Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-15
Sympathizing nurderer-COnfes-
sios OF Swedish Clerical pol

sies OF "A Swedish Clerical Pol
soner.
IL will be recOllected that We sOme time since
gave an account of the terrible crimes of
Swedish clergyman in poisoning several of his
Pensioners by putting arsenic in the communion
vine when called TO attend them in their sickness
Ii seems that the several murders which he had
recently committed were not the commencement
Of bis horrible deeds As far back as thirty
years these crimes were traced by circumstances
attending the deaths of persons similar to those
OF late occurrence. We give below his curious
confession:
comprehend 1.-The pastors" duty as a fathers
| ordered notice 10 be given me every Sunday by
appointed persons Of where any poor sick person
was to be found Alter such inquiries, | went
round with food and medicines, and became wit
of much misery and hOpelessnsss When
one stands beside an incurably sick and dread
fully panied fellow creature. one wishes with all
bis heart that he might &c released from his
hsartresding misery By those hungry, cold,
incurables in SlbOdahl | have often stood
moved by the deepest pity. aud thought: w ere
in such a miserable plight, would bless him
vko FASTENED the end OF my pam. and God
would forgive that msrciful one" With every
renewed visit to these poor people was strength
ened in the idea. prepared separate wine as
help in trouble, when this, my mIsdrected char
ity, should urge me 10 do IT, thought also,
what none deny. that very few human beings
pass to the other world in the course o. nature
{ when the powers of soul and body are worn
out by age. Some external cause occurs, W hich
God, though he does not advance il. yet does
not prevent, in virtue of the freedom He granted
the understanding he gave. How many in
the prime OF life, IN their full vigor, their
own murderers, involuntarily, Yet through mis-
use Of their understanding How many have
fallen out Of the hands Of the most skillful ply
sieians into the grsvel The patients statement
is not always properly comprehended, yet the
statement determines the prescription, and the
prescription determines life or death without
Gods either helping or hindering. aud neither
doctor nor patient Is thought TO have any share
in the death. How many au illness. which in
the beginning might easily have been cured, has,
through delay IN seeking help, preciptated its
victim into the gravel From these iueontro-
yertible facts and the many such examples
which have partly heard described. partly wit
messed myself, have come 10 the conclusion and
belief that science, as well as ignorance. oftens
bears the most decisive part. aud that pious faith
il often wrong ia saying the hour had come "
| therefore believed that the merciful God would
not condemn me If shortened the suferlngs of
q miserable fellow creature. his action Is Ger
tainly in outward appearance against all law but
in reality IL rests upon grounds of compassion
Nv God. before whom ! shall finally answer,
knows this, and with deep contrition feel nv
self worthy of the sore punishment of the civil
law, for the sinful compassion | exercised to
ward the dead persons in the case Respecting
Lysen. men will likely reject my assertion of
mercy and call il selhshnsss in It's grossest form
bat those who know bis dreadful suiierings and
cur written agreements will admit nv motives of
pity. Ny guilt Is great. Ny enemies acted right
IN their earnest Investigations. To their con
sciences, hossEeF. put the question: Was IL
zeal IN service or zeal IN persecution which direct
e. your soursef" Hate. the worlds demon. IL
q murderer, and wants even the poor comfort OF
having meant well by its crime Who is most
responsble-he who against the law frees one
from misery, or he Who. under the protection Of
the law. precpitates one into miservf God alone
vill Judge. How have s.nned i confessed be-
fore God and man. and nOw. my prosecutors.
pray you be merciful, a. our Heavenly Father
is' Let your false imputati0ns now cease and
spare ny blamelsss relatives the heart reudng
scream Of that hate \ oG have now enough
my crime confessed, nv house DESTROYED. nv
grave opened Farewell farewell. CArlstadti
The day vas ordained your pastor l or
dains6 TO death. q. God have mercy upon mel