The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-24
THE MURDERER REAL.

confession of the Condemned Man in
the EOlnbs of New YOrl-HOw Police.
man smedicl was Assassinated.
John heal, convicted OF the murder OF officer
John smedick, now awaits the day of his execu.
ton in the Tombs of New York. visit was
MADE to him yesterday, and just before the
party LETT he placed the folio wing statement in
the hands of en- ofIicial for publications.
TohBs, CRY PRISON, March 22.-I wish to
snow 10 the community that did not kill John
Smedick for nothing, as the press represented.
6medick and me were always on good terms
until one night, on the Sd of july 1867, was
arguing With Mr.. Curly on the corner of Thirty
third street and First avenue, when Smedick
came and hit me with his club for nothing. Me
and f1tend named Michael Moore went into Mr..
OOok's saloon to have q glass of lager, when
somebody went out and told him (SmedicR)
had revolver. He (Smedick) ran in and took
nold OF me. and said he would take me anyhow.
said, "Let go of me,n at the same time putting
my hand IN my side-pocket. He ran out and
raped for help, and j went out OF the back
way. The next morning, July A. gave myself
up IN the station house had Mr.. DAILY with
me TO go bail for me. The sergeant sent for
Smedick and when he came in the station
house be went to hit me, and only for the SER
geant would have done SO. When smedick
took me up TO the court he swore that put
the pistol TO his head and fred shot at him.
This is fasehood, as Mr.. Cools Michael
Moore, Thomas Riley, Mrs. Shields, aud others,
can testify, for did not point pistol at him
nor fire at him. He kept after me from that
time until he was shot. One night, in June
1868. he came off his post at the foot of Thirty
first street, to the barge where Twas watching,
ana said that twenty persons had been to
the etotlon house and made complaints
that they heard women screaming. He
knew that | was on the boat, and wan ted 10
raise muss with me-. Captain Allaire or any
sergeant Knows that there were no such COM
plants made. Patrick Craig and James Ward
We're there, and they know different, but
Smedick was after me and wanted to get me
In trouble. The folio wing Sunday met Sme-
dick in Cooks saloon. l told him the best
thing he could do was to let me alone. He
came out after me and hit me from behind,
Knocked me down, and was going to kick me,
when Mr.. McGill put his hand before him and
had done anything wrong. Smedick said to
Mr. McGill, what is the matter with you?"
and arrested him. few days after l got oat
a civil warrant for Smedick for beating me.
When he got notice to appear in court he
came TO arrest me for escaping from him
on the Sunday he hit me- He had seen me
every day after until got the warrant for him.
A friend OF mine told nae to look out for myself,
for smedick was after me. l said to my friend,
LET us have drink; don't think he will
trouble me- When we were going TO have
turned up Thirty 6rst street, and he came
after me with revolver in his hand. ran
through the entry OF house and into Thirty
second street, and got clear OF him. That night
he found me stupid drank in the entry and beat
and dubbed me and took me to the station
house. was SO stupid did not know that l
Wds Dedteu, OF tnat nau Dee0 arrested tlll- tle
next morning, when was told by policeman
that was in the station house that night
don't want to mention the policeman's name,
but he said that Smedick told Sergeant
Read not to dress my wounds but to "Let
the - die; it serves him right.n The next
morning. Smedick took me to court. and
swore svSsr that hat was was lying behind pile of
and that with a welldirected blow he knocked
me down and took the pistol from me; he
wanted to show his bravery; after the judge
committed m a
down, he stood at the head OF the stairs and hit
me on the back of the neck and tried to break
my neck caught the 6ansters "a as as foIaa Was fall
down and kicked me between the shoulders;
called the Keeper Docksey, and said, Don't let
him kin me;n this the keeper, Docksey, can can
top of my head to the sole of my foot, and
weak from the loss of blood. II Smedick
had not been brute he would have had I
some pity for me. officer OImstead, John Dill
Ion, and James McDonoueh we're there the
night Smedick dubbed me in the entry.
Smedick thought no more of takinga false oath
than person did spit out of their mouth.
was ordered on $4,000 bail, and the first alter
noon was talking to friend, on the corner of
Thirty-fouTth street, when Smedick ran up with
his drawn club. and sald:-"Get Oft this corner,
or will club your brains out" was told by
different parties to look out for myself or
Smodick would kill me. would have had all
the evidence brought up on my trial butathe
court ruled it out. The night Smedick was shot [
was coming from the barge to get something to
eat. was tight at the time. met Smedck, and
he went to club me and shot him, for knew
that the next time he dubbed me he meant
to finish me. He could then swear that tried
to take his life, and that would be the last of It,
He told several that if he killed me he
would be made roundsman for it.. 1 always
tried to keep out of his way, for knew what
kind of o man he was. / wish 1t to be kno Tn
that did not follow him to 'lay for him." as
the press represented it, The press have miss
represented me by saying that was the leader
of gangs which know nothing about never
was the leader of any gang. / was always a
peaceable citizen when let alone. was never
drove drafted y in the 10th Regiment, as the
press cay. volunteered in 1t, and got al
honorable discharge, which Colonel Bendix Car
certify to.