The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-07

y HIS REMARKS ON TUE GALIows
Sheriff Heath asked Bell if he had anything
to say before death. Rising to his feet, he re.
piled have much to say" Wiping his eyes
and standing moment in silence, as If to col.
lect his thoughts, the doomed man spoke.
While eternity stared him in the face, he was
able to talk unmoved. He said much that he
had dictated to his amenuensis, the night be-
fore but some things materially different In
curing the time of day, Bell spoke ae follows:
GENTLEnEN-I stand before you the last
time In this life. You are called upon to wit
ness scene that You have never before wit
messed in this country, and ! hope and pray
you win see mans body and soul separated.
The Scripture says, What God has joined to-
gether let no man put asunder." Is there any
thing more systematically joined together than
q mans soul and body7 Gentlemen, I am to
be hung by the meek for the murder of Mrs.
Ruth Briden but am not the murderer. 1t
is matter Of great importance-a matter of
of the case is, that am to be hung for being
the tenant of Mrs. Briden. A long pause
during which the prisoner groaned. Cir
cumstances, they say, all point to me, and
Bell must be the murderer. Because was
living in Mrs. Briden's house at the
time of her death. / must be the murderer
What are the circumstances, gentlemen, what
in the summer asked her if she would have
me- She said she wasn't 80 hard up as to mar
~ an old married man. was foolmg and
laughing with the girl at the time. I answer.
ed her on the spot that did not consider for o
moment the idea of marrying her. 1t was all
in sport But they cay that all these circum-
stances point to Bell What injustice! APP
stances as those. Then the girl says that in
the fall there was some words between us in
regard to the division of corn. That is cir.
cumstance against me. What do you call cir
cumstances? The morning the old lady was
killed, the girl says that had some words
with her about foddering the cows; that /
made threats of killing somebody. never did.
anything to show that ever abused that old
lady? Here are part of the circumstances
upon which you have convicted poor inno-
cent man; to be hung by the neck until dead.
Here Bill paused, wiped his eyes, and remark
to the Sheriff that his eyes were 60 bad he
' HE n morSin ns Of the murder Of the old lady
the girl was going to school and requested me
to get up early. They thought that, because
/ got up an hour earlier than usual, was the
murderer. The girl thought it was too early,
but told her If went back to bed should
sleep too long. All these circumstances point
to me as the murderer-yet am not muir
derer, gentlemen. I stand before God an in
l got up that morning and went out to
fodder the COWS. Morley's daughter testi6es
that she got up and looked at the clock, and
it was five minutes to eight. She put on her
shoes, went out of doors, and heard the old
lady cry Murder, for Gods sake help me!
How came she, gentlemen. to look at the
clock? Did she expect to go out and hear
went into The house and told her father that
she had heard the old lady cry Murder, for
Gods sake help me-" Morley pays no atten-
ton to it, but puts on his coat and does his
chores. He then got his breakfast, went over
there, and found Mrs. Briden dead. The
prisoner repeated and dwelt some minutes on
the last sentence; When he heard the old
lady halo, why did he not 90 directly over?
No! No. If he had gone there it is possible
that the old lady would be living now. It is
not probable that the old lady halloed at all
When left her she was the house. These
are the facts-for which William Bell dwell
ing on the namel has got to be hung by the
neck. Morley went to rally his neighbors.
| them; but did not look for tracks in any
other direction. All this because poor Bell
| was living on his place. They followed my
kracks to the place where / was stopping. at
E. Cadwelrs. Morley asked me where /
kNt my razor. Told him in the pantry be.
nlnNthe door. he said, Your razor is gOne."
WheA got into the yard where the "a lady
was Ming. He showed me the razor and
asked LIT was mine, but God knows had not
seen thareazor in three or four months. Here
Bell calmN asked the sheriff for drink of
water. 1t Nas given him, and he took long
draught and vent on.
Mrs. Cadwenthoughl talked too much that
morning. ThatNs another circumstance which
points towards ma for murder! when / took
| krl0ons mr. harI
babe me changing words or having ANYTHING
to do with the MorleN never did. Morley
had threaened to buh Mrs. Briden's honss
and repeeted that she kest house Of in-fame
Mrs. Briden had threateNd to have HIM ~,
rested. Nobody tells that old Morley had q
son that was corresponding with the girI he
cause had asked her in sport to marry me
| There was no motive for anybody besides me
| to kill Mrs. Briden! don't say that Nor iev
killed the lady-but do say that Ibid not Lii
her. Nobody tells that Morley and The old