Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-03-20
Confession of Murderer-An Innocent
Man Hung.

On Monday night of last week. negro.
named George Urem, died at his home, in
Baltimore. Previous to his death he made
a confession acknowledging that he was a
murderer, and stated that an innocent
man had been hung for his cri ne. He
confessed that he murdered the negro
King, and thar the negro Cyphus, who was
hung as the guilty parto, was entirely in
nocent OF the crime. Dram was attacked
with sickness some few weeks since, and
continued to grow worse until Monday
night when it became evident that he
must die.
During his illness he appeared much
distressed in mind, and when he found
that he would surely die, lie called some
friends near him and made his confession.
At the time the murder took place Orem
was engaged in selling Oysters through the
city, and King was in his employ. The
day previous Orem had a quarrel with
take the latter's life. Orem was also en-
gagged in butchering and was in the habit
of carrying his butcher knife in his pocket
on the back part Of his pantaloons. On
the nigh! of the murder he placed bis
knife in this pocket and started for the
house in Wagon alley, where tho tragcdy
was enacted. When the difficulty COM
mencod, Orem seized the first opportunity
to plunge the butcher knife into King,
killing him instantly. He then made his
escape The negro Cyphus was arrested
on the charge of committing the murder
From the moment Of his arrest to the
minute previous to his, s,executon he de-
MED his guilt. The evidence on the trial
was that of negroes only. One of tie wit
nesses. known as Topsy, who s.w the
murder committed, stated that Cyphus
was not the man wlo did it. The same
statement which she gave before the jury,
she made on the night Of the murder to
several persons who conveEscd with her.
She described the murderer as o black
mar, heavily built.
Az the other testimony, however,
pointed to Cyphus as the perpetrator of
the murder. The girl Torsy was weak
minded and by some considered insane.
Her testimony was cast aside as unworthy
OF belief. She was in company with
negro on her way to Kings house. The
negro Cyphus denied being in the vicinity
Of the nun der at the time it was commits
ted. and few minutes. before ne ascendtd
the scaiIold, remarked to the writer of
this article that he was innocent of the
charge, and few years would prove his
innocence. His statement has proved to
be true, and there is now no doubt that
lie suffered depth for a crime which he
never committed.
Olem, the murderer, died on Mondny
night, and the body has been buried.
Previous to his death stated that ne
had been much harrassed since he had
committed the deed. lie was unable to
sleep, and it was only when wearied out
with toll, and in some instances after
several nights of re- tless wakeculntse, that
he was enabled to sleep. Even thCn, he
asserted, he was afflicted with horrible
dreams, in which the tragedy would he
rt-enacted, and he would suffer the pains
OF death for the crime. The image of his
murdered victim followed him wherever
he went, day and night, and no doubt TO
a considerable degree hostened his death.
lIaPey.
MR. LINCoLN's HoTEL REL AT ALBANY.
The "high old time" cold Abe" and
q Al