Litchfield enquirer., 1846-01-22
FROM the NesO Orleans PicGyttne.
ALBERTJ TIRRE1L.

We have received letter from this person
who is still confined in our parish prison, on a
charge Of numbering Maria A. BickfUrd, rela.
tive to statement made in regard to him, in
the Picayune shortly after his arrest As we
have no desire to prejudice his case, or render
his situation more irl1sOme than it is. we pub
lish the letter. At the same time we must as.
sert that we received the inflammation from those
who should have known the circumstances.
that he had attempted to commit suicide on
the way up to the city, and that the officers
who arrested him not only felt 1t their duty to
watch him closely, but by personal restraint
prevent him from repeating the attempt, and
that when first imprisoned he was moody, ST.
lent, and took but little notice Of anything
Here is the letter -
Parish Prison, JAM 9, 1916.
Messrs Editors-T was somewhat surprised,
on seeing in the New York Herald of the 10Th
Of Dec. a paragraph purported to be copied
from your paper, in it states that since my ar
rest have maintained the most gloomy silence,
and scarcely answering the officers who have
occasion to address me, and that I pass the
whole day In most lethargic state, and that
from my conduct there is little doubt that |
will snatch the first opportunity to commit sui.
cide,-that the officers are compelled to watch
me. or place me under such restraint that it
would be impossible for me to destroy myself
Now, gentlemen, every word Of this is false,
and whoever Your informers were, they were
much mistaken. / know my innocence of the
charge for which I am arrested, and feel con-
scious Tin spite Of the singulatity of my con-
duct in changing my name and leaving my
home about the time this tragedy took place)
of an acquittal by a jury of my countrymen;
and until that time arrives, and the evidence
pro and con is heard, think that common hu-
mainly demands suspension Of public opin-
ion. II is true that l am sometimes silent
melancholy, but what man, who has any
feeling about him, would not be, were he pla-
ced in my situation-accused of base and
heinous crime, one at which every heart revolts
my name blazoned forth throughout the civ.
ilized world, and the brand Of murderer attach
ed TO it ERE a common preliminary examina-
tion has taken place in the matter-ere know
who my accusers are. or what they say against
me-and alone not the sufferer. No-would
to God was! but am compelled 10 know that
my aged and widowed mother, my wife, sister
and brother, and other relatives must suffer
much from this accusation being brought a.
gainst me. But as to my scarcely answering
when spoken to, believe the snbjoined cer,ifi.
cate Of the officers of the prison will show to
the contrary; and hoping gentlemen, that
you will have the kindness to give it a place in
in your paper subscribe myself
Your obedient servant.
ALBERT J. TIRRELL.
To the Editors Of the N o. Picayune.
Following this lisa statement from the keep.
er Of the prison, confirming the truth Of 7 IS
letter, and also stating that he is under no 9TH
er restraint than that imposed upon every in
mate Of the prison. 1t is further stated that
he has not acted in any way, nor at any time,
in any manner to irduce the belief that he in
matter.