The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-10-31
Another Victim Of the Cop
perhead Conspiracy.
Execution of Reuben
Stout.
Startling Revelations of the
Condemned.

In obedience to the order Of Maj. Gen.
Burnside, appointing the Sd of October
for the execution of private Reuben Stout,
company X, bOlh Indiana volunteer in
fantry, convicted of desert-on and MUIR
der, the prisoner was shot on Johnson's
Island, at two O'Clock Friday afternoon.
Previous to the execution, the prisoner
made the following very important con.
fession:
n STATEMENT OF THE PRISONER
l was born in Berks county, Pennsyl-
vania. where lived until | was over
twenty-ono years of age. then married
and removed to Clinton county, Indiana.
In December, 1861, l enlisted with Capt.
Shimmerhorn, in what was expected TO be
q cavalry company. The cavalry regi-
ment was never raised. was made to
believe by an officer that my enlistment
held me to 20 into the infantry service.
/ thought, rather than be forced, would
enlist voluntarily. put down my name
to 90 into company X, Goth regiment In
diana infantry. After l found out the
deception practised upon me | was un-
willing to go with my Captain, who, l
thought deceived me, and had some hard
feelings against him about it. | yielded,
however, and went with the company,and
take pleasure in saying that the Captain
aforesaid always used me WE'LL By some
neglect, | was never sworn into the SER
vice, however. though my Colonel gave
orders to have Inc mustered and sworn
in. stayed with my company and reg
iment until the Goth of November, 1862,
when We got furlough TO 20 home, the
regiment having been captured at Crane
river, Kentucky, and paroled as prisoners
Of war. We were sent to Indianapolis TO
BIZ exchanged and draw arms again. All
the men OF the regiment got furloughs for
few days to 90 home to see their friends
went home and stayed out my time.
and then started to 90 to my regiment.
went as far as Lafayette, my wife aud
her sister going with NE as lar as Dayton,
Indians.
took sick at Lafayette, and stayed
there about five days, Ny father 10 law
then took me home TO his house to STAY
tin got we'll After | had been there
about two weeks, was advised by yari-
Gus persons not to 90 back TO the army.
They said this was only an abolition
waf,' and advised me to stay at home
and they would protect me- / was in
vled 10 90 to a meeting of the so-called
knights of the Golden Circle, and was
made member Of that organization The
obligations of the order bound us to do all
W. could against the war-to resist the
draft, IT one should be made, and like
wise TO resist and oppose all coufscation
or emancipation measures, in every pos.
sible way. We were sworn to stand by
each other in all measures of resistance.
We were pledged to do all we could to
prevent another man or dollar going from
the State for the further prosecution OF
the war. | met with this secret meeting
several times and entered into their views
and plans.
| stayed about four months with my
father-in-iaw, and then went to see In,
brother, near Delphi Indiana On the
second evening after my arrival there,
Solomon Huffman and man named Nc.
Alec came to my brothers house. Twas
up stairs, about to go to bed My broth
er aid family, and my wife, were down
stairs. One of the men asked if Simon
Stout was there. My brother said no
such man was there. He asked him if
his brothers. wife was not there. NV
brother answered she was. He asked my
wife If her husband was in the house. -
She answered no. He asked my brother
something, to which be replied that nv
wife had not understood his question:
lie then said: You are all set of id
Coppetheads, and if We get him, this will
be The last time for him. The other man
asked my wife for a candle to search the
house, when his companion said /: "Ask
no iavors OF these ID Copperhesds. Ii
We get him we will shoot him.
When he said this, | became alarmed
for my life. and cooked my pistol and
stepped to the door at the head of the
stairs, as Huffman was about to come IN
with candle in his hand. | told him TO
steY back and would come down. but. if
be made another step up stairs | would
shoot him. He changed the light from
one hand to the other, and made as if to
draw pistol from his pocket or belt. |
then Tired upon him, and he fell back ex-
ciarnlng: son, God am killed
lie VAS carried out, and never saw him
after he fell.
| was led by evil counsels, and mr. CON.
nectlon with secret tratorous orpaniza.
ton, TO stay away from my pest Of duty
In lie army. | AN truly sorry that act
ed thus, or that for moment listened
to these evil counsels. | am sorry that
ever lited my hand against the life of M
fellow man. think the man who came
to arrest me did not act right, but | do
not excuse myself for my wrong doing on
that account.
| would affectionately and earnestly
urge all in the service Of their coun,rv
not t. do a' have done; but to be fa;ti'
full 10 their obligations as sodiers-avo;d
ing all disloya counsels and obligations
Several years ago | embraced religion
Nd tnl ,tt. al ~