The New York herald., 1866-05-08
THE DEERING MASSACRE.

BIood-His Account or the Murder or
the Two Infants-Fear of Mob ven-
geance Restrained Him from Confess
Ing at First. De-, &c.
From the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph, May ~
Anton Probst has confessed Yesterday afternoon, in
the presence OF his spiritual adviser the pastor Of St.
Aphonsus Catholic church, Mr. Perkins, the superinten
prison. Anton Probst made free, voluntary and open
coniessionsuch confession stamps him to be the
most bloodthrsty tch known In the annals of history
Tic killed all the members of the ID ering family.
He was visited by his spiritual adviser late in the af
ternoon who entered into conversation with him, and
in the presence OF tho above named officials Probst
told that his best course both in spiritual and moral
point OF wow was 70 confess all he knew about the ira
gedy and to tell the Goois truth He was told that
his obligations to the authorities by whom he had been
treated kindly, and every consideration in the future
demanded that bo should make a clean breast of IT,
Probs after the lapse OF few minutes proceeded to
make the following statement by way ofa
CONFESSION.
Ho stated that he had accomplice, and conceived
the horrible unadcd and alone. The theory Of
the murder produced the trial, and the gen
orally eped by the public is entirely true in its main
parts He stat that he conceived the murder Fri.
day and that night slept with the boy whom he intend
ed to make his first victim, namely Cornelius
Carey. He knew that Carey was working near
axe but his heart failed him three times before he Id
induce himself to strike the unsuspecng boy the fatal
endsh work, killing Carey just in the manner he
frequently described The sight OF the blood of tho boy
PrObst states produced in him DEVILS and blood thirsty
feeling and he determined at once to murder the entire
family. He disposed OF the body OF the boy as de-
scr6ed before 50 often and then a deliberately len
lie, tho little boy next in years TO "Wie, who was
absent that he wanted him TO help him TO do some work
in the barn Tho little fellow followed hyn, and
he got him inside the barn door he despatched IN
with the small he had secured. He then went back
to tho house and told Mrs. Deerng that something
the matter with of the and he wanted her 10
come 10 the barn. She went and he followed, and as
she entered inside he struck her IN the head and
killed He then states that he went back TO tue house
and brought the children out at time. and taking
them inside tho barn. despatched them one by one with
the In each instance he cut their throats and
placed the bodies in the corn crib hinsc jast In the
position they were found Ho then covered them up
and proceeded to wipe out all evidence Of his guilt He
then back to the house and awaited the arrival OF
Mr. Deerng not expecting Miss Dolan would accompany
him. As as Mr.. Decrlng arrived in the
carriage, he Deerng) got out and Probst told him
something wrong with one of the cows and asked
him to go over to the barn with him. Dearing went
along with him and Miss Dolan into the house. up
stairs and took of her bonnet and furs Mr. Dearing
did take of his gloves before going to the barn, but
proceeded there at once olowcdby robs who had the
concealed, ready for use. As soon as Mr. Dearng
entered the barn door, Probs states that he struck him
in the head and feed him to the earth and then chopped
his neck with the edge Of the Miss Dolan
the and last victim. She proceeded to the barn
after coming down stairs, not finding any OF the family
he had done the Of the family After laying out
the bodies and covering them with hay, the murderer
for va.uabes, but he states he got money,
but expected TO secure a considerable amount
He states that Miss DoIans pocketbook had
very httlc in II, and he said nothing whatever ofthe
$50 compound interest notes, and the $40 bill OF the
same character He remained about The house for some
time, pckc up the articles found in the black vasc,
and let about dark His further movements pret
ty much brou 1T out trial. and which patent To
the minds Of the whole community.
Probst that he would have confessed TO all the
murders before but he feared il he did he would be
pieces by the mob During tho trial. and at the
Of his capture he states that he had disposition
to make confession; but the yels OF the crowd when
he first them frightened him into the belief that
II they knew the extent OF his crime all the police
In Philadelphia could not him from their clutch
es Probst also states that he did not like to go
to the court room drrng the trial. as the yes OF the
crowd when he made his appearance the street made
terrible impression him, aud he much preferred tue
solitude Of his cell. During the afternoon he will be
visited by some of the authorities and 1t Is expected that
minute confession In detail will be extracted from him
He knows that he will never again be brought
face 10 face with any number Of bis fellow creatures
until day of his execution, and therefore will give 10
the authorities all the Information they desire In relation
TO the murder Although had doubted for long
time that he solitary and alone In his devllish work.
u is OF infinite satisfaction to know from his
own lips that he had no accomplce.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
The confession as reported TO the Inquirer contain
some further details Of Probst and his horrible crime
He says he had thought Of committing the murder at
of hiring with Dcerng, but calculated on rob-
bing him Of The money which he had him count
ing Ec had never said anything about It to any one
He came TO this country in 1858 in the ship Co
lurlbus, from Bremen, and did anything
wrong IN Germany His father and mother were still
living at Baden. He is twenty-four years of age. He
enlisted twice and deserted first in the Forty first New
York. and then in the Fifth cavalry. He planned every
day TO get Deerings money; but never had chance
4 lie says-"hy nrSt plan was 10 XIII MIN ana YET the
money. could not get the money in any other way
thought OF killing them at the house they down
in tho morning got the sometimes ready for them
| when they came down evenings. got some good
| chances; but my heart failed inc"
After ecrbing the manner OF murderingj Cornelius
Carey and Mrs Deerng and her children he gives the
following explanation OF the killing Of the nfants:
"Then went the house and took Annie and told
her that her mother wanted to see her In the stable.
| She did say word. Then took little baby; took
it on my The little girl walked alongside Of me.
| ! left little baby on the first cornor as you 60
,sto tla ,tIa rlav in tha hay WQnt
same place where killed the others she looked around
like for her mother who In the hay She did not
| say anything knocked her down at the first blow,
and cut her throat as the Others, when went
got the little baby, and struck II on the head in
the same place. hauled them into the same place.
After describing the killing OF Deerng aud Miss Do
Ian the end says he took out Mr. Deerngs pockcbook
but only got seventeen dollars, including counterfeit
three dollar note He no, lying now He thought
they had much money. After securing other articles,
revolver &C afterwards found his poescssonl he
washed and dressed himself putting Deerngs clothes
on and then bread and butter The scoundrel
frequently laughed while detailing his confession Of these
horrible crimes