Washington telegraph., 1852-10-13
Confession Of Nathan Crist.

Confession of Nathan Crist.
Executed at Mobile Alabama, the 2nd Of
September last for the murder of THEODORE
NYE.
s3I-sta.H THE CONFESSION.
Having no longer any hope of escaping the just
sentence of the law, and trusting, through Gods
mercy to secure the salvation of my soul during
the short time L have yet to live. hereby make
a full confession OF my guilt Ii the awful murder
of Theodore Nye.
The idea of committing the murder first enter
ed my mind on the morning OF the day we left
New Orleans lor Mobile. Nye told me that he
had a large sum of money, and was on his way to
California-and this tempted me to commit the
deed Having heard him say that he had some
friends in Mobile, | told him that was coming
here and if he would come along, would pay
his passage 1t was then my intention to kill him
on the way hcre but my heart failed me, and |
abandoned the idea entirely. | then determined
to 90 to Montgomery the day OF our arrival
here-but when went to the New Orleans boat
for my baggage, the servant who had charge of
it was away, and could not get it. returned
to the Hotel that time, and the Devil again put it
into my head to XIII Nye.
| went and bought hammer resolving to exc
cute my purpose during the night, but my heart
failed me- and on the morning OF the twentysxth
l arose, again determined to give it up altogether.
| left my room early, Nye being asleep. having
been out the night before. Two or three times
before breakfast | went to the room to kill him,
but could not do it, | ate breakfast and went
again up to our room and told him to get up and
come and get his breakfast and left the
After awhile started up stairs again, without
any idea of murder, but when | entered the room,
Nye being still in bed, the first object that met
my eye the accursed hammer which had
DI1rch3Spd In m mann what
whirl of arrangement seized the hammer and
strove to bury it in his temple. He said nothing
afterwards, and made no noise, but seemed strug
Cling to move himself | took a towel and tied
it tightly about his throat, and then searched for
his money, under the pillow and in his pockets.
Being disappointed, | went down stairs, paid our
bills and asked for the package Nye had deposited.
Failing to get that, | went directly to the New
Orleans boat, got my baggage and went on board
the Lowndes. | never was on board the st.
Charles, of the witnesses Oh trial asserted.
Shortly after getting on board the Lowudes. Curl
and Terrell came aboard from the Oregon | was
sitting on the forward part of the boat. Curl
came and took his seat near by me and remarked,
1--WE had a pleasant time coming over. | said,
'very pleasant" He said 'the Oregon is a very
fine boat" replied, 'yes, very fine"-and so on,
not correcting his impression that had come over
with him. On our way to Montgomery, many
little incidents were spoken of by Curl and others,
as having occurie ed on the Oregon-ofal of which
spoke as though was familiar with them And
when these were brought again to his mind by
Gen. Andrews, to whom related them, they con-
iirrned his impression that had come with him
from New Orleans, | do not doubt that Curl is
an honest man, and that he fully believed every
word he said at my trial. had managed to de-
ceive him.
We remained on board the Lowndes all the day
before she left. except about two hours, during
which, as Curl stated, We're wandering about
the city. On our way back to the boat wnen we
got in the neighborhood of the postaffice part
ed-he going to see "tfe wild horse''-and to
the boat Curl came down Just after dinner, and
the Captain asked him. think, to 20 to the pam
try and get something to eat.
When | first Went on board the Lowndes. |
registered my own Ilame-took state room. and
went to it-shaved otfmy whiskers. and changed
my dress. was sitting III front OF the boat, read
ing, when the officers came on board in search of
me, and fhey passed by me-
We reached Montgomery very early in the
morning, and | went up to the Hotel have no
recollection of the conversation which the wit
ness, Boiling testified to as having passed between
him and myself Think it did not take place. as
by that time my excitement had worn off, and |
was perfectly calm. The report which was
rent of conversation between Sargents and N.Y.
SELF generally, correct is also the larger part
of the testimony given by all the witnesses of my
trial That was seen at the Bank, with car
pet bag in my hand, on the morning of the muir
der-that took oysters, and was introduced to
some one at an oyster house, and that was met
by the Clerk of the Eutaw House. returning to
the Hotel about the middle of the night before the
murder--are not correct But have no doubt
that the witnesses all testified to what they be-
lieved | have no fault to find with them, and no
malice against them. | shall die with no feeling
ofill-will against anybody in ihe world. May
the Lord help others to feel as kindly towards me,
as do towards them!
One dagger, which is still in my bosom, is, that
| can make reparaton to the relatives of my
poor, unfortunate victim. Oil that | could! Oh!
that l could hear them say that they forgive me.
All that can do now Is to beg their forgiveness,
and pray that God may help them to grant my
dying request
have nothing more to say, but to warn all
Others to fly from temptation. The first thought
of crime, if not resisted, may lead to the destruc
ton of body and soul. | can scarcely realize now
that have committed anything SO awful to
stain my hands in my brothers blood! Satan
seems, when | first yielded to the thought, to
have bouud me with chains, and bunted my feel
ings, and blinded my eyes; so that although | tried
again and again to get loose, was dragged to the
commission of my foul offence; Oh! my God have
mercy on meas | hope he has--and save my
soul from He'll! NATHAN CRlST =
September 2,d. 1852.