Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-08-01
CONFESSION OF DANIEL PEARSON
JAIL. EAST CAMBRIDGE,
July o5 1850

am about to appear before God | wish to
unburden my soul and free my conscience of
whatever ought.
With all my heart and under the eye OF my
Maker, who will Judge me soon, declare as
follows, truly, the death of my wife, Sarah b.
Plerson, and of my two twrn children, oarah
and LYDIA. i, ca 81
l confess that, I naysef alone took The hres Of
my tcife and mo Children on the morning OF the
eleventh of April, 1919, between the hours OF
two ard fopr o'clock. This is he time when
did it. as nearly as can reccolect; and these
are the principal circumstances.
On the tenth of April, having drunk ale to
excess, went to my brother Heurys in Brom-
field street, took an umbrella, kissed my daugh-
ter Melissa, told her was going to Providence
and Parted.
Then went down fremont street and TEN
pie place 10 a Club house aud got pack OF
cards then | went down fremont street, and
struck over to the Providence depot, and in
quired when the cars started and left then
went TO Boylston street, obtained shoe-knife
Al shoe makers shop and then obtained vial
ct laudanum at an apothecary's store then /
went to Merrimack street and got bottle OF
gin; then went TO the Lowell depot, and lei
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 a pathfinder. J"
| then left for my house, where my wife and
two children were living.
went over and through the woods, and stu
pifed with liquor, got lost. 1t was kind Prov
idence to hold me back. Not knowing where
was when got out Of the woods, looked
round for some time and saw my barn.
| went to the barn, and looking about,
saw light in my house. went and tapped
on the window. Martha came and inquired
S'Who is therel'' daniel | answered. She
came to the door and let me in. After shak-
ing hands with her, | sat down. She got me
8 cup of tea and took supper.
Shortly after, she retired. sat up little
while by the stove, and then went TO bed with
nv wife. | drowsed little, arose, went out,
and returned again to bed. Between two and
four o'clock did the fatal deed
after the first thrust, which | think did not
wound her, Martha got the knife away from
me, know not how, and held 1t by the handle.
1t was hard to get it again, and in the dark
seized the blade in my hands, and wrenching
split the handle, and got the blade from her.
If the handle had not broken The deed might
not have done. In doing this, my hands were
cut badly. | then overcame her, and in the
struggle she cried out, q Q, Daniel, Daniel
Daniel don't murder me-murder, murder y
pierced her in the neck. After she was pier
ced she got on the floor from the bed. She
cried, " On nay God !" Bleeding, she fell on
the 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 hsr 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 pier
ced her in the neck-and this lamentable deed
was finished How could have done it.
Now acknowledge, as have often aud re-
peatedly, that Martha, nay wife, gave me no
cause, neither in any manner nor at any time,
for doing this deed. was not jealoas of my
wife All her children. without doubt were
mine. She was a good woman, and deserved
well of me. cannot tell why did the deed
except that I was I'D away.
Before Leaving the house, klndled light
10 dress me. left my wife on the floor, hay
Inm placed the knife IN her hand the children
VA the bed, the laudanum by her on the table,
with the cards and notes; one of which |
signed, intending to make the Impression that
Martha after destroying the children, had her
self committed suicide.
Then goiug out of the back door, | crossed
the woods to brock, and there washed my
person from my wife and chIldren's blood. L
then changed my shirt. Hhch was torn IN the
struggle, and bloody.
The blood on my clean shirt sleeve was my
own blood. After wiping myself with the
shtri took oli, rolled 1t up, carried 1t to Bis-
ton aud sank II in the water Just below the
Prurldcnce Depui DANIEL PEARSON.