The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-19
The Minnesota uorAx-Funsrsi of
the Five victims oftheNe>sak~c Gray
The Relatives visit the Murderer
IN Hall

The Minnesota Worfx-Funeral of
the Five Victims ofthe Mn>akSc Gray |
Tho Relatives visit the Murderer |
In Jail.
The curtain has fallen upon another act in |
the fearful Oakdale tragedy. The fact being |
generally known that the funeral services Of
the Inflated mother and her four children
terday the church was crowded and number
were collected about the doors. About 12
O'Clock the sad procession Of the bodies Of
the victims, the mourning relatives and
sympathizing neighbors and friends, In car
riages, wagons, on horseback and on foot,
arrived at the church. The Ave collins were
removed to the foot Of the altar, the mother
In the centre and two Of the children on each
side. The sad, unusual sight drew tears
from the eyes Of almost all present. The
solemn and impressive services for the dead
Of the Catholic Church were read by Rev.
Father Calliett, the choir chanting the re-
sponses. At the conclusion OF the services,
Father Calllett delivered brief discourse,
abiding to the fearful calamity which had
occurred, and pointing the mourning friends
to the Heavenly Father as the only source Of
consolation in such deep affllctlon, and re-
quested the congregation to unite with him
In repeating the Lords Prayer. The process
sion then moved to the burial ground,
where all five bodies were deposited in one
grave.
The sorrowlng relatives then directed their
steps to the wretched living. At this meeting
there were present the aged father, two
brothers and two sisters, and several neigh
bors and friends Of the family. The prisoner
had passed quiet night, and had been con-
siderably relieved by medicine prescribed by
DR.. Smith, the attending physician. He ap-
| peared more rational, and conyersed with
Sheriff Grace during the day, by whom he
had been Informed that the funeral Of his
| wife and children was taking place.
On the arrival OF the party at the Jail, Mr..
| Grace went In to notify Gray Of their pres
ence and to prepare him in measure for
the interview. When they appeared at the
entrance to the corridor (where he could see
them, however,) he became excited, and
cried loudly to be released, that they were
coming to hang him. When they formed a
weeping circle around him he quieted some
what, but still his eyes rolled from one to the
other with vacant, meaningless stare. II
was some time before the fathers emotions
would permit him to address his unhappy
son. He then asked his son II he knew him.
He answered, eyes, fhther!" and immediate.
ly exclaimed, 81 done II! I killed them all''
His father then asked him II he was sensible
Of what he had done. He answered In q
loud voice, 'T ami care you sorry for iti'
81 ami He was then asked several ques
tlons, but his answers to most Of them were
rambling. His eyes would roll In speechless
nameless misery, and he would cry out, 81
done the deed" "I done IL In cold blood,
"They are all gone TO Heaven" &c.
He was then allowed to become quiet again
and then asked II he wanted to go home
With sigh Of unutterablc woe he exclaimed
ooh! l am going to hell ! cant repent
Take me out and hang mel' His brother
and sisters spoke to him, and shook hi
manacled hands, weeping bitterly. He re
cognized them all and called them by name
lie also recognized the neighbors who wer
present, and also Mr.. MoAllister, of this city
who knew the family In Pennsylvania
When asked why he did the deed, he replied
G 81 was tired of my life that morning" "Bu
= why did you kill your wife and childreni
q 81 wanted them out OF the way Oh! can
repent" &c. And then he broke out In a
agonized tone: GAS true as God Is my Judg
d did not know what was doing that morn
= Ing" He seemed greatly excited, and SCENE
to writhe in more than mortal agony. Afte
this paroxyism he became rambling In hi
l. talk again, and his weeping relatives turne
/ to leave. By the advice OF Sheriff Graci
,e they did not take formal leave Of him. IL
father simply said he was going, but woul
come in and seee him every day. He toe
no notice Of their departure. and did N
seem to be aware that they had left for SON
&C time. All at once he cried out, "God A
m mighty knows that they are all innocent
8. done the deed. They know nothing Of 1t.
n, struck her on the head with the grubbir
" hoe"
~ In all his talk concerning the murder
III has strictly adhered to the first statemer
IS; published on Thursday morning. No de
IA mite arrangements have been made concer
" ing his custody hereafter, but an effort W
n be made to remove him to the Insane Asylu
IN on Monday next.-St. Paul MiH".) PiOne'
April 10.