Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-10
Confes.Ion Of Return J. m. ward.


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Sheriff s. ]. Springer, Esq, we last evening
paid visit to r. J. M. Ward, who gave us
the following confession in relation to the
murder of his wife. Ward seemed to be
deeply affected, frequently interrupting his
disclosure by exclamations of deep sorrow
and regret for tho crime he had committed
and giving us 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 il to our
readers as we had it from his own lips, in
the presence of the Sheriff and others:
CONFESSION.
On Tuesday evening, February Sd, Mrs.
Ward and myself had some high words, dur
ing which Mrs. Ward struck mo on the head
with fluid lamp, also on the right side Of
the nose, causing the same to bleed freely.
] begged her not to strike me, took the lamp
away from her and went to bed. We arose
between six and seven o'clock on Wednos-
day morning. spoke to her about the
blow she had given me showing her where
she had struck me ON the previous evening,
also the blood on the bolster and tick. She
said she wished l had bled to death, and
picking up a stick Of hickory wood, she at
tempted to strike me. l warded off tho
blow, which fell upon my right thumb,
laming it severely. The stick fell from her
hand, and, as she stopped to pick it up, l
seized flat-iron, and in the heat of passion
struck her with it on the right side Of the
head, upon and under the ear, driving the
earring into the flesh. She fell to the floor,
exclaiming, "oh! Ward, you have killed
mep l dropped the fat-iron and went to
her, she was lying on her side; 1 turned
her over on her back, and placed petticoat
under her head, supposing she was only
stunned. used all means in my power to
restore her, but in half an hour she died,
having only spoken once, 30, my Nellie"
meaning, as / suppose her little girl.
After she was Dead wrapped her head
in petticoat and drew the body under the
bed to conceal it in case any one should
como in. About half past eight o'clock,
VIM. H. Nathan, mulato boy camo to the
door with some milk; came into the shop,
took the milk from him and he left. then
went to Liba Aliens grocery; bought a
pound of sugar; told him was going away.
then returned to tho house, and after q
short time commenced cutting up the body.
l then took small pocket knife and open
ed the body, took out the bowels first, and
put them in the stove on the wood; they
being filled with air would make noise in
exploding; so took my knife and pricked
holes through them to prevent 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 fire.
quently stir them before they could be de-
stroyed; found the lungs very much decayed.
l then took out the blood remaining in the
cavity of the body, by placing a copper ket-
tie close to the same, and scooping it out
with my hands. then dipped portions OF
her clothing in the same, and burnt it to-
gether, fearing if l put the blood in the
stove alone, that i. might be discovered. l
then made an incision in the flesh, along
down each side, broke off the ribs and took
out the breast bone, and throwing.it into a
large boiler, uniointed the arms st the
shoulders, doubled them up and placed
them in the boiler; then severed the remain
ing portions of the body, by placing stick
Of wood under the back, and breaking the
back bone over the same, cutting away the
flesh and ligament with knife. Then tried
to sever the head from the body; it proving
Intellectual, and put tho whole upper por-
ton of the body into the boiler. Then
took large carving knife and severed the
lower portion of the body, unjointed the legs
at the knee, and again at the hip joint cut
the thighs open and took out the bones and
burnt them up; they burned very rapidly.
On Thursday night | commenced burning
the body, by placing the upper and back
portions of the same, together with the head
in the stove. On Friday morning, finding
it had not been consumed, l built a large
fire by placing wood around and under it
and in short time it was wholly consumed
except small portions of the larger bones
and of the skull. The remaining portions
of the body were kept in the boiler and in
tubs covered up with a corded petticoat and
were there at the time the first search was
made on Saturday, by Constable Curtis
Hearing on Saturday evening that the citi-
zons were not satisfied with the search made
by Mr.. Curtis proceeded on Sunday morn
ing to destroy the remainder of the body,
by burning the same in the stove, cutting
the fleshy parts of the thighs in small strips
the more readily to dispose of them. On
Monday morning | took up the ashes in a
small kcg, sitting out the larger pieces
of bone in 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 the
trunk nails, together with the hinges, and
scattered them in different places l then
burned her trunk and every vestige of her
clothing, disposing of small portions at a
time, to prevent their creating too much