The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-01-26
Confession of Stearns.

l. he EOILE Co. ~AhDERA 4'A. l@hol MA ~
Termination held before Joseph Smith
on the 9Th day of January 1860, on
a charge Of burglary, By breaking
open tie store of William Cdrlin,
IN Doaoagiac on the night Of the 2Sth
October, 1859.
JOHN II. STEARNs, sworn, says.-I
reside in Lawton have resided there
three or four years; think three the
first year l was there the respondent
taught writing school there; / became
acquainted with him by seeiug him
every day, but did not have much con-
versation. On the night of the 2Sth
of October last / was in Dowagiac !;
came there on the cars from Lawton.
/ don't know what time the cars start
ed; it was after dark. Question
What was first said to You at Dowagiac
when you got off the cars? Ans
Have a hotel !? l do not know who
said this. / had an arrangement with
Ed. Williams to come to Dowagiac that
night for the purpose of committing
the burglary at Carlin's-or it may
have been James Carlin; was not ac-
quainted with Carlin nor with the sit
uation of the store. brought with
me '.jimmy" "billey," and some
picks the 'jimmy" is put to the same
use that crobar is put to, prying; the
"billey" is club; it is about twelve or
fourteen inches long, about inches
at the large end, and at the other end
runs down to half an inch then there
is knob for handle; it was made of
white oak; l think out of the root of a
tree; the picks are used for picking
locks. When first went to Dowagiac
1 walked up and down the streets
awhile, and then went up into saloon
between two buildings; / went there
to find Williams; l did not find Will
liams there, l inquired of the bar-ten-
der for him, he told me Williams played
poker sometimes, and would probably
find him at the billiard saloon, but
went a greatways beyond it; then came
back and inquired at the butchers
shop they told me it was overhead /;
the billiard saloon was closed; l then
went back to the saloon, and waited
some time, and Williams did not come
in; they then told me l might find him
at the Rochester House, or the Amer
lean; / went to the American first, and
inquired, and they did not know any
such man, talked with man then
that was behind the bar, some five OF
ten minutes; went from there to the
Rochester saloon, but went considera-
bly, out Of my way by not being ac-
quainted, in going over there | went
past this Carlin's store; [ knew it by
seeing box marked with his name, as
l went back from the saloon, l went
back by the store, and looked at it
when in the Rochester saloon some one
told me that Williams was plasterer
AID that he was at the American af
ter looking round the store there was
a man came up to me at the backside
!. of the store, after which / again wen
to the American, and told the man il
attendance there that the man l want
ed to find was plasterer; he said h,
had gone to bed. l wanted to see him
and he showed me up to his room
Jones was with Williams in bed ther'
was no person came with me from Law
: ton to assist in the burglary; | wa
E dressed very near as am now, excep
r / had on black handkerchief and
: dark overcoat or Columbian cloak;
8 had on cloth cap, when l went t
!. the American there was only one ma
e up about the house; the stores wer
! generally about closing when ! frs
s went there Q mean when first wen
S to the village). Qucs.-Who was tn
d man that came to you when you wer
G to the store? Ans.-That is the mar
n (pointing to the respondent). Qs.-
e Was there any conversation betwee
g you and him? Ans.-I asked him
7, he knew Williams, and he said he did
], he said he was con the lays" | tol