Maryland free press., 1866-05-17
Confession of Probst, the Murderer.

The Philadelphia papers contain the full
confession of Antoine Probst, the brutal
murderer of the Decring family. 1t was
voluntarily made to his spiritual adviser
on Sunday, and repeated to the mayor and
other officials on Monday.
lie says he came to the United States
in 1868, landing at New York: that his
father and mother are still living in Ger
many; that in two hours after arriving at
New York he enlisted in the Union army,
was sent to Washington, where he remain
ed eight weeks, when he deserted, came to
Baltimore, and thence proceeded to Phila-
dclphia and New York. lie enlisted
again, was sent to Charleston, remained
their nine months, and was again ordered
to Washington, Here he deserted imme-
diately, but was arrested at the Baltimore
depot, detained five days, and was rcleas-
ed and proceeded TO Philadelphia. Enlis-
ted for the third time, he served until he
was discharged at Richmond. lie then
gives an account of his subsequent move
ments, including three weeks employment
by Philadclphian in picking peaches in
Maryland, and then states the circumstan-
ces under which he was employed on the
Dcering farm. Of the murder of the
eight members of this unfortunate family,
his statement is to the following effect.
lie states that he had no accomplice,
and conceived the horrible crime unaided
and alone. lie conceived the murder on
Friday, and that night slept with the boy
Carey, whom he intended to make his first
victim. lie knew that Carey was work.
ing near the hay-rick, and he proceeded
there with large AK, his heart failed him
three times before he could induce him
self to strike the unsuspecting boy the
fatal blow. At last he mustered sufficient
courage and went at his fendish work,
killing Carey just in the manner he fire.
quently described. The sight Of Che blood
of the boy, Probst states, produced in him
devlish and blood-thirsty feeling, and
he determined at once to murder the en-
tire family.
lie disposed of the body of the boy as
described before so often, and then deliber-
atcly walked over to the house. lie enter
ed, and told Charlie, the little boy next
in years to Willie, who was absent, that
he wanted him to help him to do some
work in the barn. The little fellow fol-
lowed him, and as soon as he got him
inside the barndoor, he despatched him
with the small AK he, had secured. lie
then went back to the house, and told
Mrs. Dcering that something was the
matter with one ofthe 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
proceeded to wipe out all evidence of his
guilt. lie then went back to the house
and awaited the arrival Of Mr.. Deering,
not expecting Miss Dolan would accompany
him. As soon as Mr.. Deering arrived in
the carriage, he. Oeering) got out, and
Probst told him something was wrong
with one of the cows, and asked him to go
over to the barn with him. Deering went
along with him, and Miss Dolan went
into the house, up stairs, 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 Pyobst, 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 next and last victim. She pro-
ceeded to the barn after coming down
stairs, not finding any of the family in the
house, and Probst, who was in waiting,
treated her as he had done the rest of the
family.
He put away the bodies as has already
been described, covered them with hay,
and then went to the house for plunder.
lie solemnly swcars to his confessor that
he got not one dollar, nor one article be-
yond the trihing matters exhibited at the
coroncr's inquest, not worth, all told, the
sum of fifty dollars. Finding no money,
the murderer says, his chagrin was terri
BILE, and he literally cursed himself in
his despair and disappointment. He pack