The true Democrat., 1857-02-03
THE LIFE AND CONFESSION
THOMAS JEFFERSON JENKINS,


 WEo was erecuted at Palucah, Ky, Oct, 3,a,
 1856, tor tue murder of Sarah 44nn Jett-
 containing, also, tAe Confession of many ot7ie,
 Murders
 was born in the State of Mississippi, Octa- bar county. in 1927, Oct. 13th Left my nat ve State at the age of seven years; 1 was sent from there by my parents, to this State, (ken- tucky,) for the purpose of receiving an educa- ton from the treaty fund raised by the United States, for the purpose of educating Indians- The school was under the direction of R. M Johnson, of Scott county, Nv. There 1 re- malned for seven years; during the time l was there, was baptized by the Rev. J ohn C. Per rv, of the Methodist sect 1 remained in their communion, for some eight months. I had three companions, whom 1 loved, that joined at the same time did; they went back to the world, and frequently taunted me for my reli- gion-and alas! unfortunately for me, yielded up my religion, that might enjoy the pleasure of sln with those companions of mine. 1 Tell in love with their ways and soon became their leader.
 The first bad act that ever perpetrated was that of burning the school house. l, on the same night, got my cam panions, and broke open William Henderson's ware house, and stole a lot of loafsusar, which we hid and ate when ever chose.
 We then banded ourselves toge' her, to as- slst each other in whatever we wished to do We used to take Juhnsons horses out after night, and steal fruit and melons from the neighboring farmers. On our return home we would put the horses on the other side of Elk river, in order to avoid suspicion resting on us Eventually was caught and whipped Then l ran away from school and went to essamine county, Ky. There lived with Nathan L.a- farne, for some four months-I work ed for him faithfully, getting my board and clothes, only Mir. Lafarne left one day to go to Salem, some thirty miles from where he lived; during his absence, 1 went into his house, and stole some money, the amount do not know When he returned home, he m;ssed his money; enQuired of the house-girl who had been in the house She told him 1 had. He came and asked me about it; at first denied 1t, but afterwards owned it-told him where his money was-he got 1t. He learned that 1 had run away from school. He went to see Mir. Johnson, and was carried back to school He told what had done; they whipped me for 1t, and also, for running away l begged them to let me on, and not punish me that time, and in future, 1 would be good boy; but they needed not my entreatles, and punished me severely. l got with my companons again, and or the same night that l was whipped, we went some two miles from the Academy, and broke into MT. Pearce's grocery, at the w White Sul phur Spring, and got what we wanted. l went back to the academy, and got my bow and arrow, and ran away the second time. got on the turnpike, leading to Frankfort, and overlook hog.drver by the name of George Tanner. fell in con- versaton with him-he asked me where 1 was going? l told him, to Frankfort to shoot fer some money. He asked me how 1 would like to live on farm? 1 told him very well; he proposed to take mel consented, if he would treat me well, which he promised he would do. l went to Louisville with him, and went back as far as Frankfort where l gave him the slip. l remained in Frankfort about one week, when Johnson again learned my whereabouts. was taken back again to school l again plead with them not to whip me. 1 made them many far promises; they did not whip me, out confined me one week in a closet, and ga> me nothing to eat, but bread and water. l oulv came out to recte my lessons. Mir. Johnson took me out and lectured me, and gave me good advice. He told me, if persisted in my career, would go from one deed to another, until would get into the penitentiary, and perhaps be hung. He persuaded me to do right, if l ever wished to be a man of respecta- bllity. (tiis reproof is yet fresh in my memo ry-his prediction, alas! for me, is too true. )- promised him to reform. He promised me a handsome suit of clothes, if would be good boy. He told me to tell him all l saw that was done, which was wrong; told him would, which did. But the other boys abused me, on all occasions-did many wrong things, and l.,1I |. for them, being innocent. 1 was not believed Fl tried 1t for six months. l then joined them again. We stole chickens and eggs, and killed hogs, which we cooked after night, and atc- The neghborhood complained very much about our conduct. We found that the Choctaw tribe was about to be dismissed from there.- We then petitioned to our chief, that we would rather go to our own schools, aud live with our own people in the nation. We received an an- swer that our request was granted, as soon as navigation was opened. We continued in our many petty depredations, much to the annoy ance of all the neighbors. About three nights before we left, we burnt mill belonging sc Col k. NJ. Johnson.
 From .aoIe, we went to the Choctaw Nation, in Arkansas We landed at Doxvile, (neant DoaksviIle;) there 1 remained about one week While there, 1 interpreted for the merchants at that place, in their trading with the Indians l left there, went to Shawneetown, some 30 miles from Doxvile, on Red river. 1 lived there with my father two years, and kept a woodward. 1 left my fathers house and wen, to Texas, and stayed with one Carber who kept grocery. 1 was his bar keeper for abou, one month.
 There was company of Camanchc Indians that came to Carber's, there was. man with them who was half breed, by the name o Thomas Star. Carber asked me how 1 would like to go with the company, told him had no objections as 1 was not afraid of any Indian Thomas Star urged me to go, told me could make plenty of money easy. The company refer to stole horses and brought them to Car Der, and he sold the horses for them and the spells were divided. 1 went with them foul trips, we stole horses and Carber sold them fol us, but made little or nothing by the business the Camanches killed people and carried thei seal ps to the chief, this did not do--they con cluded to dispense with me because I would not kill people and bring scalps to their wa dances. They told Tom. Star did no good that brought in no scalps and they wante, me to leave, Star told me about it and said the, had threatened to kill me--Star brought 1T many scalps. persuaded Star to leave then and go with me into Arkansas, that we could get along without killing people and mak, more mohey besides, him and went togethe omy fathers and staid there day or two, anc left there under the pretence of going to For Smith, but went to Doaksvile Star become dissatisfied after being there about one week. he began to doubt me, 1 thought; was not il possession of courage enough. l told him te wait till an opportunity offered itself and he would see that was sufficient for any emergen cy that might present itself. It was not long till had an opportunity to convince him O the fact; l shot Henry McGee, who was a cou sin of mine, had dislike to him any how we got some $40 out of his pocket-he 90 we'll; Star and me made our escape to For Smith, stole on the way nine horses, but came to the conclusion not to sell them there for fea, of detection. We steered our course for Val Buren, and sold our horses to the highest bid. der, we got $500 for them-remained there about one week, as Star wanted to hear from