Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-02
A Murderer's Death Bed Confession
From the Detroit Tribune, Of the 10Th

We learn from Mr.. Hiram Wiler, who lives
about two miles from this city, at whose house the
following transactions took place, the particulars
Of II Death Bed Confession, which. if true, brings
to light the hidden mysteries Of the awful murder
Of IL mother and son ut Fcntonville nearly or quito
II year since. 1t will be recollectcd that the fami-
ly, johnson by name, had just removed to that
place from Saginaw, the two who were murdered
sleeping on the floor Of the newly occupied house
the night Of their arrival with aaother child, while
the husband and IL young man who came with
them. slept in an adjoining, house, n hotel il we
recoflect Alright. Suspicion fell upon johnson, who
was tried and acquitted this summer on the ground
Of insanity.
According to Mr.. Wiler's statement, a man Civ
ing his name ny Yoel Platt, came to his house
about u week since to see if he had any clocks to
repair. While there he was taken i'll and allowed
to remain. lie rapidly grew worse, congestion Of
the brain ensued and he died yesterday afternoon.
greatest mental distress, and finally told the Doc
tor and Mr.. Wller that he could not die without
relieving his mind Of the terrible secret that gave
him such moral agony. He then stated that he
committed the murder in question, being urged to
do it by a young man whose name he would not
give, (but who, he thought, lived in Gratiot coun-
ty,) and that no obtained nearly three hundred
dollars in money by the deed. This WAS the whole
statement, and seemed to be all he could relate.
While sick he stated that he came to- this State
from Ohio, and that he had II mother living in
Oakland county. lie snid his business was clock
repairing ut the time the murder was committed
aud since. This confession will probably lift the
mystery that has always surrounded this case, and
do away with the painful doubts that have cnyel-
ored it;
things, was found a so gold piece with the letters
-. ). d. neatly engraved IN its center. The
physician who attended him was Of the opinion
chat IInf ,ra, nbf - rntt,tu and that tIAl..
statements were not the rawlings Of IL man in his
dellrium. Mr.. Wiler states that the mans distress
was painful to witncss-thc most 81 OF any thing
of the kind he ever saw.
MELANCHOLY OccrRRENcE-DEAru ny THE WAY
SIDE.-A young woman, named Miss Katrina
Hicks, from the town Of ~IIarberg, Bavaria, in
Germany, arrived IN the 10 u. NJ. train, on Sat
urday. direct from that place, in company with
two T, latiyes, an aged lady and IL boy. On arriv-
ing at the depot here she complained of being i'll.
and walked from the car to the sitting room. but
NJ she appeared to be getting worse. she was car
ricd out on the platform, that she might have the
benefit of the air. She rcclincd in the chair for IA
moment, spoke to her aged companion, and then
calmly expired, without II struggle or u groan.-
Thinking she had only tainted, they attempted to
revive her, but it was in vain-the last faint, sad
spark of LIE had fled the soul Of the emf grant
girl had winged its way to the valley of shadows,
and lis habitation was left to be inferred in Il for
cign land by strangers. 1t appears that she was
afflicted by that fatal disease, consumption, and
left her home i'll Germany to reach Cincinnati,
whore two of her sisters reside. The officers of
the G. G. II L. Railroad Company procured ii suit
able coffin and attire for the poor girl, and sentthe
remains to Cincinnati on the > a. NJ. train, Sun
day morning. The girl appeared to be in con. par-
atively good health when she ar. lived here, and the
lamentations Of her companions over her sudden
death were pitiful to - OHIO Statesman. 2sM
Ocean Steamers Lost,
The following list comprises all the principal
losses of ocean steamers trading with the [ nited