The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-23

Tho Delay Of Deaeen AndrewS Cenfession
Explained-Psrsisns Of IL Supported ~
Sworn AmAavits-ssranse and Sad Fatality
Among AndPews' Ancestors-The SDecula.
lions and Comments Of the Local Press.
BOSTON, June 20, 1863.
Not since the murder Of old DR.. Parkman in Bos-
ton twenty years ago or more, by Professor Webster
has there been anywhere In the East murder which
has excited much interest and about which there
are 80 many conflicting opinions as the one which re-
suited IN the death OF old Cornelius Holmes In Kings
ton some three weeks since. The murder, according
to his own confession and crcumstantial EVIL
dence was committed by Deacon Samuel NJ
Andrews, man always regarded as emil
nently respectable religious ana law abiding
He claims that he did 1t In sefdefence against an in
decent assault by his victim and the truth Of this
statement there are various and conflicting opinions
The Grand Jury II seems Is not inclined TO place
much confidence in the story from the fact that an
Indictment for wilful murder has been returned
and the accused deacon will In November next be
placed on trial for his life.
The Ola Colony Memorial OF to-day, published in
Plymouth, near Kingston, states that Deacon An
drews first communicated his confession to his coun
sci the LIST and 20 inst. and shortly afterwards
to Constable Jones, Judge Wood and lawyer Dan
FORTH all Of whom expressed their belief In the en-
tire truthfulness of the statements made The Me-
The reasons he gave for not revealing this before
were the disgusting character OF the Tansactions
which led to the terrible tragedy and the dread and
horror which has led stronger minds than his to at
tempt concealment to save even hypocritca repu-
taon. 1t can also be proved that for several days
after that fatal Tuesday his body and his mind were
benumbed and working abnOrmally under the fnhu-
ence OF heavy and continuous draughts OF ether and
he did not discover until he was lodged Ia jail
and deprived of the ether and its effects that he had
suffered material bodily injury to his side and arms,
fessiOn" when first committed In explanation and
extenuaton Of his great guilt as can be proved, ne
ought to be abS0ved from the prejudice arising on
the general supposition that he has waited three
weeks to find his conviction certain and "confes-
sion" becoming desirable as matter Of policy One
OF the meanest elements of Andrews character 1s
manifest in the base libel upon the reputation OF his
victim II his statement is untrue The public Justly
condemn with depth OF dishonOr and utter absence
of all manness In casting such caumny, unfit to be
written or read upon one whose tongue Is silent.
Mr. Homesis honorably spoken OF by his nearest
neighbors as being man Of correct moral habits.
On the other hand the following affidavit Is from an
intelligent and judicous man. 1t is true the facts
OF his acquaintance with Mr.. Holmes, when 1t would
seem he could have no motives for inventing such
formerly Of Kingston, Mass, hereby say that in the
!. :1 he Morse
which :as mr. s M
where he worked he said that as he and Mr. Cornelius
rS Nv ne
&
@
very excited spoke Of that M
.Sa had s% given him. sSf
If the witness has not perjured himself there has
been some such key to the strange intimacy, but
the accused has dishonored and damned himself in
such intercourse for mercenary gain, while his vic
tim may claim demoralized and incestuous passion.
Few will conclude that the initiat0ry and nal as
sauts constitute the whole history Of the intimacy.
But after ALL there s the money, the motive and the
murder. The law don't allow the murder Of man,
however great his moral delinquencies The head
was beaten after the body was powerless to do per-
made itsei heard in that neighborhood and con.
sciOus innocence would have sought immediate ex-
oneration from the nearest parties TO be found, in
the money OF the deceased in the cellar. We dis
miss the trying and most unwelcome sub
tragic history Of the family of the accused.
Elderly men among us remember his grandmother as
insanely personating the character OF nun, going
about the streets covered with black veil, tnco-
already been stated gave him birth in an insane
drmed and almost helpless invalid. His father was
assassnated In the streets OF New Orleans, 1t ID said,
Killed IN Kansas during the troubles there and his
nephew was caught In the machinery OF the factory
where he at work. and 80 torn to pieces that he
The Plymouth Sentinel says:-The facts already
developed by the Investigations IN relation to this
Holmes to execute first put in form by Rev.
Mr.. Peckhan, through the ntercess0n Of Mrs. Peck
Holmes such paper was copied by Mrs. Andrews;
that from such document thus copied the Register OF
our Court of Probate framed the will which was duly
executed in his office and delivered to Andrews;
that on the same day when Mr.. Holmes was found
murdered this will was lodged by Andrews In the
Registers ONCE for probate.
In relation to the confession the Sentinel has the
following commensurate this confession" in
which Andrews alleges that In consequence OF what
we have already limited at, he had o scuffie with
Holmes who was physically his superior. and thus
mutlated, mangled and killed him in self defence,
Inn ofnhad fnncn
answer in days OF fable but it can hardly have the
effect intended to influence the Grand Jury to find
an indictment for milder oence than that OF muir.
der WHILE OF course, 1t removes all hope OF defence
on the ground Of hereditary insanity hereafter to be
set up by Andrews or his counsel.