The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-05-12

OOAA4Qo04VA
The Philadelphia papers contain the full con-
fession of Antoine Probst, the brutal murderer Of
the bearing family. Il was voluntarily made to
his spiritual adviser on Sunday, and repeated to
the mayor and other officials on Monday.
He says he came to the United States in 1868
landing at New York that bis father and
mother are still living in Germany that in two
hours after arriving at New York he enlisted in
the Union army, was sent to Washington, where
he remained eight weeks, when he deserted, came
to Baltimore and thence proceeded to PhiIadel-
pha and New York. He enlisted again, was
sent to Charleston, remained there nine months,
and was again ordered to Washington. Here he
deserted Immediately, but was arrested at the
Baltimore depot, detained five days. and was re-
leased and proceeded 10 Philadelphia. Enlisting
for the third time, he served until he was dis
charged at Richmnnd- Ho tho.. e:-~~
OF his subsequent movements, including three
weeks employment Thy Philadelphian in picking
peaches i'll Maryland, and then states the circum-
stances under which he was employed on the
farm. Of the murder OF eight members of this
unfortunate family, his statement is to the fol-
lowing effect
lie states that he had no accomplice, aud con-
ceiyed the horrible crime uuaided and alone He
conceived the murder on Friday, and that night
slept with the boy Carey, whom he intended to
make his first victim. He knew that Carey was
working near the hay rick, and he proceeded
there with the large axe but his heart failed him
three times before he could induce himself to
strike the unsuspecting boy the fatal blow. At
last he mustered sufficient courage and went at
his hendish work, killing Carey just in the man
ner he frequently described. The sight of the
blood of the boy Probst states, produced in him
devilish and blood-thirsty feeling, and be de-
termned at once TO murder the entire family.
lie disposed OF the body of the boy as described
before so often, and then deliberately walked
over to the house. He entered, and told Charlie,
the little boy next in years to Willie, who was
absent, that helwanted 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 despatched him with the small axe he
had secured. He then went back to the house,
and told Mrs. Deering that something was the
matter with one of the COWS, and he wanted her
to come to the barn. She went and he followed
and as soon as she'entered inside, he struck her
in the head and killed her.
lie then states that he went back to the house
and brought the children out, one at time and
taking them inside the barn, despatched them,
one by one, with the same axe. In each instance
he cut their throats, and placed the bodies in the
corn-crib himself, just in the position they were
found. lie then covered them up and proceed
ed to wipe out all evidences of his guilt. He
then went back to the house and awaited the ar
rival of Mr.. Deering, not expecting Miss Dolan
would accompany him. As soon as Mr.. Deering
arrived in the carriage, he(Deering) got out, and
Probst told him something was wrong with one of
the cows, and asked him to go over to the barn
wlthhim. bearing wentalong with him, and Miss
Dolan went into the house, upstairs, and took
off her bonnet and furs. Mr.. Deering did not
even take off his gloves before going to the barn
but proceeded there at once, followed by Probst
who had the axe concealed ready for use. As
soon as Mr.. Deering entered the .barn-door
Probst states that he struck him in the head, and
felled him to the earth, and then chopped at his
neck with the edge of the axe. Miss Dolan was the
last victim. She proceeded to the barn after
coming down stairs, not finding any of the fami-
ly in the house, and Probst, who was in waiting
treated her as he had done the rest of the fami-
ly.
He put away the bodies as has already been de-
scribed convered them with hay, and then went
to the house for plumber He solemnly swears
to his confessor that he got not one dollar, nor
one article beyond the trifing matters exhibited
at the cororner's inquest, not WORTH all told, the
sum of fifty dollars. Finding no money, the
murderer says his chargin was terrible, and the
literally cursed himself in his despair and disap-
pointment. He packed up the pinchback watch,
the common silver watch, and a few miserable
articles of cheap jewelry that he took from the
corpses, and the house, together with the two
pistolS-the only thing of actual value that he
found-in Miss Dolan's black vanished muslin
bag, and at night came up on foot to the city,
with the blood of eight people upon his head and
not sufficient money to pay week. board as
the reward of his butchery
During the trial, and even at the time of bis
capture, he states that he had disposition to
make confession, but the yells of the crowd
when he irstsaw them frightened him into the
belief that if they knew the extent of his crime
all the police in Philadelphia could not save him
from their clutches.