M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-03-02
From ~. sopora Herald.

Execution.
Abou, 9 o'clock, p. NJ, Mr.. Joseph
Heslep, Treasurer of Tuolumne coun-
ty, was found weltering in blood on the
floor OF bis Office, situated on Hospital
street. Mr.. McBurney has been sleep
ing in the Office Of late, at the request
OF MIR. Heslep, who was alone, his
brother aud his other partner. Mr.. Tay-
lor, being absent. About nine O'Clock
Mr.. McB. entered the building, and
finding no light, he called the name Of
MIR. Heslep two or three times. Re,
ceiving no answer, he struck light
with match and found Mr.. Heslep
lying on the floor all bloody, with life
not yet entirely extinct. He immedi.
ately ran out and alarmed all the neigh
bors. The safe was found robbed OF
its contents. Express riders were i'm.
mediately dispatched to all the ferries
in the county to stop the egresS OF sus.
lpicious characters. On an examina-
tion by CoroDer's Jury eight wounds
were lound on the head Of the deceas>
ed, done with an axe. The skull was
broken on the crown, and some Of the
brains were scattered on the floor; and
a blow had been inflicted on The lefl
temple, and another on the right temple
either Of which was sufficient to have
caused death. The face Of the de.
ceased was awfully disfgured with
wounds, aid the nose was broken
The mouth, throat and nostriIs were
found stuffed with paper to prevent The
victim from making a noise. In the
course Of the examination suspicion
was attached to one E. G. Grifiths,
who was somewhat familiar in Mr..
Heslep'S Office, and who was the last
persons seen with the deceased. Just
as the Magistrate was about TO commit
him, Constable Phillips came in and
announced that the stolen money had
been found in carpet bag and 10 the
pantaloons' pocket Of Griffiths, which
were discovered in his bed in The board.
ling house where he was staying. The
pantaloons were all bloody. Confront.
ed with these evidences Of guilt, the
prisoner now acknowledged the com.
mission of the crime, and made full
confession Of all the circumstances,
which we here append:
CON NFEssioN.
| My name is Edward Crane Griffiths.
! Twas born in Liverpool, England, in
1924. lwent to Ireland when boy,
and have been a. sea since ! was elev>
en- years Of age. / came to Ca!ifor.
lnia from Australia il November last
| first went to Callao, from thence to
\ Panama, by steamer, and then came
to San Francisco on the steamer Col,
den Age. Was in San Francisco since,
until | came TO Sonora, previous 10
New Years day. Firs. conceived the
design Of the murder last night. |
asked Mr.. Heslep to loan me some
money. He had a bag OF money in
his hand, containing gold and silver,
which he had taken from a partition
in his desk. When I asked deceased
to loan me the money, he refused.
, then placed my hand upon the bag with
no intention of taking it, upon which
he arose and struck me in the breast
, My blood being aroused, | immediate
!, ly picked up the axe and struck de-
ceased with it on the temple; then strucl
him again two or three times when he
was down. He continued to make 9
noise and then put the paper in his
, nostrilS and mouth. then took th,
bag and the key which he had in hi
f hand, unlocked the safe, and took the
gold out Of it. then replaced the key
, Of the safe upon the table, blew out tn
light and lett the house; was occupied
, only five minutes in the business.
|, went to my room, placed the money il
my carpet bag, changed my pantaloon
and walked out. ! went down TO TIN
/, Long Tom, and soon returned to MIR
Heslep's Office, in which time the mur
der had been discovered.
When placed my hand upon tn
= bag / had no intention to take the mon
! ey, but did it in more OF a joke thai
any thing else. ] said to Mr.. Heslep
| you might as we'll lend me this. WbeI
, | saw that had killed him | took tn
money, for then thought that ! coul'
? make the matter no worse. The pa
: per which / put in his mouth | 60
from the table. Five minutes betor
; doing it | had no idea of committing
the act.
: l acknowledge this to be the who'll
ruth, and make this confession Of ny
own free will and accord, without an
fear, threats, or compulsion from an.
person.. This is made before the Cor
! oner's Jury, at fifteen minutes TO tw,
r "A. NJ, 18th January, A. D. 1866.
E. G. GRIFFIrHs.
!, An immense sssemblage soon gath
q cred, and it was decided TO hang tn
prisoner at daylight. When the tim
. arrived the Sheriff and his deputies a,
a tempted to take possession Of the pris
> oner, but without success.
The prisoner was seized on the mo
e lment he was brought forth from III