The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-21


The Minnesota tforror-Fuaeral of
the Five Victims OF the Maniac
Gray-The Relatives Visit The Muir.
derer I'm Jail. . s.
From the St. Paul tMjnn Pioneer, April ID.
The curtain has fallen upon another act
iu the fearful Oakdale tragedy. The feet
being generally known that the funeral
services Of the Inflated mother and her
four children would take place of st. Ma-
rvs church yesterday the church Was
crowded, and number were collected
about the docrs. About II o'clock the sad
procession Of the bodies of the victims;
the mourning relatives and sytnpathizing
neigh6ors and friends, in carriages, wagons.
on horseback, aud on foot, arrived at the
Church. The five collins were removed to
the foot Of the altar, the mother in the
centre and two Of the children on each side.
The sad, unt,aual eight, dfeW tears from the
eyes Of almost all present. The solsmn
and impressive services for the dead Of the
Catholic church were read by Rev. Father
Calliett, the choir chanting the responses.
At the conclusion OF the services Father
Calliett delivered brief discourse, allu-
ding 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 af1ic-
ton, and requested the congregation to
unite With him In repeating the Lords
Prayer. The procession then moved to the
burial ground, where all FIVE bodies were
deposited in one grave.
The Borrowing relatives then directed
hosr 10 ha oSoln A.
meeting there were present the aged father,
two brothers and two sisters; and several
neighbours and friends Of the family. The
prisoner had passed quiet night, and had
been considerably relieved By medicine
prescribed by DR.. Smith, the attending
physician. He appeared more rational,
and eonyersed 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 to notify Gray of their pre-
sencc, and to prepare him in measure for
the interview. When they appeared at the
entrance to the corridor lwhere he could
zee them, however, ne became excited, and
cried loudly to be released, that they were
coming to hang him. When they formed
weeping circle around him he quieted
somewhat. but still his eyes rolled from one
to the ether With vacant, meaningless
stare. 1t was some time before the fathers
emotions would permit him to address his
unhappy son. He then asked his son if he
knew him. He answered, Yes, father Z"
and Immediately exclaimed, 81 done it !"
81 killed them ALL" His father then
asked him if he was sensible of what he
had done. He answered in loud voice,
AZ am " care you sorry for it :" 81
am" He was then asked several ques
tions, but his answers to most of them were
rambling. His eyes would roll in speech
less, nameless misery, and he would cry
out, 81 done the deed.'' " done it in cool
Blood" They are all gone to Heaven" Sc.
He was. then allowed to become quiet
again, and then asked if he wanted to go
homer With sigh Of unutterable woe he
exclaimed ooh I am going to hell I
can't repent. Take me out and hang me |
His brothers and sisters spoke to him, and
shook his manacled hands, weeping bitterly.
He recognized them all, and called them by
name. He also recognized the neighbors
who were present, and also Mr.. McAllister,
Of this city, who knew the family in Penn
sylvania. When asked why he did the
deed, he replied: 81 was tired Of my life
that morning" "But why did you kill
your wife and children? 2" 81 wanted
them out of the way Oh! 1 can't re-
pent " &c. And then he broke out in
an agonised tone "As true as God is my
judge, did not know what I was doing
that morning." He seemed greatly ex-
cited, and seemed to writhe in more than
mortal agony. After this paroxyism he
became rambling in his talk again, and his
weeping relatives turned to leave. BY the
adgice of Sheriff Grace they did not take
formal leave OF him. His father simply
said he was going, but would come in and
see him again every day. He took no nc
tice of their departure, and did not seem to
be aware that they had left for some time.
Ali at once he cried out, "God Almighty
knows they ore all innocent. l done the
deed. They know nothing of it. ! struck
her on the head with the grubbing hoe"
In oil his talk concerning the murder he
has strictly adhered to the first statement,
published on Thursday morning. No def
mite arrangements have been made con-
corning his custody hereafter, but an eff
fort will be made to remove him to the In
sane Asylum by Monday next.