The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-06
A DREADFUL CONFESSION.
HORRIBLE EXPECTS OF CRIME-FANATICIsM

| A Mrs. Havllanu, the companion of
man named Baker, came to Detroit, liv
| ing there with her five children in
| very humble position. Three of the
children were poisoned, herself and her
companion arrested, and the following
is the confession of this, unhappy
creature:
/ said to the Sheriff I wanted to go
and make fair confession of the whole
| matter. I came to Battle Creek last
spring. / left drunken husband, with
whom and my children could have no
peace, often driven out of doors after
dark. AS believed in spiritualism, |
came here, hoping that could have the
benefit of the Lyceun for my children,
ard expecting to have my property to
| buy me home for myself and my chill
dren. After coming here 1 found could
not get it as had been promised by the
lawyers, and had it not been for Mr..
Bakers assistance, we should have suf-
fered more than we did.
got Mr.. Baldwin, when l was sick
abed, and with very little In the house
to eat, to apply to the Moral Police Fra
some, but they did not. The reason
boarded with me. They seemed to
think that we ought to be married, but
/ did not feel as though was obliged to
marry man because he had treated me
kindly. After Lizzie Merritt came to
board with me she also helped me u
great deal; had hard work to keep my
children where they should bette lt-
| tie boys especially. / had always tried
| to bring them up honestly, but as they
| grew older saw the manifestations Of
their fathers disposition in them, and
was all the time worrying If they were
out of my sight, for fear they would get
to stealing, or the father would get the
| little ones. ~
When / looked forward to the time
when my children should be men and
women / feared for them, that they
would have to suffer by transgressing
| the laws of the land and thought as
i had been the author of their existence
| In measure, il was better to send them to
the spirit world while they were inno-
cent, and if any one had to suffer
would do it instead of them. These are
the many reasons which have actuated
me for the past five weeks, although j
kept them locked in my own bosom.
The two little ones, Iohn and Libby
their father was thiefand drunkard,
and l feared that if he took the chill
dren from me they would walk in his
steps; and as ! looked to the future, i
saw worse fate for my daughter Libby
| If he had her. If / lad received that
love and sympathy that l ought to have
received when l came widow and
a stranger in strange place, it might
| have been different L walked the
streets many days to sell books to obtain
something for my childen's comfort,
but with very few exceptions / sold
none. -. .sis.s sil ~
the trials that surrounded me. do not
wish those who have been kind to me
| to suffer on my account, therefore /
make this statement that you will blame
no other. feel that what have done
is to be settled between me and my
God and the spirit world. Monday
morning week ago came up to town
to get some sulphur and cream of tartar
and arsenic, and mixed it together In
molasses; but how many times l gave
do not recollect, for, from that time till
after was called in court, / knew not
half of the time hardly what / was
doing.
could not give clear statement of
what followed. What / said when 1
was questioned the other day is as near
right as can remember, except getting
the arsenic. No one in the house knew
that arsenic was in 1t. i don't know as
there is anything more. / suppose that
this is all that is necessary to say. I
took care of my children and watched
over them until the last breath. There
is nothing more that 1 know Of /
make this statement voluntarily.
No one knew what was going to say.
The girls questioned me, but did not
| a Al L. -. H..
, drunken husband / should not have
Z derstand that this statement made by
, me could be used in evidence against
me. No person has offered me any in
ducement if l would make the state
ment. No person has threatened me in
, any manner. When / was down to
, Marshall, I had chance to talk with
Daniel Baker-this was after the exami-
nation commenced, and while they were
under arrest but we did not talk upon
that subject. Mr.. Baker has been like a
father to me and my children. and am
very sorry that have caused him mo-
ment's trouble. / make this statement
wholly and entirely voluntarily.
On Saturday night, the 23d inst, the
Jury found Mrs. Haviland as principal,
and Baker as accessory to the murder of
the cnlluTen. IHey uiu tuis uPoH TIC
, testimony and her confession, and with
. out reference to the result ofthe analysis
at Ann Harfor, which sustains the con-
fession of the woman Haviland.
Warrants have been issued for the ar =
rest ofthe supposed criminals. AS such
they have been confined as witnesses
heretofore. There cannot be doubt as
, to what will be the result. They will
be held for trial at the next term ofcourt
to be held at Marshall, February l, 1866,
for murder-wilful, cold blooded and
diabolical murder.
; THE New KING OF BELGIUM Leo
, pold H., the new King of the Belgians,
is thirty years old. His name is Leopold
!, Louis Philippe Marie Victor. He has
: been for nine years member of the
Senate, and has participated in the de.
bates of that body. He has advocated
measures looking to the commercial
prosperity of the nation. 1t is reported
that he is not only an ardent Roman
Catholic, but that he is under the influ-
ence Ofthe Ultramontane priests of that