The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-13
Suicide OF the Rebel Colonel Sterling
King.

REMARKABLE DEATH OF STERLING KING, THE
REBEL coLosEL. SPY AND HORSE THIEF Br
sELF-fMPosED srARyATIos-skETCH OF HIS
LiFE AND ADVENTURES.
(From tho Cincinnati Commercial, May Ill
Sterling King, known throughout the a rebel
spy and bearer OF dispatches with tho rank OF colonel
born In England in 1894, and while yet boy came
homo near Richmond. Va. He received a very good
collie iaie education, studied law and practsed In
Rirbnond, Va Upon the Inauguration OF the re-
be lion he was among tie very lrsl TO enlist a. prl.
under Stonewall Jackson Badly wounded in an
engagement in the st year, aud distinguished for rcck
less COURAGE he was promoted to cOonelcy and
detailed 10 act spy, under orders from the rebel
Executive In hs-capacity he travelled all through tho
North managing be brought experience TO the aid o.
natural alb tes 10 work successfully 10 procuring passes,
passing the lines and procuring Information useful TO the
rebel cause He made trips through AL the Northern
aud Eastern cities " Cuba Canada and 70 Europe
He several times had business In this city and
occupied small ofnce the Soldiers Home
Third street, where, under the glse Of claim agent
be occupied himself da4ng several weeks In collecting
from inmates OF the Home statistics 10 the strength
and location o. all the regiments represented by them
He fully acq. anted with all the business OF the
rebel mail service aud AT time employed In
ectng aud routes for that business. couple Of
Year, since he captured here and imprisoned a. a
spy Propositions made To release him In tho event
% his giving Information that would lead TO the arrest OF
rain rebel asents In this vicinity bot be stuboornly
refused stating that he intended 10 make bis escape
with his hands aud this promis he made good by work
ng his way out night and passing the guard, despite
bayonet thrust IN the thigh
uuxv.
Hay ing thus gwen tho points In Kings history
as rebel colonel and spy, We cone now 70 his opera
tons as horse thief. Pretending 10 the honor and
pun tio OF gentleman % tho hrst ola of ohivalry,
while the rebel service In which he continued until
the war closed he nevertheless turned professional
thief upon being again thrown upon bis resources
Coming 10 this city aoot three months since he planned
and or time successfully executed tbets Of valuable
horses and vehicles from three livery stables Fay's
Biger's and Hi'rmans He would make himself FAM.
ar with the rroprictcrs-one after the other and
return few times talk OF purchasing fine horse, and
when rsiy for the theft, hire the valuable " turn
~ ~ the sisbie A. 70 Tow miles out and then
take the whole establishment borpe buggy and harpeAs
70 bow ling Green or Louisville and sell IL
D. ON the 18th Of March lat he recognz borss
thief m the Louisville Hotel o. Louisville
arresteA placed In jail " await the Becesssry rcqu
Oft on from Governor Cox Then u was that lie invend
the lie an 10 the nation Of President Lncoin de-
caring that he Assassin, and that John wilke.
Booth had nothing rther 10 do with II than hold biz
king :, horse ~hie he entered the theatre, fired the
pistol SHOT made his escape and remouned HIS objec,
In telling this tory induce the Authorities 70 take
him Washington where he would be iibersied, and
escape both cnArges
Suicide
TalInr IN this and beng reduced 70 the extreme o
dcsponden and incation NJ the position 10 vhct
be bad degraded hpsel he resolved 70 pat ef W hi
wrctchcd sud atpsfrnsiy unendnrabe ori-tenos
asost eleven O'Clock one Hsht When all save himself 10