Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-11
Startling Revelations COrrObOrating
the Testimony.
How the Murder was Committed
COntritiOn and Emotion Of Prisoner.
He Desires his Confession not
Published TIL after his Death.
Petition in Canada for Communication
3 of Sentence.

-S "a "
Rosa ColviD, on the 9th of March last, and
sentenced to be hung on the 10th of August,
1866.
There were several gentlemen in attend
snce, including NJ S. Castle, Esq, the Pros.
ecuting Attorney, Sheriff Nicola, Deputy
Sheriff Ridgway, reporters of the LEADER
and Herald, and one or two Jurors who sat
in the trial. Mcconnell shows signs Of
deep, heartfelt contri'ion, and often choked
with emotion while making the appended
statement. He seems to have no hone O.
communication, and talks of his approaching
doom with a sigh of half despair and hall
resignation. To Mr.. Castles Interrogation
Mcconnell made the following confession
Ny name is Alexander Mcconnell. am
80 or 30 years old. don't know which; was
born in the county of Tvronne. Ireland
came to America Is years ago on the Sth oil
July last and landed in Ottawa. l was
married IN the township of Fitzroy, Carroll
ton county, Z. w., 30 miles from Ottawa.
Ny wife was a widow with six children
when l married her. We have had three
children. l have always been a farmer. ]
left my home TO come here in February last;
came directly to Cleveland; staid one week
IN the city, and then went to Berea to work.
l hare said to some persons that 1 came
away on account of difficulties at home, but
1t is not 80. l owed a man the sum of SO,
and he threatened = sue me. l came to
earn the money 10 pay him. Here McCon-
nell was overcome by his feelings and
wePt) When 1 started with Colvin to 90 to
Berea on the morning of the 24th Of March
4 last / did not Tpfand - - Ill ~. =
tended to turn back and go to the shanty.
There was no one at the shanty when got
there l took Colyin's clothes and boots and
lett my own in the bed. l then started for
the railroad, past Crawford's, intending t,
| go by Elyria westward-the way | came.
On the way to the railroad track, l met
Rosa Colvin in Egler's lot. L kept on, ex-
planning 10 her that | had COlyfn's things
to carry them to him that he was going
to Cleveland, She said if Colyin was going
she was going too. We went on about half
way up the lane by Clodelr's house, when l
told her that if Colvin didn't get his things
he would not go to Cleveland that l was
tired and we would go back to the shantv-
l having bethOught me that it wouldn't do
to tell the other story. We then went hack
to the shsnty by Egler's. After laying the
clothes down and she seeing them, she said
she didn't believe l was going to see her
husband at all. 7 didn't know what to
say l confessed then to her that I was 90
ing home to Canada She said, 'Have you
been robbing the house ?" I said no, l was
taking some of Colyin's clothes and leaving
some OF mine in their place. I then said |
would take my own and 60 home. / had
none Of his clothes on then. She snatched
up the iron poker, and, placing herself in
the door, said should not go till William
got home. insisted that l would 90. She
said she would go and call in the neighbors.
/ got my OWL clothes and started to 20 out
OF the door when she struck me over the
arm with the poker, l laid down the
clothes and think | struck her then with my
list 1t knocked her down. She got up and
struck at me am not sure if she struck me
or not. seized a stick of wood and struck
her-It think on the back ofthe head; she fell.
She jumped up and struck me over the
head with the poker. l staggered back
against the wall. seized an axe and struck
her on the head-one blow. She died in
stantly. When l struck her the blow with
the stick OF wood, she fell, and / kicked her,
which l think cut her ear. After she tell
the last time | took her in nv arms; | was
alarmed, and said, "My God, have l killed
you n 1.-The prisoner here went bitterly
and ceuld not speak for some moments.)
Then l did not know what to do | thought
l had killed her in my passion, and did not
know what would become of me. l went
outside the shanty and stood there a little
while, then l came back into the shanty
and carried her to the woodpile. This was
between eleven and twelve o'clock in the
forenoon, as near as l can tell. After car
rying her out l came back into the shanty.
While was inside the two Crawfords and
the two Spears passed close by the house. l
heard them talking and saw them from the
shanty. She was at the time buried under
the wood As soon as they had gone to din
ner, l again packed up the goods and start
ed. l then went past the Crawiord's house
to the railroad, taking the track westward,
and walked to Elyria. There | took the five
o'clock train for Sandusky. arrived at
Sandusky a little before dark, and sta we'd at
a hotel all night; l started on Monday morn
ing about half past five o'clock, en- foot, for
Fremont, arriving there about half past
nine or ten in the forenoon. There | took
the eleven o'clock train TO Toledo and kept
straight on to Detroit l then crossed TO
Port Sarnia n took the Grand Trunk road
home.
In twenty minutes or half an hour after 1
struck Rosa Colvin the last blow l took her
body out and deposited it under the wood
pile. held her in my arms a good while
expecting her to come to was not conscious
when l dropped the dress which | had
wrapped around her. After I had deposited
the body under the wood I came back into
the house ard mopped up the blood.
| did place the heavy logs of wood over her
feet. It was not more than Is minutes from
the time l struck her the first blow till l
struck her the final blow with the axe. The
money that was claimed TO be lost, and the
watch and Mrs. Colvin's clothing l never
saw and deny taking. God Almighty knows
| am sorry for the deed | have done, and |
hope to be forgiven. The foregoing state
ment / make voluntarily, and have desired
Sheriff Nicola and Mr.. Castle, the Prosscu-
tor, to be present with other gentlemen to
hear it and take it down.
Mcconnell is not able to write, though
he can read a little. We make no com
ments upon his confession, except thai it is
doubtless truthful and made through sim
eere repentance. When the confession was
concluded Mcconnell gave way to his feel
ings, and weeping, was conducted back to
his lonely cell. He expressed no hope of re-
and seemed thankful that Christian
council had been rendered him. He begged
that his confession might not be published
ill after his death, but on being told that
It might benefit his cause, he consented.
Miss Rebeeca Mcconnell, the prisoners
is engaged in circulating a petition
among his friends in Canada, praying the
of this State that the sentence
nay be committed to imprisonment