Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-01


Ny means were so limited I could not fur
nish a home, and I obtained a little furni-
ture and fitted up 8 suits Of room. In the
midst of these preparations I received infor-
nation that my wife's passage had been en-
gagged to return to the Isle of Man.
Il has been said that I sent her, But I
did not. Thought Of returning with her.
However, 1 had not the means necessary.
and concluded / would not 90 with her.
Ny wife left, and in all this there was no.
thought of Tanner Parsons till nearly q
week after my wife had gone Then I re-
eeived 6 letter from Tamzen, representing
me for my neglect Of her, and asking me TO
come and see her, since there was now no
obstacle in the way. While considering the
matter, | received another message from
Tamzen. l still fought against it. Then
at that instant an individual Of my
acquaintance came in to see me. It
was Mr. Campbell, who had been an old COM
panion Of mine in the Crimean war. He
asked me to drink with him, and l INDUCED
in that vice which has been my ruin. In
the morning l went with him to Newburgh,
and while there we drank heavily. The
events Of the night of July Path, when l
entered Mr.. Parsons house, have been fully
\ revealed. But Tamzen Parsons never said
to me, she did not want anything to do with
me that / "had deceived her once, and
should never do it again" On the contrary
she said she would 60 with me to the end
of the world. 1t was just sitter this inter
view that l met DR.. Wray, and had some
conversation with him, and l might have
made some such assertion as he testified
that / made. But if said, it was only a ruse. |
The next day l went to the Plank Road
House, snd what happened there, or what / |
said, l don't know. / returned TO the city on
the following daV, and was arrested for an
assault and battery by Tamzen's father. 1t
was not till l saw Tamzen and talked over
the circumstances with her that / thought
she had been playing false with me, and the
next day Mr.. Parsons, the druggist, went
with me and we settled the matter up. The
next night was a restless one for me. / had
been drinking a good deal, and what dread
ful determination might V entered my
mind l do not know.
In the joy l felt because a settlement had
been effected, l might have made such
threats as I am said to have made. But
came to the city fully determined never
again to have anything to do with TamZen
Parsons. devoted myself to my business.
On the evening of the sth of August, having
been busily employed in my office all day,
and being very tired, | met my friend Rus
sell in a saloon and we drank several times,
when / proposed to go home. On account of
some quarrel he said he would not go home
and he proposed to go to another saloon and
drink; and we went from place to-
place, and drank, and | became very l.
much intoxicated, and Russell proposed q
ride to Rocky River. Went around town on
a very unholy mission, and visited many
places, but did not succeed in getting amy
companion, and on going to my room Rus /
sell asked to see my pistol. But there was
no thought at that time of going to Bedford,
nor any thought Of the murder of any hui
man being 1t was no. till we wen to New =
burgh that any thought entered
my mind of Bedford. Nor then
did l think of such a dreadful tragedy az
this would occur. We went to Bedford, and |
in the morning l wished to return home, but
Russell then ta1nted me bitterly about !
the girl, and l told the driver to take the !
right hand road, and 1 went to Mr.. Parsons
house, but did not find the family at home. 4
After leaving the house we met Tamzeh 9
with her mother on the road. The old lady
very angry, but Tamzen never uttered
unkind word. A
We were both very drunk from the effects c
ale and whisky, and we became mad and I
reckless. We returned to gothic Twelve Mile !
Lock and Rocky River. and on the wav Mrs. {
krum rushed out of the house and told us
Parsons had gone to town to have c
me arrested. Arrived at the village, the old 2
nan Parsons happened to pass with the =
0oCAD oA4 L XVI " vi EECCdTFldIH 10 BDedK 1 n
o him and at that moment Tsmzen came .
'oward the carriage, and l rushed after her =
md asked where she was going. | don't 2
1now what reply she made. II has been Il
here that-I went there with the intenl 81
ion of committing the dreadful deed, but b
hat is not true, From the moment she q
passed the carriage, 1 do not remember the .
of that dreadful tragedy. =
must have been that a legion of devils had
q Enn hnNd AE M e.. "a l.
nature TO be cruel. There never was in all
ny life a feeling of revenge to take the life !
f any person. q
From that moment I don't know what oc- II
urred till | found myself in jail. When I m
earned what have done, if ever a man y
cit the tOrments of hell, I did. For two or ~
hree weeks, and while the effects ofintoxil q
alton were passing off, when l think what to
suffered, 1 wonder l have any reason left. q
t was then, when l thought there was
either hope in heaven or on earth for me,
threw my all upon my Maker; and it was
hen that received assurances that to all O.
UGH sinners as / had been, there was mer-
y. Earnestly struggled, and Ireceived q
hat assurance. 1t has been said that 1 ami ~ p
man of iron" But that power of self e1
has been given me from some 50
reater source than 1 have within me. "
| am resigned. / have reviewed the whole
hAOW : 0OoCINC uCdlu- Dub =
never deliberated or premeditated the G
murder of Tamzen Parsons. Poor grill NV
VOrst %1ult was l loved her too well. But / n
must submit. 1 deserve il. l hope that ]
his may be an example to all to keep free D
rom the terrible vice, the curse that has b
uined the families and destroyed the hearts .,
{ millions. l hope, indeed, that the exam II
lie may be a lasting one. nj
/ feel prepared Sometimes an hour comes
| remember and think of the old
hureh yard at home, and its long range of .
ombstones where my ancestors sleep. When r
think of the annals of my little native z
sland5 there are many recollections of the :
ood services of my kindred. When / men
ion these things / sometimes think 1 would
wish TO be saved from this fearful disgrace
nd my poor boy-this is an awful legacy to
him, an awful legacy. For that rea
on, and for that reason only, I would wish
his cup might pass. But Gods win be done.
am resigned.
The prisoner spoke in a slow, deliberate,
impressive manner, as of one borne down
beneath the awful weight of impending
Icon. He exhibited no signs of weakness
IT depression. His extraordinary nerve
pore him up well, and there was not the .
tremor p~erceptible in his frame. @
IL he onnEa unouw about LIZ pcoaEoJ r.