True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-03-12


was allowed to come up here; he has no
business about my Office; he left me and was
at Columbus, card writing with the land
lord Buttles, Warden of State Prison. He
was with me from two to six weeks before
he went 10 Columbus; it was after he had
returned that we had this conversation
about Groff; he was brought on requisi.
tion from Frankfort, Ky.
Emile Brie sworn--l have seen the pris.
oncr in Cincinnati Jail; ! was prisoner
there when the lady vnch Of Cincinnati
came TO identify him; Croft called me to
him and asked me If had noticed how
quick the old lady had identified him, and
said there was no escape for hiDl on that
trial, that hs would be convicted; he stated
there was another place where there was
charge Of murder against him; he askedme
If would undertake to communicate to
the authorities of the county where the
murder was committed; knew Croft told
incredible stories and ! set that down as
one of them; he said as a reason for the de-
sire, that there he had money and friends
who would assist him to escape from the
Jail, and there was no proof sufficient to
convict him. merely a suspicion who it was; !;
there was only one person present who was
so scared she could, not recognize him an
hour after the murder; advised him to
keep them to himself if they were facts;
this conversation was interrupted by Croft
going to the Police Court to answer for
highway robbery; he said the murder was
committed in Jefferson county and asked
me to telegraph there Immediately; ! told
Mr.. Mclean this after his return: he said
he had been committed to stand a trial for
robbery; asked if had despatched; he
took Inc to one side in the hall Of the Jail
and said some months previous to that in
the dusk of the evening he went to the
house of jos. Burson and after the compli-
ments of the evening, he asked Burson for
work; Mr.. Burson said he had rented his
farm and did not want TO hire any one;
Croft nsked him if neighbor wanted any
one; Croft then pulled out a pistol and walk
ed at Burton saying the people say you
have plenty Of money; it is money i want
not work; Burson thereuron called to his
wife to hand him the gun. the gun being
handed to him the Id fool had no better
eense than to shoot me, therefore dropped
my pistol as the firing of it might alarm
the ncighbore; he had laid hold of Burson,
trying to get his r f. from him. when Bur-
son caught hold of him and in endeavor ng
To get loose from him struck the gun barrel
Burson discharged the fe into the ceiling;
Croft then cut at him again, saying, will
cut YOUR Id throat: the knife being dull.
led he only succeeded in partly cutting his
ear and neck; Burson continued to hold him
scufa ng; Croft said will gut you like a
hog, cutting him in the belly, still approach
ing the door; Burson and wife were loudly
calling calling for assistance, and he saying
Burson let go of me stabbed him in the
belly second time; lie thought ne heard
footsteps approaching; he was bent upon
getting away; he struck the knife into his
eide. say Ing, will cut your id heart out
twisted it in the wound; Burson fell.
Moses Dillon sworn.-l asked Croft il
he was here in Sept. "a, he said he was.
and then said he was Lot; he said | wa 6
here in ihe winter at Shane's tavern.
THURSDAYS PR"cEEI lNGs.
James M Bride SWo,n Il have seen
The PRISONER IN lhe Cincinnati jall; was
a prisoner m,.eIf; in the evening tie old
lady came there t" rec"gnlzr him; | got in
10 conversation with him aIIer he Return
I'd fun the Police Count, he told me there
was a charge against him, that there was
a rev ard al 5000 offered fnr him | ask.
I'd hlm if he had bern killing any person
he tod NE he supposed thai he had ask
I'd him If IL was in the State of Ohio. he
; saId II was near SleubenviIle he 10 d IN,
II whs ur 8 miles Oul III the country
he t"ld me there was an did farmer lha
3 he had gone In rob; that he was after III
: money. that he entered the house, tha
the old gentleman met him with a gun
that he seized lie lid gentleman. had
SCI file tn him, and cul him five or 81!
: ilmrs: he succeeded in iukmg the gul
| from The old man, and made onp plnng
Il vi. the bowie knife. AID bpf re he tool
, the knife Oui he went This way (iwis'inl
his hann) and you may suppoNe whe,he
he was dead or alive he said there wa
y no O'her chance for him; he had to do
or be shot himself; he requested me to Sc
y the janor, that he wanted to give himse
'f up; he wanted them 10 despatch 81 tn;
h he could he sent for, as there were tw
N charges against hun in Hamilton count
n and Id If he would be tried on them
10 thai up there he had friends and could q,
), What money he wished the charge ,
g s. burg AIRY and anothrrof rubbery with il
" Tell ~ kin was hound 10 send him To N
III peni,rn,lary; ,ha, he could break Jail II
n there aud make his escape; F.; in his sruffl
{. with the did man he had lost pistol
ID went To Mr.. Mclean and tod him as
# wps requested.
!: Cross Eramined.-I am acquain,t
"A with Emile BrIe; am not on good aern
% wIh hun; we never conyersed together &
the suhjtcr.
: Jas. Thompson sOOrn.-I was depnl
y Sheriff of J, iTrrsOn county went 10 Ci