The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-09-22

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CRISIS CONFESSION OF THE MUIR.
DER OF NYE.
MOBILE, Thursday, 5 P. M.,2
Sept. g. 1882.
The following is the Confession Of Ma.
THAN CRIsT, as to the murder of THEoDoRE
NYE, at the Eutaw House, in this city, on
the morning ofthe Goth of February, 1852.
This Confession was made this morning,
by Crist, TO the Rev. Mr.. Massey, the
Clergyman in attendance, who wrote it
down at the dictation of the prisoner, and
read it over to him, when it was signed by
the latter, in a firm fair hand,
"Having no longer any hope ofescaping
the just sentence of the law, and trusting,
through Gods mercy, to secure the saliva
ton ofmy soul during the short time | have
yet to live. hereby make a full confession
of my guilt in the awful murder of Theo.
dore Nye.
The idea Of committing the murder first
entered my mind on the morning or the
day we left New Orleans for 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 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 here; but my heart
failed me, and | abandoned the idea en-
tirely. | then determined to 60 to Mont
gomery on the same day of our arrival
here, but when | went to the New Orleans
boat for my baggage, the servant who had
charge oft was away, and could not getit.
When | returned to the Hotel that time. the
devil again put it into my head TO kill Nye.
| went and bought a hammer resolving to
execute my purpose during that night, but
my heart failed me; and in the morning
Of the 26th | arose, again determined to
give it up altogether. lleft 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 up again to our room and told him
to "get up and come and get his Breakfast"
and left the room. After awhile | started
up stairs again, without any idea Of muir.
der, but when | entered the room, Nye be-
ing still in bed, the first object that met my
eye was the accursed hammer which | had
now a whirl Of derangement-l seized the
hammer and strove to bury it in his temple.
He said nothing afterwards, and made no
noise, but seemed struggling to move him
self. 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 10 the New Orleans boat, got
my baggage, and went on board the Lown.
DIES. lnever was on board the st. Charles,
as one of the witnesses on trial asserted.
Shortly after getting on board the Lown.
des, CURL and Terrell cam aboard from
the Oregon. | was sitting on the forward
part OF the boat. CURL came and took his
seat near by me, and remarked. "we had
a pleasant time coming over" said,
''very pleasant" He said "the Oregon is
a very fine boat" | replied, ''yes, very
fne"-and so on, not correcting his i'm.
preston that | had come over with him.
On our way to Montgomery, many little
incidents were spoken OF. by CURL and
others. as having occurred on the Oregon
of all OF which. | talked as though | was
familiar with them. And when these were
again brought to his mind by Gen. An.
drews, 10 whom | related them, they con-
firmed his impression that had come with
him from New Orleans. do not doubt
that CURL is IN honest man, and that he
fully believed every word he said at my
trial, | had managed to deceive him.
We remained on board the Lowndes all
the day before she left, except about two
hours, during which. as CURL stated, we
were wandering about the city. On our
way back to the boat, when we got in the
neighborhood of the Postofice, we parted
he going to see b e"wild horse"-and |
to the boat. CURL came down just after
dinner, and the Captain asked him. | think,
to go to. the pantry and get something to
eat.
When | first went on board the Lown.
des, | registered my own name-took a
state room, went to it and shaved off my
whiskers and changed my dress. | was
in front of the boat, reading, when
the officers came on board in search OF me,
and they 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 witness, Boiling, testified as TO
passed between him and myself
Think it did not take place, as by that
my excitement had worn off and was
perfectly calm. The report which was
ola conversation between Sargents
and myself, is. generally, correct; as is also
the larger part Of the testimony given by
oil tho ,u;tna,oao If INV trial That wao