Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-05-11
Confession of Probst.
HE ADMITS HAVING KILLED THE ENTIRE
DEERING FAMILY.

DEEhANH ENhils1.
Pgobst has made full confession 10 his
priest of all the murders of the Deering
family. The miserable wretch had no ac-
complete in his bloody work. He first
murdered the hired boy, Carey, and after
describing this murder he says:
! The sight of the blood of the boy produced
! in me deyilish and bloodthirsty feeling, and |
determined at once to murder the whole famiy7
! He disposed of the body of the boy, as describ-
ed before, and then deliberately walked over TO
the house. He entered and told Charlie the
little boy next in years to Willie who was alb.
sent, that he wanted him to help him do some
work in the barn. The little fellow followed him
and as soon as he got him inside the barn door
he dispatched him with a small axe which be had
secured. He then went back to the house and
told Mrs. Deering there was something the mat
ter with one Of the COWS, and he wanted her TO
come to the barn. She went and he followed, and
soon as she entered inside he struck her on the
head and killed her He then went to the house
and brought the children out, one at time, and
taking them inside the barn dispatched them, one
by one, with the same AK. In each instance he cut
their Threats and placed their bodies in the corn.
crib himself just in the position they were found
lie then covered the bodies up and proceeded TO
wipe out all eNluenceS OF his guilt
lie then went back 10 the house, and awaited
the arrival of Mr.. Deering not expecting that
Miss Dolan would accompany him. AS soon as
Mr.. Deering arrived in the carriage he got out,
and Probst told him that something was wrong
with one Of the cows, and asked him to 90 over
TO the barn with him. Mr.. Deering went along
with him, and Miss Doan went into the house
and took off her bonnet and furs. Mr. Deering
did not even take off his gloves before going 10
the harm Int nrppppdnd thpra ot -.
Probst, who had the concealed ready for use
As soon as Mr. Decring entered the door Probst
states that he struck him in the head and feled
him to the earth and then chopped ut his head
with the edge of the ak. Miss Dolan was the
next and last victim She proceeded TO the barn
after coming down stairs and not finding any of
the family in the house, and Probst, who was in
waiting for her treated her he had done the rest
of the family. After laying out the bodies and
covering them up with hay, the murderer went
out and commenced searching for valuables He
states he got no money but expected to secure a
considerable amount.
Probst states that he would have confessed TO
all the murders before, but he feared that if he
did so he would be torn to pieces by the mob
lie says he had no thought of committing the muir
der at the time of living with Deerng but calcu-
lated on robbing him Of the money which he had
seen him counting. He had never said anything
about it to any one He came to this country in
er did anything wrong in Germany. His father
and mother are still living at Baden He is "a
years old. He enlisted twice and deserted, first
in the 4lst New York, and then in the 5th caval-
ry. He planned every day to get behring's money,
but never had a chance. He SAYS
My first plan was to kill him and get The mon
ey; / could not get the money any other way; |
thought of killing them at the house as they came
down IN the morning; Igot the axe sometimes
ready for them when they came down evenings
I got some good chances, but my heart failed me !"
After describing the manner of of Wandering
Cornelius Carey and Mrs. Deering and her chill
dren he gives the following explanation of the
killing Of the infants Then went over TO the |
house and took Annie and told her that her moth.
err wanted to see her in the stable. She did not
say word. Then took the little baby, | took |
1t on my arm the little girl walked alongside of
me. left the little baby the first corner as
you go into the stable playing in the hay. Then
went to tie same place where | killed the Others
She looked around like for her mother, who was
IN the hay. She did not say anything. l knock |
ed her down at the first blow, and cut her throat
same as the Others. Then went back and got
the little baby and struck it on the head in the /
same place there. i hauled them into the same |
place" Afier describing the killing of Deering
and Miss Doan, the fend says he took out Mr., |
behring's pocket book, but only got SI7, including
a cOunterfeit SO note He saw nothing in Miss |
Dolan's pocket-book but postage stamps He |
was not lying now. He thought they had much |
money. After securing other articles, revolver /
&c, tafterward found in his possessionl no wash
ed and dressed HIMSELF putting behring's clothes |
on, and eat some bread and butter. The scoundrel
frequently laughed while detailing his confession
OF these horrible crimes.