The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-15
CONFESSION OF RETURN J. ri
WARD.

Through the politeness of our worthy
Sheriff, S. j. Springer, Esq. We last
evening paid visit to r. J. NJ. Ward,
who gave US the following confession in
relation to the murder of his wife. Ward
seemed to be deeply affected, frequently
iuterrupting his disclosure, by excla-
nations Of deep sorrow and regret for
the crime which he had committed, and
giving US a full and complete disclosure
of the same. After taking down his con-
fession, we read the same to him when
he pronounced it correct, and we give it
to our readers as we had it from his own
lips, in presence of the sheriff and 9th,
ers:
CONFESSION.
On Tuesday evening February Sd,
1857, hrs. Ward and myself had some
words, during which Mrs. Ward struck
me on the head with fluid lamp, also
on tie 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
betYeen six and seven o'clock on Wednee-
day 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 had bled
to death, and picking up stick Of hiclk-
ory wood she attempted to strike me- I
warded off the blow which fell upon my
right thumb, laming it severely. The
stick fell from her hand, and as she
stopped to pick it up, seized fatirou
and in the heat of passion struck her
with it on the right side of the head,
upon and under the right ear, driving
her earring into the flesh. She fell to
the floor exclaiming: "Oh Ward you
have killed me-" I dropped the Aatiron
and went to her, she was lying on her
side, I turned her over on her back, and
placed potticoat under her head, sup
posing size was only stunned. I made
use Of such means in my power as had
TO restore her, but in about half an hour
after the blow was given she died, having
only spoken once after the first exclama-
tion, ooh my Nellie" meaning, as
supposed, her little girl.
After she was dead I wrapped her
head in petticoat and drew the body
under the he'd, to cunceal it in case any
one should come in. About half past
eight o'clock VIM. H. Nathan, a mulat-
to boy, came to the door with some milk
came in the shop, took the milk from
him and he left. l then went to Liba
Aliens grocery, bought pound of su-
gar, told him [ was going away. I then
returned to the house, and after short
time commenced cutting up the body,
tore the clothes open from the throat
down, then took small pocket knife
and opened the body, took out the bow
els FIRST and put them in the stove, upon
the wood, they filled with air and would
make noise in exploding, took my knife
aud pricked holes through them to pre-
vent the noise, then took out the liver
and heart and put them in the stove
found it very difficult to burn them, had
to take the poker and frequently stil
them before they could be destroyed
found tho lungs very much decayed.-
Then took out the blood remaining il
the cavity of the body, by placing cop
: per kettle close to the same and scoop
: ing it out with my hands. I then dip
! ped portions of her clothing in the same
, and burnt it together, fearing if I put
) the blood in the stove alone, that it Nigh,
bs discovered, then made an incisior