The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-03
From the Grand Rapids Eagle, Juno II.
Confession of Kingin, the Grand
Rapids Murderer.


This morning our reporter visited the
iail, in company with Under-Sheriff Co
veil, and the prisoner, Kingin, convicted
of the murder of Barber, and awaiting his
sentence, made the following confession,
of his own free will, and signed it with
his own hand:
On the 2Sth Of February last, Mr..
Barber called at my house for taxes, and
1 gave him $50 gold piece, and received
in return $l4, and was to receive the bal
ance over my taxes when we arrived at
the Rapids. Mr.. Barber said to me,
"You are owing Roberts & Son." told
him was, but that l could not pay them
now. This question Of BARRIERS led me
TO think that he intended to take some
advantage Of me, and not pay over the
balance my due, and caused me, for the
first time, to think of taking bis life. The
idea of killing him seemed to be upper
most in my mind, from the moment the
first impression was made upon my mind
until the deed was committed, some
twenty or thirty minutes afterwards.
After resolving to take his life, the
next question with me, was as TO how l
should accomplish the deed. had no
weapons of any kind, but, when we came
out of the door to start for the Rapids,
my axe stood beside the door, and Mr.
Barber said, "There is an axe that fell
against the gate, preventing its being
closed, and so l brought it in, and set it
down there"-pointing to where il stood.
/ then resolved to take that axe 10 kill
Barber with; and, accordingly, picked it
up, remarking, by way of an excuse, that
this axe belonged to Mrs. Ackley, who
lived on tho road to this city, that my
boy had borrowed il few days before,
and that | would take it home.
We then started for this city, | carry
ing the axe on my shoulder, until we ar
rived at the top Of the first hill, when
Barber remarked that he had forgotten
some papers, that he ought to go back
and get them, but still kept walking on,
until he remarked second time that he
must go back and get those papers so as
to settle with Foster, at which time re-
solved that, if I killed him at all, it must
be done then and, as Barber made this
last remark, | put my left hand on the
handle Of the axe, preparatory to striking
and stopped, at the same time giving him
a blow with the head of the axe Il think,)
which took effect on the back of the head,
telling him upon his hands and knees;
and he remained in that position until |
became Mortified at what | had done, and
stepped around in front of him, resolved
that if l had not killed him not TO do it;
and accordingly asked him if he could
speak; he made no reply, but gave a
gurgling, deathly noise, and sunk upon
the ground. l then concluded that |
had better do the work effectually, and
so | struck him several blows more with
the axe, until his flesh and limbs quiver-
ed and twitched, and | was satisfied that
he was dead. Then, without regard 10
fear or apprehension, for they never en-
tered my mind, determined to have his
money. l then took his pocket-book
from his pantaloons pocket and started on.
/ have no recollection of meddling with
or seeing the tax roll, which is said to
have been found in the snow, a short dis
lance from the body. A few rods from
the scene of the murder, threw the axe
into the woods. When | arrived at Leach
Creek, half mile or moro from the
bloody ground, / took out the pocket
book and took from it the $50 gold piece,
and threw the book into the creek; and
seeing at the same time, some blood on
one of my gloves, / threw that into the
creek also, and then passed on to Plain
field. When got in sight of Grand
River, / determined that l would throw
myself into it, and thus end my life; but,
seeing number of men upon the bridge,
l went into the hotel close by, and wait
cd few minutes, and then went out the
east door, walked round to the south side,
took the $50 gold piece from my pocket
and threw it into Grand River. Imme-
diately after this, Mr.. Tracy came up,
giving the news Of the death of Barber,
when l started back for Laphamville.
w. d. KlNGIN.