ised. He said it would bring destruc
ton upon all his frlends--,ha, the lives
of his parents would be placed in jeo-
pardy in Pittsburg and that even the
walls of the Peniientlary would furnish
no protection 10 himself After long
and vain attempt to combat this idea
and induce him to perform his promise
of the day previous. left him and
entered the cell of his brother.
To him made proposition similar
TO that which had been unsuccessfully
made to William; but with result
equally frultless. Unwilling however,
even yet to abandon the undertaking,
and again saw them IN the afternoon of
that day, and after they had been again
visited by the Rev. Mr. White. AT
length they agreed to make full dis.
closure, upon the following condition.
That if | supposed wha. they should
reveal would be of any avail in obtain
ing an exercise of Executive favor,
should use i,-otherwise | was to pre-
serve il secret.
Accordingly they commenced their
statement, which reduced to writing.
Mr. White. al their request, being also
present. After taking down two or
three pages | enquired whether they
had anything of different character TO
communicate; and receiving reply in
the negative. informed them that it
would be useless consumption of time
to proceed further. They denied
knowing anything of the murder any
thing of the recent robberies in Lee
comfy thing of a gang or associa
uon for any criminal purpose. Conf
dent ct Their nslncerity IN these res
pecgs, felt that no reliance could be
placed upon thelr statements in other
particulars.
IL relation 10 the gull, of these young
men, no one who understands The facts
which have been developed can enter.
tain doubt. In fact no such doubt
would ever have existed, but for their
own assertion of innocence TO the last
moment Such an assertion at such a
time almost compels belief. But in the
present case il is entitled TO Iltle weight
for the reason that other statements
known TO be untrue were made by
them under the same circums iances aud
with the same solemni,v. For instance.
Stephen Hodges. on the day previous
to his execution, stated 10 the Rev. Mr.
White that he bad it in his power TO
save William. but that he would not do
so. Upon my afterwards demonstrating
with him for this unnatural determine
,on he denied in the most positive
manner that he had ever made any such
statement. He also denied all knowl
edge of Brown or any person answer
ing the description given of him on the
was in his company, when met by
Drolenger the day previous to the muir
der, he denied ever having me, Drol
lenger at all. on that occasion He
made MANY other similar denials. most
of them believed to be untrue, and ma
ny of them known to be so. But the
fac. most conclusive to my own mind,
is the following TO which reference has
already been made. On Sunday pre-
vious to the execution, | was in Sle-
phen's cell in company with several
other persons, before | saw William.
He then distinctly admitted. that in COM
pany with William and man by the
name of Jackson, he had crossed the
river into the Territory on the afternoon
of the day on which the murder was
committed but stated that they returned
before sunset. Immediately afterwards
on my interview with William, he de-
MED being out Of Nauvoo on any part
of that day and asserted particularly
lha, he had not been across the river in
the afternoon. then informed him that
Stephen had jus. stated the contrary.
He acted like one detected in falsehood
made no further denial and shortly
Afterwards promised full confession as
| have above stated.
The next morning after retractng
this promise he referred TO this matter
and made the same admission that Ste
phen had in that respect the day previ
Gus Upon subsequently calling upon
Stephen. informed him that William,
on the day previous had denied being
out of Nauvoo on the day of the muir
der. After moments hesitation he
admitted tina, he himself. had been mis-
taken on the subject, and tina, his broth.
er was right. But" replied l "Will-
lam this morning admits tina, he did
cross the river that afternoon, as stated
by you yesterday" lie seemed con-
founded, and made no further reply.
feel. therefore. justified in saying tina.
little reliance should be placed upon
their diving declarations especially when
con,radicled by facts and circumstances
of the most conclusive character
There is one other subject 10 which