Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-07-31
cfsfon the Chicago Press and Thbune)
DISCOVERY OF MURDER COMMITTED
AYEAR AGO.
Verdict Of the Coroner's Jury Confession
zf IL 1g,.J....

| Qf the Murderer.
+ OsARaA, ILL.,, July 13, 1858.
! d. J. Stanley came to this town last sum.
mer 10 company with VIM Il. Talcott, and
they each purchased railroad land about two
and half miles northwest OF Onarga Here
Mr.. Stanley built shanty, aud they lived
alone together in it for weeks, 10 harmony.
! All of u sudden Mr.. Stanley was missing, and
| as he was known to have considerable money
| ubout him, and had left his business IN u very
unsettled state, the people here naturally in-
| quired the cause of his disappearance. MIR.
| Tulcott explained it by saying be had gone
| TO Chicago on business aud would return
again soon. But months have passed away
the winter and spring have passed--and
| Talcott has lived among US in the character
| oi IA respectable citizen, and latterly has been
| engaged in keeping livery stable.
A short time since he was detected in wear
ing clothing belonging to Stanley; and also
carried u watch. recently recognized as Stan
| leys. These facts aroused the suspicious Of
several OF our citizens. who went secretly TO
Work to ferret out the mystery.
1be result was, that, after examining about
OH the iarm where Stanley and TalcOtt had
lived last fall, the body of Stanley was found
on Sunday forenoon, covered with about two
seet of earth, and quite decomposed. On
Sunday evening Talcutt was arrested by the
citizens, and he confessed the murder. The
confession he made was voluntary aud prompt
ed 10y no one. Immediately on his arrest he
was brought into court, and before the neces-
| sary legal papers could be made out to retain
| him uGder arrest, he looked around on the
audience and inquired for Mr.. McCourtlr.
Mr.. McCourtir appeared, nnd was requested
| by him to carry word TO bis wife of his silua-
| Mr. .H i'm bnt Ip
should tell her. Said he-"rell her all.
keep nothing back" MIR. McCourtir then
sad--"Perhaps you are not fully aware. Mr..
Taicutt OF the result of our investigations,
aud perhaps | had better tell you that you
Will be absent this evening, and see her in
the morning" NO" said Talcott, (while
the audience thicEened around him,) tell
| her my situation, but say TO her AIN inno-
cent" Mr.. McCOurtir then said MIR. Tai
colt, think 1t proper to inform you that a
| body has been found on the prairie to-day,
ana the citizens here think it is MIR. Stanley
and that you are connected with his death" !"
Mr.. Tueott. to the surprise Of all, mmedi.
| ateiy replied NO doubt the body is Mr..
| Stanley's aud he was murdered by me, but
not Intentionally II VAS an accident"
| The examination has proceeded nearly two
days and is yet III prUgfess. The defendant,
10y his counsel, pleads guilty OF manslaughter.
TO sum up the evidence in full, as it is ali in,
| would say that 1t fully sustaius the charge
against the prisoner. Some confessions have
been made 10y Iacott since Sunday evening,
| which have appeared US evidence, in sub
| stance as follows One witness testified thnt
Talcott told him, Sunday night that the
watch he had been carrying was SIanley's
property, aud should he returned to his
IrIends. Another, that he did not Kill Stan
ley III sell defence, but Stanley and he were
III passion, and he ialcott) struck the first
blow. Another gentleman, who conducts a
paper III this county, declared that he went
10 TulcOtt, on MuuGay morning, to see him
and ask him if he could give any plausible
motives that uctu4ted him To the deed, us hr
felt inclined TO publish anything he might
say IN his defence, III pallatlon Of his crime
Tulcott's reply was, There is no paliating
circumstance no hope for me; / am mise.
| rnble wretch. uved not have killed hln.
We were hunting, aud got into dispute
about the building OF the honse and ] s..tltsstl
7aslr 10 strike me. when rushed ON him With
my gun. struck hiu, the head as he
was running away from me, which killed
him."
| These, and such like admissions, have been
| received as evidence in this preliminary .x.
animation, which, added TO the abundant tps
timony in favor Of the good character of de.
ceased, aud the overwhelming evidence
| against the prisoner, leaves but little doubt
! as to the nature of the crime
Mr. Staniey's property was taken nosses
sion OF by Talcott, and his trunk taken TO
chicago last tall, and there left His watch
Is III the hands OF the Coroner here, with his
contract for railroad land, which he boppht
oil The company, and which is not assigned TO
any one. Both OF these Mr.. Talcott has
n'aoe repeated attempts to dispose of 20 his
own pecuuiary advantage.