The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-04-14
Wards Confession.

jail, in presen.> Of the Sheriff and n number
of Others, ard published in the Toledo Com:
On Tuesday evening, February 8, 1857,
Mrs. Ward and myself had some words, dur
ing which Mrs. Ward struck me on the head
with fluid lamp, also on the right side of
the nose, causing the same to bleed freely; I
begged her not to strike me, and took the
lamp away from her-then went to bed
We arose between six and seven o'clock on
wednesday morning. spoke to her about
the blow she had given me, showing her where
she had struck me the evening previous, also
the blood on the bolster and tick. She said
she wished l had bled to DEATH and picked
up stitch of hickory wood, she attempted to
strike me. | warded off the blow, which fell
upon my right thumb, laming it severely
Tho stick fell from her hand, and as she STONED
to pick it up, seized a flat-iron, and in the
heat Of passion struck her with it, on the right
side OF the head, upon and under the right
ear, driving the earring into the flesh. She
fell to the floor, excla ming, "Oh, Ward you
have killed mop dropped the flat-iron and
went to her; she was lying on her side. I
peticoat Under her head, 'Is Sapyv:~, @1 r,-c"a IL
only stunned. l made use Of such means as
was in my power to restore her, but in about
half an hour after the blow was given, she
died, having only spoke oncc after the first
exclaiming-"Oh, my Nellie w-meaning, as
l supposed, her little girl.
After sho was dead, wrapped her head in
petticoat and drew the body under the bed,
to conceal il in case any one should come in.
About talf past seven o'clock, VIM. H. Ma
than, molatto boy, came in the shop-I
took the milk from him and he left l then
went 10 Liba Aliens grocery, bought pound
of sugar, and told him was going away.
then returned to the house, and after short
time commenced cutting up the body; tore
the clothes open from the throat down; /
then took a small pocket knife and opened
the body, took out the bowels first and but
them in the stove, upon the wood; they fill
cd with air, and would make noise in ex-
ploding; took my knife and prickcd holes
through them 10 prevent the noise / then
took out the liver and heart, and put them
in the stove; found it very difficulty to burn
them--had to take poker and frequently
stir them, before they could be destroyed;
found the lungs very much decayed, then
took out the blood remaining in the cavity
of the body, by placing copper kettle close
TO the same, and scooping it out with my
hands; then dipped portions of her clothing
in the same, and burnt it together, fearing If
put the blood in the stove alone, that il
might be discovered. / then made an incis-
ion through tho flesh. along down each side,
broke off the ribs anl took out the brest bone,
throwing it into a large boiler; then unjointed
the arms at the shoulders, doubled them up
and placed them in the boiler; then served
the remaining portion Of tho body, by placing
a stick of wood under the back, and breaking
the back bone over the same, cutting away
the flesh and ligaments with knife, then
tried to serve the head from the body-it
proved ineffactual, then put the upper por-
zion of the body into the boiler; then took
large carving knife and served the low er por-
tion of the body; unjonted the legs at the
knee, and again at the hip joints, cut the
thighs open and took out the bones and burnt
them up-they burned very rapidly.
On Thursday night 1 continued burning
the body by placing the upper and back por-
ton Of the same, together with the head, in the
stove on Friday morning finding it had not
been consumed, built a large fire by placing
around and under it, and in short timo it
was wholly consumed, except some small por-
tion of the larger bones and of the SKULL
The remaining portions Of the body were kept
in the boiler and in tubs under the bed, cover
ed up with a corded petticoat, and were there
at the time the first search was made on Sat
urday, by Constable Curtis. Hearing on
Saturday evening that the citizens were not
satisfied with the search made by Mr.. Curtis
proceeded on Sunday morning to destroy
the remaining portions Of the body, by burn
ing the same in the stove, cutting the feshy
parts of the thighs in small strips, the more
readily to dispose Of them. On Monday morn
ing took up the ashes in a small keg, sitting
ont the larger pieces of bone with my hands,
placing the same in my over-coat pockets,
which scattered in various places in the
fields, at different times. also took the
major portion Of the trunk nails together with
the hinges, and scattered them in different
places; 1 then burned her trunk and every
vestige of her clothing, disposiug ofsmall por.
tions at time, to prevent their creating too
much smoke.