The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-03-07


the April Term Of the Circuit Court,
and the witnesses for the State were
recognized in 500 each to appear and
testify.
mrs CONFESSIONS.
PARKERsBURG, WEST VIRGINIA,
January 9th, 1853.
The murderer, John Shafer, made a
confession this morning, under the seal
of confession, in the presence of J. Fl.
Dis Debar, ESQ.,, as the interpreter, and
the prosecutor, Mr.. Hutchinson. He had
spoken to Father Park of confession,
but the worthy father refused to admit
him to religious confession until ne had
made public one, or until he had been
tried and convicted.
This morning he seemed to have lost
all the stubbOrnness and stolidity that
had before characterized him, as he had
not, to the most close observer, exhibit
ed the slightest emotion since his arrest
except on the occasion of Mr.. Beeler
being questioned at his public examina-
ton. His confession to-day was brief,
but he is writing full one.
He is a native of Baden; served two
years in the Papal army, only one OF
which was spent in Rome; from this he
deserted and probably went to the bri-
gands of the mountains, as Is common
with dessrters. He came to this 'coun-
try about three years ago, and was NOR
ried about a year ago. He was work
er in wood, but not good carpenter or
cabinet-maker.
He was often at LillienthaPS saloon,
and acquainted with him. Hecalled up
Lilienthal and murdered him as he was
found, and took all the money he could
find. With that he paid off some debts
of which, singular as it may seem, he
evinces great honor, and off some ex-
penses. This money having run out,
and having butlittle work heinveigled
Ulrich to Wheeling uXder pretense of
having situation for him.
Early in the morning after their arri-
val they started out for the situation
ostensibly. d lonely place on the
roads, near culvert, he murdered III
rich, took his money, about seYenty-hve
dollars, and watch; came to the Penn
berton House, traded off the watch,
keeping the chain, which is now in the
possession of Capt. Taggart. He came
home that day and went to work again.
He became acquainted with Tsutor,
and being out of money he watched
Tsutor, murdered him, took his money,
about SIS, went across the river and af-
terward came home. He owed DR..
Koch S33 for attendance on him, and
agreed to pay il Monday evening. He
obtained $40 from Father Park for Mr..
Beeler, but paid it to DR.. Koch, and
promised the balance next day.
The attack on Mr.. White is elsewhere
stated. He had sent one hundred dol
lars during the last year to Germany.
He has always seemed to entertain
great affection for his wife and now, as
he has learned that he has a son, he
evinces much feeling for him and the
disgrace he has inflicted on him. We
learn that Mr.. Beeler had suspected
him of the murders for some weeks past
and had sent for detective.
About month after the above Elsie
made the following confession, which
was read by an interpreter:
| wish this may be read to the people
at my next trial.
l, the undersigned, confess from my
own free will that am the murderer OF
Alloys Ulrich, Joseph Lilienthal and
Rudolph Tsutor, and that / intended
alse to kill the fourth man, If Almighty
Ged had not prevented it, for which l
thank him on my knees day and night.
| want no witnesses and no defense, and
cannot really give any reason for my
misdeeds, except that the evil spirit led
ME into temptation, and / could not re-
sist it. / am willing to sacrifice my
blood and life for all my crimes, aud
hope that Almighty God will forgive
ME, and after death receive me into his
kingdom. therefore beg of the people
present their forgiveness. l have no
enmity towards any one in the world,
and acknowledge that | have deserved
all that NAV befall me and am ready to
hear it oil With patience. / especially
beg my German eountrymen for their
forgiveness for the great disgrace have
brought upon them, and hope every
one will forgive me. | also beg the
American people not to think Ill OF the
Germans, whe are not to be held respon-
sible because one Of their cOuntrymen
is wicked man.
beg also that no disgrace may at
tach to my wifo, who is free from blame,
as / always arranged matters 80 that
she would not have any suspicion.
also pray that those, to whom l owe,
may not think that they will be de-
frauded. | am anxious to give each
man his own as near as possible. have
made my last Will and Testament
which will be opened after my death
and hope | shall be able to realize
enough to refund his own to every man.
| have also written Down my life, which
is an example to every one who may
read it, and all can see what follows
when a man omits prayer and disre-
CARDS religion.
[Signed.] JOSEPH EIsELE.
Thus has ended the career Of one of
the coolest blooded murderers that has
ever been chronicled in this part of the
country, who, it would seem, by the
divine interpOsition of Providence,
was only saved from adding a fourth
victim to his crimes, which led to his
and final conviction.