The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-29
Yioneer 4 @fn'afrat
LOCAL AFT AIRS.
PRYOR, the MURDERER.
A Visit to the Doomed Man.
HE STRENUOUSLY DENIES HIS
GUILT.

From the Daily Pioneer Of Tuesday.
Our reporter yesterday Waited John Pryor,
the murderer at Fort Smelling, condemned to
be hung on Oct. 10, two weeks from to-day.
We were in company with VIM. II. Grant,
ESQ.,, the prisoners attorney. Col. McLaren,
commandant of the post, kindly went with us,
to secure for us passage through the triple line
of guards on the interior and exterior of the
military Prison."
THE MILITARY PRISON.
This prison is a stout stone building erected
last fall for the secure keeping of military pris-
oners under arrest for various crimes, and
combines in one edifice (three large apartments
in row. guard house, prison and oun-
geon with cells. In the first room is the COM
mon "Guard House." where soldiers are
placed for q few hours for trivial ouences
drunkenness, disorderly conduct, &c.) inH
is guarded only by sentinel at the door,
which is open. In it were few men loung-
ing around. Passing through another door,
guarded by sentinels with fixed bayonets, the
visitor finds himself in another large room.
Here are several men confined awaiting trial or
sentence. "Shakopee" and Medicine Bot
tle,n the two Indian murderers, are also kept
in this room, in irons. Passing into the third
apartment through another door guarded "a
above, we find ourselves in room where those
guilty of the higher offences are kept, as we
infer from Q row of cells or dungeons on one
side.
THE PRISONERS CELL.
In the corner cell of this row Pryor, the
doomed man, is imprisoned. Acouple Of days
since small room was partitioned off from the
rest of the apartment, thus making kind of
ante-room to his cell, and allows those who
visit him some sort of seclusion from the gaze
aud curiosity of the other prisoners in the
room. Inside this ante-room to Pryor's cell,
guard with loaded musket and fixed bayonet
PAGES up and down, 80 as 20 prevent any at
tempt at escape on the part of the prisoner, or
any collision at escape, by the passing to him
of instruments to break his way out, on the
part of the other prisoners. We may remark
here, en- PEASANT, that the building is not only
a strong one. but sentinels are continually
pacing up and down the outside, so that, with
those also on the inside, prisoners chance
for escape is by no means encouraging.
HOW PRYOR ACTS.
On entering Pryor's room, we found the
priso. lying down on his cot. His guard in
formed US that he spends nearly his whole
time in lying down, occasionally pacing up
and down in a very detected manner, and
sleeps but little. He advanced to meet Mr..
Grant, his counsel, in very eager manner,
with sort OF expectant look, if we interpret
ed it Alright, as if looking for news of a re.
prieve from the terrible fate hangiog over him.
He remained in conversation with Mr.. Grant
tor some time, eagerness and anxiety depicted
on his whole countenance. He did not seem
to notice Col McLaren or our reporter until
he had finished his business with his attorney.
After being introduced to him he conversed
with us freely, and made the following state
ment:
PRYoR's STATEMENT.
I was born in the city of Cork, ireland. /
am about 80 or 80 years Of age, don't know
which exactly. came to this country about
seven or eight years ago. When this war
broke out I was living at Liberty, Mo-, where
I have sister married. have also brother
at st, Marys Mission, Kansas, and my mother
is still living in Ireland In the winter of
1923 was conscripted into the rebel army.
It was done when / was beside myself from
LIQUOR. was sent to large camp, and after
wards placed in the Third Missouri Regiment.
I served with them about six or seven months,
seeking chance to escape. There were quite
a number of us in the same fix. We escaped
to the Union army at Vicksburg. Afterwards
we were in great danger of being recaptured
by them. Our troops were once taken prison
ers by the rebels, but we ex-rebs cut our way
through rather than be captured by them.
was then put in the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, and
afterwards sent to this State.
I did not intend to kill Stelfox. / had moth.
ing against him. Ives out of my mind with
liquor at the time, and did not know what
was doing. l had been on spree for four OF
five days, because was 90 overjoyed at the
news that / was to be mustered out of service.
Twas greatly astonished when heard I had
killed Stelfox. God knows my heart that did
not mean to. I am innocent of this crime-be
cause was out of my mind-kind of moo
ney" like, you know. Liquor has caused ,al
my troubles"
This Is about the substance of his statement
which we print in justice to him, and out q
pity to man who, whether guilty or not, i,
certainly to be pitied After answering ever
question put to him, his mind seemed to rever
to the murder, and he kept repeating 81 didn
intend to kill him. was out Of my mind.
His whole appearance is that Of broken1aown
abject miserable being, suffering terrible men
tai agony. ....-,... A
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE. II
Pryor Is spare-built man, about feet
inches in height and weighs about 40 pounds
He has black hair and eyes, and his complex
ion Is dark. He looks somewhat rough, as hi
beard was unshorn. He speaks with strong
celtic brogue, and We should class him anon.
the most ignorant and uneducated Of his coun
trymen. He can neither read or write, and hi
irtelleet seems very dull. His descriptive lie