The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-06-21
CONFESSION OF THE LONG ISLAND
Murderer.

81 started from Greenpnrt at about o ciok
on Friday night, for Cu'ch"gue, and arrived at
Wickham's house by III O'clock. got the
post axe from the wood pile, and got into the
house through the kitchen window, and passed
up into the kitchen garrett where the negro boy
slept. struck him three or four blows over
the heod with the axe file did not kill hun,
owing to the lowness of The root, which prevent
cd hum from swinging the axe.J The garre,
was situated on level with the floor upon
which Mr. and Mrs Wickham slept, and COM
munica,ed bv a door which opened upon The
second story hall of the main bu ldlng. The
la st door upon this hall was the one in which
TIE murdered couple slept. On opening the
hall door Mrs Wrckham opened the door OF
her room and asked, s'Who's tina, ?" and added
Immediately, .Nicho'as, what are you doing
here? What do you want? Mr. Wickhan
sprang to the door at the same moment and
attempted to strike him with the axe. MIR w.
grasped it, then struck him with my fist Mr..
W. got the axe out Of my hand and struck al
! me with it | csugh, the handle as it desce nd-d
and struck him twice again with my fist the
third blow knocked him down Mrs Wickham
was crying cut, "Dont kill him, Nicholas; AXE
anything you want, but don't kill him )" and in
| her struggles with me, she tore IF nv shirt;
struck Mr.. Wickham several times while he lay
| upon the flnor, and had struck Mrs Wckhanl
several blows with he axe in the scnffle while
| | was striking Mr. Wickham | observed that
| Mrs. Wickham was getting out Of the window;
pulled her back by the feet, and then finished
her with The aye !; CAM tell how many times
struck Mr. Wickham, blu, he got up 3 times, and
| hi, him several flows each time ; | then pass
| ed back into the kitchen garrett, and fastened
the door after me, went down stairs, through
| the parlors, and up the stairs Of the main build
| ing to the servant girls room. but found the
door and window open. Finding they had
| escaped, tried to get down stairs, but could
find no door. though had light with me, SO
that was obliged to pass into the second story
hall, and through Mr. Wckham's room to the
window. ! threw my axe and lamp out OF the
window, and ,he.l dropped out myself. | went
back to Greenport, got there al o'clock in the
morning, and slept till daylight, intending to
leave by steamboat for New London in the
morning. BIT on looking ont of my w,ncow, ]
saw many persons whom knew moving about,
and therefore did not dare to attempt it then
walked upon the railroad, thinking to get upon
The train and golo New York, so walked
along thinking TO stop the train and get up
some distance from the depot I passed into
the bushes and remained there during the day,
and at night went to the house Of Mr.. Thomp-
son, an lrishman, and asked for drink and
some food Mr.. Thompson said, '.You are
The man that lived with James Wickham, are
you not!' replied j" Yes" Thompson then
stepped ur between ne and the door and pre-
scented gun to my breast. saying, A." You are the
murderer, then you can't pass out Of here. if you
do shall shont you" drew pistol and said,
81 have murdered and have not done yet, if
you stop me will shoot you" Thompson saw
several persons with guns near his door, and
turned to call them to his assistance, when
Jumped out of window and ran for the woods;
I got there ahead Of them and escaped; then
crossed the woods to the Railroad bridge 10
get to New York on foot; | was then hailed
and ordered to sop by some one who snapped
a gun or pistol at me; turned and ran to the
woods again, chased by severed men, one Of
whom shot at me | entered the woods, but
without injuring me; laid down in the woods,
and laid there until 9 O'clock Sunday NOR
ming, without food. On Sunday morning three
different men, who were on my track passed
within few feet Of mr, but did mol see me
Soon afterward started off to the westward,
| was discovered and returned to the bush,
pursued by the people. On Sunday night |
made another attempt to get wes', toward the
city, and was Stopped and shot at by three men;
some of the shot passed through my sleeve,
the rest over my head l went back to the
woods sgain and lay down. On monday NOR
ming saw the people searching the woods
but did not change my position. laid si,ll
until they came within few feet OF Inc and
saw they had discovered me. | then took a
razor from my pocket and cut my throat.
was then taken,