The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-07
The Burch Case.-The C0nfessi0n.- =
Touching Letters OF Mrs. Burch.

Vho BufCh C8SeseVhe COnfeSS1Onss
Touching Letters OF Mrs. Burch.
On the 26th, the testimony for the COM
plainaDt was closed, by the production of
the confessions, so.called, of Mrs. BURcH.
Previous to this, and during the examiDa-
tion of Mrs. FARNAM, letter to that lady
! from Mrs. BURCH was read. 1t was beau
t;fully written in language so touching as
to draw tears from many in court In it
| she aiIudes to the inclination she had to ter
inmate her life by poison, in distraction at
her separation from her children. The fol-
lowing is copy of letter written by Mrs.
BURcH, to her husband:
My DEAR Husband-I must for the last
time III lite thus address you. | wish to
thank you for all your kindness to me dur
ing our married life, even when | was false
and wicked, anu for the last week particu>
larly. You have. been so kind, fornearing,
and good to me-oh, so kind-when l only
deserved your hate; but you have said that
you do not hate me. That is indeed con-
soling to your poor, heart-stricken Mary.
I wish again to ask your forgiveness for all
that have done-deception fasehood, and
everything. l know full well, darling, what
a poor, miserable sinner am, and I feel
that some time my prayers will be answered,
and you have said that you would pray for
me, and l know you will, and you know
that the fervent prayer of the righteous man
availeth much. Yes, I feel that, if you will
join your prayers to mine, may yet find
forgiveness with God. He is very mercifu,
and so kind to bis erring, wandering children
that trust he may have mercy upon me.
/ think that can leave you tonight in
peace. try to feel that all is for the best,
and trust may say from my heart, God
doeth all things WE'LL As for you, dearest
husband, you can never know how suffer
for you and l am so thankful that all our
friends love you so and for you. can bear
that they should cast me aside and spurn
me, il they will only love, cherish, and ems
deavor to console you in this great affl!ction.
They should do this, for you have done
nothing, while l merit everything that is
had. And for the children, pray you
again do not let them forget me; DO not let
them despise me; and oh, at some future
time, do let me see you all once more Oh,
| am so miserable, and yet l dare not mur-
mur can only say, God help me, and
cry to him continually that he will heed me
and make me pure again. Darling little
Minnie, she must never hear one word said
against her mother without telling you; and
teach her, oh, teach her, to shun all who
revile me, howsoever deserve it. But the
thought is too terrible to bear, that my
children, whom so fondly love, should ever
hear me thus spoken ot-shOuld ever learn to
hate me. Better, far better, that they should
think me dead indeed, as l shall be, 1 tear,
to them. And l pray you do not quite
close your heart against me--dO not let
any one advise you to shun me entirely.
Oh, God! let me feel that you will try to
think kindly of me. May l feel ere die
that you have freely and fully forgiven me,
and tell me before | 60 that you will not
hate me forever. Oh, dearest! you are SO
good to me that l am, oh, so grateful to you.
Your kindness to this poor sinner has been
too much, but l bless you for it. will ever
b!ess and love you as do now, and God
knows how fondly | love you. Yes, dear
est, do not doubt it. 1 do truly love you,
and would-oh, God knows l would--lay
down my poor life for you, if by so doing l
could relieve your poor, wounded heart. Do
not scold me for writing you this. l feel
that these are, as it were, ny last words.
We may never meet again; but, darling,
remember me when you come to die, and, il
possible, let me be with you in that hour
and, if you or the children should be i'll, oh,
/ pray you let me know. Perhaps at such
time you might freely and fully forgive me
and perhaps love me again. l could die in
peace, think, could hear you say you
love your poor, ieart.stricken wife. Good
bye, goodbye, my much>loved, much-injur>
ed husband; goodbye. Good bless you
Kiss the children sometimes for their poor
heart-broken mother"
The confessions were then produced
The counsel for defence objected, offering
to produce evidence that the signatures had
been improperly obtained, by duress, coer
cion, or fraud. A long debate ensued til
the close of the court; but at the com
mencement of the court, on the next morn.
ing, the 9th, the counsel for the defenct
waived all objections, and allowed the con-
fessions to go before the jury. Mr.. HAYNl
then read, amid profound silence: ..
FIRST PAPER, IN MR.. BURCH's HANDWRITING.
In the presence of Almighty God. the Great
Creator and Judge of all men, who will save
in Heaven, with an everlasting salvation, Of
plunge forever in hell my soul. according tt
the suf6ciency of His Grace, and as the tenor
of my life shall be, now solemnly declare aut
swear, under the threatened penalty of eterna
damnation, should declare falsely and utter
lie,' that my child, Harriet Corning Burch, il
the child and offspring of Isaac H. Burch; ant
} l further solemnly swear that the first crimina
, conversation and act Of adultery ever had o.
committed with David Stuart was committed
on the l4th day of Oct, 1857, and at the tim,