Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-10-02
Mr.. Coughs Confession.


published the genuine confession of this unfortu-
nate man. 1t is from his own hand, and dated
Mount Pleasant, Roxbury, Mass, Sept 22d,
1916" ~
81 arrived at New York at 0 or 10 on Friday,
the 9Th inst leh my baggage with porter on
board the boat TO bring alter me- aud walked TO the
Croton Hotel l took tea; my baggage arrived;
procured room, went into il, arranged my dress,
told them there that was going to Brooklyn and
might not return that night have always been
made welcome by my friends in Brooklyn, and
knew that il they were not full, l should be invited
TO stay all night About half past OF left the
Croton, called at a store in Broadway and pur-
chased a watch guard Went to the store Of
Messrs Saxton g. Mes-stayed there a few min
utes. On coming out had not gone dozen
steps before I was accosted by man with How
do you do, Mr. Goughr Said [, You have the
advantage Of me; I am introduced TO SO many that
II is difficult for me sometimes to recognize them
Said he My name is Williams, Jonathan Will
liams; I used to work in the same shop with you,
in this city, good many years ago. replied, Il
do not remember it,, or something to that effect
He then said, 'You have got into new business,
the temperance business; do you find it good
business = oh yes / told him, Il find il very
good business Some other conversation ensued,
during which time we we're walking slowly togeth-
er, when he said, i suppose you are so pious now,
and have got to be so proud, that you would not
drink glass of soda with an old shopmaief %
yes, / would drink glass of soda with any body;
will drink glass with 'you, il you will go in
here' We were then opposite TO Thompson's.-
There we're, should think, ten or twelve persons
round the fountain, when he aaid, I'VE shall never
get served here. i know place where we can
get better soda than we can here We then cross
ed the street. and went down Chamber street 10
Chatham street, till we came TO a small shop
Having no suspicious | did not take particular no.
tice OF what kind Of shop II was. But saw con-
dictionary, and pasteboard sign, with Best Soda
on it.
There are two or three ofthese establishments in
that vicinity, lowing to my weakness, did not Wis
it the place previous to my leaving New York y
but have no doubt that identify the shop
among the others. This man called for soda, ask
ed me what syrup used said he used raspberry
Il am pretty sure he said raspberry | said Il
would take some of the same
The syrup was poured out and the soda poured
into it from the fountain. (The fountain was a
dark color) The man took my glass, and handed
it to me with his hand over the top OF the glass;
Il noticed his hand, because thought il was not
very gentlemanly way Of handing CLASSY How
ever, | thought no more, but drank it. We then
went into Chamber street again, and up to Broad
way, together, when lie left me. Soon after he left
me, felt warm sensation about the lungs and
chest with unusual exhlaration, and for the first
time began to suspect that it not all right
This feeling increased, till felt completely bewi-
dered with desire for something, know not what
l do not know that ever felt strangely in my
life before. | do not know how long | walked,
but must have walked some distance, as | have
some recollection Of seeing the new white church
at the upper end Of Broadway. During this time
went into grocery store and got some brandy
l do not know where, nor whether | paid for il
but / recollect drinking | became after little
while bewildered and stupid, and had wandered, l
did not know where. When saw a woman dress
ed in black, either accosted her she accosted
me; il is immateriai which, as l was in such
state that should not have waited to think who it
do not remember what | said but she
told some gentlemen who went TO make inquiries,
that asked her if she would give me q nights
lodging, or tell me where could procure one, as
without friends, &c.
She took me into the house. How got in, / do
not know. There was flight of stairs, but have
no recollection Of going up those stairs. remem-
Der nothing distinctly that passed during the whole
time, till was taken away, except that drank
but what drank, or how much, or how often,
know nothing.
have some idea that man came there while
was there, because.I felt afraid of him. have no
recollection Of going out at all, after first went
out on Frdayevenng, although it is said that was
seen on Saturday evening haye.no recollection
either Of going out or coming in and if did il,
do not know how Ibid it. i have no recollection
of eating at oil, although the woman told that did
eat and asked blessing and also that prayed
/ have no remembrance Of this do not remem-
Der purchasing a shirt, although had strange
shirt on me when was taken away. The time
spent in that place seems to me like a horrible
dream-a nightmare, something that cannot
describe i have SO little recollection of what
TRANSFERRED, that when came out, could not tell
for my life how long had been there, and was as
founded when found that l had been there so long
When Mr. Camp came into the house. remember
that felt as If relief had come, and said to him,
%, take me away from this / felt that some one
had come He asked me how | came there
told him man had put something in glass of So
da which had crazed me. He asked me his name
! gave il to him as he gave it TO me, as as
can recellect. Another man came in with Mr.
Camp--then Mr. Hays came in and took me in a
carriage TO Mr. Hubuts house, where 1 received
the kindest and attention, during the most Sc
we're trial of bodily suffering and mental agony ey-
er experienced in nay life. During the whole of
my sickness did not call for liquor, nor do | re-
member that felt any desire or craving for il.
This is my statement to the truth Of which am
willing to stand through life in the hour of DEATH
and at-the judgment seat"
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