The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-07-27
PEARSON'S CONCESSION
JAIL, EAST CAMBRIDGE,
Inl,, Ok 1Q[n


July %, 1850.
am about to appear before God. wish to unbur-
den my soul and free my conscience of whatever l
ought. With all my heart and under the eve of my
Maker, who will judge soon | declare as follows,
truly, Of the death of my wife, Martha B. Pearson and
OF my twin children, Sarah and Lydia confess, that
myself alone took the lives of nv wife and two chill
dren on the morning of the eleventh of April IS49 be-
tween the hours of two and four O'Clock This is the
time when did it, nearly as | can recoIect and
these are the principal circumstances.
On the tenth of April, having drank ale to excess
went to my brother 1enrys in Broomeld street, took
an umbrella, kissed my daughter Melissa told her
was going to Providence, and parted. Then went
down fremont street and Temple place "a Clubhouse
and got pack OF cards then ] went down fremont
street, struck Providence depot inquired when
the cars started and left;-then | went to Boylson
street, obtained shoe-knife at shoe-maker's shop
and then obtained vial of audanum at an apothecary
store;-then went to Merrmack street and got bot
tie OF gin, then went to the Lowell depot and left in
the cars for Wilmington, think about six O'Clock in
the evening.
On arriving at Wilmington, | asked when the cars
left in the morning for Boston. Some one answered
and handed me ''Pathin6er' | then left for nv
house, where my wife and two children were living
went over through the woods, and, sfpefed with o-
uor, got lost. 1t was kind Providence to hold me
back Not knowing where | was when got through
the woods, looked round for time, and saw nv
barn. went to the barn, and looking about, saw a
light inmy house.
| went and tapped on the window Martha came
and inquired, "Who is THEREOF "Daniel,'' answer
ed. She came to the door and let me in. After shak
ing hands with her, sat down. She got me cup of
tea, and ! took supper. Shortly after She retired.
sat up little while by the stove, and then went to bed
with my wiie. drowsed little arose, out, and
returned again to bed Between two and four O'Clock
did the fatal deed. After the first thrust, which 7
think did not wound her, Martha got the knife away
from me, know not how, and held itby the handle Il
was hard to get It again; and in the dark seized the
blade In my hands, and wrenchng, split the handle
and got the blade from her. If the handle had not
broken, the deed might not have been DONE In doing
this, my hands cut badly. | then overcame her,
and IN the st usgle, she cried ont, 60 Daniel Daniel
Daniel don't murder me-nurder, murdeg!' ! pierre
ed her IN the neck. After she pierced sho got on
the floor from the bed. She cried GOhi nv Godi,,-
Bleeding she fell onthe floor and died do not know
how the pillow came under her. Sarah slept on the
bed with my wife. She awoke, and cried. pierced
her also in the neck, and she died. LYDIA awoke,
crawled up on the bed, saying something and laughing
believe. put my hand on her head, and pierced
her in the neck-and this amenable deed was finished
How could have done it?
Now acknowledge, as have often and repeatedly
that Martha, my wife, gave cause, neither in any
manner nor a. any time, for doing this deed was
not jealous Of my wife. All her children without
doubt, were mine. She good woman, and de-
served wellof me. | cannot tell why / did the deed,
except that was led away
Before leaving the house, / kinded light TO dress
me. | left my wife the floor, having placed the
knife in her hand, the children on the bed the lauda-
by her the table, with the cards and notes. one
Of which signed, intending to make the impression
that Manha after destroying the children, had herself
committed suicide. Then going out Of the back door,
crossed the woods to brook, and there washed my
person from my wife and chidren's blood then
changed my shirt, which torn in the struggle and
bloody. The blood my clean sbirt-sleeve was my
own blood. After wiping myself with the shirt which
took off, rolled it up, carried it Boston, and sunk
it in the water just below the Providence depot.
(Signed) DANIEL II. PEARSON.
CT The Boston Journal from which we take the
above, in reference to Pearsons confession, says:
1t will be seen that the only cause he assigns for
the murder in bis final confession is that he uas led
quay There is deep meaning in this expression