The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-27

Confession OF George Phsr aoh, the Mar.
dersr Of Rachel Sharpiess.
The editor Of the West Chester, pa } Village
Record gives the following as the substance Of a
confession made to him BY George Pharaoh, in the
prison, since his conviction
On the morning Of the murder of Rachel Sharp.
less, came out from my fathers house, and went
up the Boot road. Mary was along, and she
set the dog on me for sport the dog ran al me and
baIked; pointed the gun at the dog several times,
did it to tease Mary | had often plagued the dog.
Did net see VIM. Smith in the barn yard. He then
went up to Jonathan Cope woods to load his gun
he loaded one barrel-then came down Dy Emnor
Thomas spring house. Oliphant came to him near
the spring house, and went with him down to the
woods. Says he snapped at a robin, but his gun
did not 60 off, He then went down into the wood,
and Oliphant went after the cows. Said he had
started from home, and as his gun snapped when
he aimed at the robin, he put up a mark on tree
opposite the bars, or nearly so and hred at to see
shot are in the Tree He loaded his gun again. and
remained in the woods about quarter of an hour.
He went down to the bridge, and looked back,
and thought Oliphant saw him he then went up
through the middle OF the woods, where he could
leave no tracks, towards the scc..oo, mouse. and
said that the tracks across the creek, and in the
path along the fence, which had been measured
and thought to correspond with his Shoes were not
mace Dy mr.. This he asserted positively more
...,an once.
He loitered about the school house until after
the mistress had passed through the bars which
open from the road TO the school house lot as she
approached the school house, he thought she saw
him; he got behind a tree, hid himself, and she
came around on The western side OF the school
house. He waited until she came to the door, took
the key from the reticue, and thought her atten-
quickly out on the left side of the tree, that she
might have the back of her head towards him
raised the gun to his shoulder, took rapid aim and
fired. He says the only exclamation she made
was " Obj She fell against the door, thence to
the stone step, and rolled off upon the ground He
looked at her about three mnues-he felt sorry
as soon as it was done, and he was afraid to take
the watch, tor fear they would find him out by il.
He then walked slowly west from the school
house, then through the woods, and crossed The
road at the corner of Euos Thomas's corn field.
In crossing the road he jumped up the bank, and
looked back, and found he had left no tracks He
went into the woods on the north side OF the road,
and thence into Mary Sharplesss woods, and
there loaded his gun, and shot twice at squirrel,
but not at the tree which he had pointed out to
Sheriff Darlington. lie did not take Sheriff OAR
lington TO the right place, because he was afraid
that they would find the wads of his gun. After
committed the murder, poured the shot out OF
my shot bag, to avoid dscovery--some of it
poured out IN the woods OF Enos Thomas, and
some of it in Mary Sharpess's woods. What
takes my attention, said George, is. that all tue
witnesses said there was but one report that mora
ing.
had nothing against Rachel Sharpless-she
had never done me any harm; | never wanted to
pay ate Dtion 10 her; / wanted watch, but never
thought Of shooting any BODY else to get one; did
not know her Watch was gold; | was several times
at the school house
He wss asked how long he had harbored the
idea Of shooting her. He said tina. he had been
medit2 ting il during the week. Said he went 10
the school house once before 10 boot her, but he
thought he wouldn't do It. He said he never had
II in his head 10 shoot anybody before. In thinking
about il, sometimes thought il would be horrible
to shoot her; but, he said, II seemed was 10 do IT,
AS soon as II was done | was sorry for it. Mr.
Lewis one Of my counsel, was the first person l
ever confessed the murder TO; IL was Sunday
evening last, (the next day after his convcuou;) /
never acknowledged il before. | had denied my
guilt 10 NY counsel thought could be cleared
Il thought so at first, but | did not think so to-
wards the last Of the trial. II had
destroyed that paper, would not have been con-
vcted. lie said he understood there was a darkey
who said he told him that he was going TO get a
watch before long; he did not know the dirkey,
but it was not true lie said he slept soundly on
the night Of the murders il did not trouble him; II
was late when be went TO bed. IL has not trou oled
my sleep since my Imprisonment; l have never
dreamed OF Rachel Sharpless. | have thought of
the deed good deal since | have been here.
thought of destroying the paper before they found
the wad, and after, too | got the paper at Goshen
store, and left good deal Of it on the counter
Pratt Roberts son was in the store when got the
paper lie saij he dad not think hard of any of the
witnt sses. George said he had q good deal to
think OF 10 prepare 10 die, ana short time TO do il
in. Some one had told him that he might have
some monthe-h he believed 1t was one Of the judges