, 1866-05-25
THE MURDER.

could stand it no longer, but pushed the
door open, stepped one or two steps III, and shot
Sidney lie was standing in the middle OF the
floor looking at me, and when | shot, fell, his
sh builder on Rhoda AIMS dress She was sit
ting uu the floor. After shooting Siduey I'M
nrcdiate!y shot at Barbara She WAS just rising
from the chair. She screamed and ran past me.
put the pi stol against her face AS she passed,
(which accounts for wound as per testi nOny, }
ana snapped the third and last cap. She ran
out, jumped over the fence, end ran down into
the orchard. ! immedAte y.-fOllOwed her, and
at the fence called her to come bAck, and
| promised her that would not hurt her if she
| did. She started circling towards me, and APP
peared to still be afraid of me. The little chill
dren had followed me to the fence, and here it
was that she told Leora to go in the house and
| see if her father WAS dead. | had taken her by
the hand, when she again thought that was
going to kill her, and then led her to the wood
| pile where she caught her oldest daughter, aud
begged her to " not let Tom hurt her."
| thought it better not to put off any longer
what would have to do to save my own neck
| and pulled her as fast as | could to the smoke
| house 1.-THE door was open), and pulled her in,
and shut and fastened the door. She got out OF
nv hands, and all the time called Rhoda Ann to
| not let Tom kill her. She had now got down on
| her knees aud when went to use tue knife she
caught it, and in striking with the knife cut
| her on the cheek and hand at the same time
| She then gave up, and pushed her head back
and gave the fatal stab,-turning the Knife
! around several times that all the arteries might
| be severed She settled down on her face and
| died. then washed my hands. first laid the
knife by her, and on SECOND thought concluded
| to take it away. then went out of the smoke
| house, closed the door, and took the knife to
the rear of the smoke house, and first wiped il
90 the grass, and then cleaned the blade by
| plungiug it into the ground. then took look
| at Sidney to see that all was right, aud as
came out RhOda Ann came to me and asked me
to cut the string off her arm. cut it of with
my pocket knife then went to the barn and
| threw the knife under the second floor of the
barn. | think it went under FIVE or six feet.
will here state that money was not the object
of this murder. Money may have been removed
but had nothing to do with 1t. There WA:
money there that could have taken. Presley
had some money there but my object was moi
money.
regard my trial as having been fair and just
and have no reflections to cast upon the officer;
of the court, the jury, nor the Witnesses. fee
that my life is fully forfeited, and that viii
Justly suffer the most extreme penalty of the
law, that of execution on the gallows.
Now | would warn the young men ! Oh re
member the fate of one who ten weeks ag(
thought as little of ever having to die an igno
minions death as you do at this time Iot
Young men who have perhaps just commenced
q drinking with friend" remember that every
man finds his level by the company be keeps:
his associates are respected, be will be II i'm
moral and hcentious, he will more than llkel!
prove to be of the same disposition, and vii
surely one day suHer tue PenAly Vi 'ue 10"
less he reforms. II,
In conclusion, am thankful to those wit
have visited me to point out to me salvation
10 the many who have come to cheer me durlnl
NV tesions confinement; and iually, e1ten'
to the sheriff, Mr.. Richardson, and those unde
him, my heartfelt thanks for their kinoness
me- May God reward them Tor u Is my prayer
with all things on earth.
May God receive my poor soul.
THASKs-To Wells, Fargo Co., for express