Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-04-19
Democrat ano Sentinel.
EXECUTION OF B0OSER AND HOUSER.

EAEGUllUN Ill BUUSER AhD HUUSER.
lnasmuch we intend to delay our pa
per until Friday evening, the day fixed for
the execution of Booser and Houser, who
have been tried and convicted of the muir
der of Polly Paul and Catharine Munday,
we commence our report on Thursday at
noon on the information in our possession,
and will continue it until the termination
of the sad scene.
BOOsER'S CONFESSION.
BOoser, one of the condemned murder
ers, on the evening of Tuesday, the 10th
instant, just previous to his attempt to
commit suicide, wrote and placed in the
hands of Rev. Wilson, of the Presbyterian
Church, his spiritual adviser, the follow
ing letter, with directions that it should be
opened and read on Wednesday:
EBENsBURG, Apr. 9th, 1866.
Mr.. WILSON They think they have
the ones that done this deed, but God for
bid. They have not. Those that done
this are far away. Now, good sense and
reason will tell you that we are not the
men, and in particular poor Houser He
don't know anything about it whatever.
\ 1ou will bear in mind | have always told
you that we had no hand in killing those
poor women, and | tell you so again.
We had no hand in killing them. l will
tell you, though, what did do; give
to George Blanchard my draft or map.
He lost the one he had. He had one of
the same kind as mine, and he told me he
lost hisi the woods, and if he lost his the
time he was up here or not cannot say.
He got out (of the penitentiary) before L
did, and he knew OF the thing as well as
|, and [ met him on Troy Hill on Sun
day, the 2lst day of May, and he wanted
to know if | was going TO come up here.
L told him that had sworn off going on
the cruise and he wanted me to give him
| my map, but | did not give it to him
Then we set to meet again on the first of
June, and again on the 9th, and on the
afternoon of the 9th, l gave him my map.
Now | will tell you that the men that
were seen by James Cooper, they were
| the ones. They had a carpet-sack, but no
box. Now, Mr. Wilson, the time that
Mrs. Graham saw US go away was on the
10Th of June; then we had started for Oil
City. Now, please take notice L made it
my business to stay in Allegheny from the
| second of June till the 9th, because | did
know that the robbery was 10 90 on on
the 9TH of June. Now you see that |
was at home at the time, and done all
this behind poor Houser's back. So you
see he don't know anything of the matter
whatever. He is innocent indeed, and as
for being up here hunting is all humbug,
for know it the best. He never was up
here in all his life till the Sheriff fetched
him here. This is the honest truth.
And now if Mary Miller can recollect that
| told her | had to 90 to Pittsburgh on the
9th of June, to meet a man. | went on
the 9th, 9TH and Sth. for [ was to meet
him Blanchard from his return, but l
have not seen him since, and l never
heard anything of the robbery. l bought
the German paper, and never found any
thing in it, and L thought he gave it up
and had not done anything.
DANIEL BOOsER.
| Booser acknowledged to the Sheriff and
other persons, that he was implicated to
some extent, in the murder and robbery
| that he furnished Blanchard and his ac-
complice with a draft of the roads, &c,
| leading to the house of the victims, and
that the real murderers and robbers were
to share the profits with him that the
draft was drawn from information obtain
ed from Philip Fulgert, while in the Pen
itentiary but he has always contended
that Houser had no knowledge of the
murder or robbery.
APPLICATION FOR A RESPITE.
On the strength Of these declarations of
Booser, efforts were made by number
of our citizens to have respite granted to
Houser but up to Thursday at noon
their efforts have proved unavailing.
PENITANCE OF THE PRISONERS.
Houser has acted like penitant man
ever since his conviction, and appears to
have been endeavoring to make his peace
with his God. Rev. Christy of the Cath
olc church has been visiting him regu-
larly.
Booser, until few days ago, had been
visited occasionally by Rev. Wilson, of
the Presbyterian church, but manifested
a wicked disposition-apparently regard
less of God or man. On Tuesday morn
ing he sent for Rev. Christy, who on
Wednesday baptised him, since which
time he and other Catholic Priests have
been with him almost constantly. The
convict, it is said, has become very peni-