Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-02
M'KIM'S SPEECH.


M'KIMS SPEECH.
IWc have been so frequently asked for the
speech of McKim, who was executed at Holli-
daysburg, on the 21st Aug. that We have con-
cluded to give the greater portion of it place
in our columns.l
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS Il have step
ped on the scaffold as a murderer, but am an
innocent man. / have been wronged out of
my life by my fellow men who swore my life
away. As dying man whose soul will be in
eternity in few minutes, they swore falsely.
First of all was Atticks. As a dying man |
would rather be hung on this scafold, than that
my country's laws should be trampled upon.
He (Atticks) came to Blair county and swore
falsely. He tod everything but the truth. l
never went to Attick's with NorcrosS. l never
there when money paid to Norcross.
Atticks is a murderer. He has sworn my life
away and injured my loving wife, my loving
son, my aged mother, my sisters and my
brother. Yet he looked in my face and sneered
while lying. He told everything else but the
truth. Little did he think, when he testified
he would have to stand before the Judge, God
Almighty. If he don't repent before he dies
he'll be id eternally for the injury he inflicted
on me and my family. But forgive him. Mr..
Eaton of Dunleith is another. He told long
story. He said that few days before starting
1 shaved Norcross with the razor with which
I cut his throat. 1t is untrue. l never shaved
him. 1t was not my razor. / never put a
razor on my own face nor on any one else's
since left home. He told what was not true.
My razor is black handled one and is at Long
Pond.
DR.. Rumbold was another. He said before
Norcross left that he was a dying man,-a man
present here knows it, Yet he came here and
said he getting well and that there was
nothing the matter with him. At starting Nor
cross rode up in wagon with trunks while
Eaton swore he walked up with him. 1t was
lie.
Jas. Warfel was another. 1 never saw War
fel, and never rode sled with any one till
got on the other side of Williamsport. As
| dying man L hope may never see Heaven
if rode on sled with him or any other man
| till was Is miles on the other side of Will
| Transport. He was one of those who put this
rope on my neck. He swore to falsehoods in
yon Court House. But forgive him, and may
God have mercy upon him. But he never will
| unless he repents.
These are all no men. They haven't the
hearts of men. Mayo odAlmighty bless them.
am an innocent man. 1 care not what the
world may say about me, tell you before God
| am an innocent man, before God tell you
as an American citizen. 1 must go either to
Heaven or Hi this minute, but L never murd-
cred Norcross. This is solemn talk and know
you will not believe me innocent, but God
knows it. 1 care not what the world thinks,
God and myself know it. If all the blood of
! the innocent men who have been hung on the
gallows was collected in one pool, it would
drown all the false men who swear their lives
| away. These men came to see the trial of NJ
Kim. They came expecting to pay expenses
by getting a little money from Blair county.
They were false men and swore link by link my
| life away. They were not right men, but God
Almighty bless them. They are my murderers.
| They got this moose on my neck. They stand
| charged before God with my murder.
A man named Fleck said 1 took breakfast
with him at his house. This was proved false
| to his teeth. l never took meal in his house
| in my life. L got meal at a gentleman's
house, not Fleck's house. He scorned the idea
of coming into court and falsely swearing NJ
Kim's life away. If he had come into court
and sworn 1 took breakfast at his house it
would have been all right don't know his
name. He was an Irishman. His house was
near the railroad had porch in front which
was white l think; when you went in, the bar
was in front, the dining room the left hand
and the entry to the right. Is that FlecK's
house Is Fleck an Irishman? May God save
Fleck. He will not, however, unless he repent.
He knows he is one of my murderers. If he
is here want him TO hear it. l would rather
die on the gaIlows than be in Fleck's place.
In few minutes must be launched into e.
ternty, either Heaven Or Hill. I'm going
home to sweet Jesus. I'm no murderer, and
yet am to die dishonorable death, when L
know Pm not the murderer.
I've been United States Dragoon. I've
fought and bled for my country l boast not
of that, but tell you of the dishonorahie
death that must die. Send to Washington
for record of my conduct. was promoted