Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-01
THE rRlpLE MURDER IN MICHIGAN.
BRlBLE CONFESSION OF IHE NURDkRER-hIs AP
FE4RANCk, ESQ,

/ .
From the Adrian Mich) WaiehtoweE Feb. 81
Thursday evening the gratifying intelligence was
received here that the murder or Bivins had been
arrested and on the arrival OF the evening train
rom Toledo he was brought to this city and lodged
IN our Jail.
He was arrested at Grafton, Ohio. by Deputy
Sheriff Johnson, of this city, and Deputy Provost
Marshal Wilcox. The officers obtained clue 10 his
reabouts from the fact that he was known TO
lave made Grafton ms residence for some time past,
and that when at home lac had received letters from
there. an arriving AT Grafton depot the officers
discovered BiVins handing on platform. lie Was
se,n linted with oRcer Wilcox, with whom he shook
hands M. Wilcox said to him, 'Do you know
rhat yoGr l4lhsr'S hanse Was burned down Tuesday
tight and that your father, mother and wife We're
mirnrd p" Biyins responded, 'iWho murdered
them p ThiswaS before any intimation had been
uiyen that there were suspicious of foul play. Oh
Ger Johnson pointedly asked him, edo you not
Know F" 10 which he made NO reply.
Z During the ride from Grafton 90 thiS city Biyins
ga. hy no means rcicrnt the subject of his hor-
ribc crime. lie related several times in the course
Of the Journey substantially the following which he
Sr,rccly ever varied even in the mnutcst particu-
lar lie had become acquainted with young lady
Al Grafton Ohio, aud had agreed to marry her, but
his wife was OF course AN inSnperabe obstacle To
The scheme and BE- Determined To XII her. lie also
appears to have always in his horrible plan included
Tie murder of his father aud mother Two or three
Al
plan for the commission at tbs horrible deed, but
zach time his heart had failed him. lie stated that
Moudav night lac said at home and before retiring To
ySt had asked his We 10 unite Nth him IN prayer to
God which she did, he stating that las had made up
his mind To lead different life lie states that prayer
Nas repeated III the morning, he uniting with hS
nife in supplicationS TO the Supreme Being He
AYERS that while at home on this visit lac concluded
to give up his murderOus plans aud never more
see the girl i'm Ohio aud even, II II was necessary,
h. would agaiu join the army, rather than allow
himself 10 DO again tempted. But, before he
reached hudson, his good resolutions had VaniSied
and his monomania--ior It could be called by no
other name came upon him in full force, and he
determined 10 return and do the deed that night
In pursuance of this intention he engaged q horse
AT hudson at different stable from which lac hired
the Onr with Ahirh he had Just returned, and stated
that he would return on the '.plHs" Train IN the
evening This he did aud driving to the vicinity
OF tho house, he unhitched the horse from the bug
ey aud turned Lbs buggy AROUND taking OF one of
the wheels, This was ~ order TO convey the Inn
preston IN case amy one should pass, that the bug
ey had broken down lie then mounted the horse
Aud riding him near the house Illtched him under
a shed and went to the door. lie found his mother
and wife an conysrS ationand his father absent He
entered noScessly, startling the ladies somewhat,
aud his mother inquired hsome surprise WHY he had
So soon returned TO which he replied that ''he want
ed 90 see them," He then inquired for his father,
!
fthc old gcntemunsJ brother Law, who lived
about one fourth OF mile from the house and was
sick. On his expressing wish to see bis father,
his mother volunteered to fetch hln, which she did
lie states that his father demonstrated with him on
the unsteadineSS uf his habits, and the amount of
money lac spent in travelling much, but was an
swered eyaSiVely. He then states that he paced the
room his father aud aiohcr sitting near the stove,
aud his wife, who was eitc'e0is, aud Who Was eN-
n.,ted to be confined ia about a week, laying ON a
l,u,na Mhii. walk unPaSIiN about the room lac
drew his revolver from a side pocket aud hUintins
il AT has father he snapped II, but II missed ire.
The Old gentleman had not noticed The movement
aud with some tIlyiql remaTk about carry ing I'M
Revolver said - chick, as the pistol snap
bed But the ruhsn was not to DC banked,
and cooking the pistol again, he placed
the muzzle, as he AYERS, withnSl loot OF the old
gcntlrIuan'S head, aud pulling the trigger shot hlln
through the head, killing HIM Instantly. Tie then
shot his mother where he docs not know, hut states
Nth the utmost SUM frOi that he heard the blood
gurgle" His wife then Spraug irom The lounge and
exclaimed ''0h, don't shOOtme, Frank =! and seized
his arm Ne then pulled her TO linn and embraced
her, aud then pushed her from him, shooting her, lac
thinks, twice lie then laid his revolver down on
the bureau blew out the candle, and, opening the
stove, took hre as he says in his hands, and carry
ing II no stairs threw the beds, aud taking his
hoT &c aud buggy returned 10 Hudson, and took the
train for Grafton. ILe evidently supposed, though
this seems Impossible, that he woald not be- sns
pected OF the crime, and That u WOuld DC SUPPOSED
that the whole tragic occurrence was accidental.
BIZ the poteness OF the officers We were permit
ted TO pay visit 10 the prisoner at the jail this
morning. We found him appearing self-possessed
and apparently calm, though by no means as com
municative as he had beeato the officers Previous
IT, He acknowledged the crime, however, fully;
stating that ne was more to be pltied than blanca
and deprccating any anger at his horrible crimes,
He asserted that he was Unconscious from the TINE
he leN Toledo until some time after Lis arrival at
Hudson; but this does not agree with some state
ments he made TO the officers. s..l f..ef
h. stated 10 US that one reason why he objected
to going fully into the details was that he intended to
write book; he had very interesting life TO chron
cle, and he feared the full publication now might
nure the sale OF his work. This struck US as deci-
dedly cool for man in his situation; but he appear
ed to have, as he stated, "compete contrsl of his
nerves. He says he feels deeply. more deeply than
any one else could sorrow at tine crime lac has COM
mitted, and grief at the loss Of his parents aud
wife, who, lie asserts, he loved dearly His parents