Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-08-11
confession Of the SHIPMENTS.


Confession of the skupinski's.
VIM. B. Mann, Esq, acting district at
torney for Philadelphia, has been put in
possession ofa,confession from the broth.
ers Skupinski, now under sentence Of
death, which.is so startling in its charac-
ter as to cause a universal shudder at It's
recital. The North American says:
| Our readers will remember statement
published about a month since, giving the
| details of a confession made by Matthias
Skupinski to a countryman of his own,
named Skawinski. That individual had
formerly been acquainted with the elder
Skupinski, and visited him at Moyamen-
sing prison; Matthias made a confident of
him, and told him fearful tale of crime
and bloodshed, in which he had been a
conspicuous actor According to this
statement, the aggregate number of per-
sons murdered by him and his friends was
notices. than eighty, while 80 houses were
burned by the same party.
This confession, it will also be rcmem.
bered, when it was subsequently transla.
ted to him, Matthias positively denied ha-
wing made, and charged Skawinski with
fabricating it. Now, however, itappears
that Blaise, the younger of the wretched
brothers, was shown the confession of
Matthias at the time it was first publish
ed, and acknowledged its truth. This
endorsement he has not withdrawn since.
On Thursday last, Matthias evinced
some little signs Of contrition, and in the
morning, in The presence ofthe Rey. VIM.
Alexander, tho chaplain of the prison,
and Mr.. Louis Tousing, the sworn inter-
prefer, he made full confession Of his
crimes. He said that he killed the boy
Lehman by striking him ON the head with
the iron leg Of a stove, and that lie and
Kaiser cut up the body. Blaise, he says,
was not present at the time. He told OF
series Of crimes, which fully corrobo-
rates the statements made by Mr.. Skaw-
inski. To this terrible tale of blood,
Matthias added the details of several fears
full scenes, in which he and his companion,
were the actors.
On the afternoon Of the same day, Mat
thas made another confession which tai
lied with the first in all its shocking details
presence of Sheriff Deal, Deputy Sheriff
Miller, Rev. Mr., Alexander, Mr. Anthony
Freed, keeper of the prison, Mr.. Henry
G, Snyder, and Mr., Toussig, the inter
prefer Matthias says that Blaise acted
in concert with him and Kaiser, alias John
Rutkowski, the butcher, (who is still at
large, in the most of these outragcs.
From the story told by this monster it
is believed by some that he and his as
sociates were the perpetrators of the Cos,
den and Bartle murders, and many 9TH
ers which have been involved in mystery.
The feelings of contrition evinced by the
eldest of the brothers on Thursday APP
peared but temporary. During the reel
tai of all his missdeeds, he displayed a
great deal Of hcrceness, and said that he
was no worse than other folks. He MUIR
dered people. but the[Amcricans murder
ed him SO they were all alike, he con-
tended. The number of murders and their
horrible details, Of which Matthias con-
fessed himself guilty, were IS terrible, as
to fairly bewilder those who were listen.
ing to him.
During Thursday, the miserable broth
ers had an interview, for the first time
since they were sentenced. Blaise was
taken into the cell occupied by Matthias.
They embraced each other when they
met, but neither of them exhibited the
emotion which might be expected under
the circumstances. They convcrsed free
ly in the Polish language Tho burthcn
of their conversation was of recrimina.
ting character. Those who were present
CLEANED from what passed that they were
compelled to leave England about two
years since, in consequence Of crimes they
had committed there. Blalse said he
wanted to so TO Russia, but that in this he
was overruled by Matthias, who insisted
ON coming to the United States. The
younger brother said he thought this the
worst place they could go to.
They will have another interview on
Thursday, the day before that fixed for
the execution Of Matthias. Blaise is not
kept chained. The letters were taken of
Matthias's ankle some time since, but
were replaced at the time of the disclosure
made by Mr.. Skawinski.
The health of Matthias has suffered
much during his confinement He has
no appetite, and is growing quite thin
and cadaverous. Blaisc, on the contrary,
appears to enjoy his food, and is quite
leshy. The prisoners are visited by two
Catholic Priests. Neither of the culprts
seem disposed to seek consolation in re-.
ligiOn. The eldest, on every occasion,
rails at the Americans for sentencing him
to the gallows. He keeps strict count Of
the days as they pass, and watches with
fearful anxiety for the coming of the time
liked for the expiration of his great crimes,
ES- THE reflection is horrible that
those who were executed for "thc MUIR