New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-26
sPUYTEy DUYvIL CREEK BRIDGE.
TEE SNEDICK MURDER.
STATEMENT OF JOHN REAL, UNDER sENTENC
OF DEATH.


OF DEATH.
John Real, now under sentence of death for
Che killing Of officer snedick. makes the following com
nunication TO the people of New-York:
beg the public bear patiently with while for
The last time briefly relate the fag'S OF my saI case -
earnestly ask for perfect confidence In the truth or
NY statement, in few days soul must pass un6id
den It's Maker and will not peril its safety by deClar
ing any thing which is not true nor indeed ny conceang
fact which ought TO be known in connection with the
sad tragedy for which have been condemned 70 dle'
believe that when the character and extent OF the as
suts and persecution 10 which was subjected by the
eotased shall be iuly NnoWh II VIII he couctGeu 'at
ought not die the death ot teon on the seanoid
the Spring of 1861 The first lfeeling ever knew he
had toward me expressed in public room, IN the
offensive names, and IN turn dd the same 70 MN
We were both wrong. No violence was then used by
either From that day Smedick entertained hatred for
me iir| Ilc dITosf Whenever we nct He was
policeman. with power and influence. and laboring
man without either. Ny vice was occasional excessive
Indulgence in drink and II especially these occa
that ne under preense Of arresting me, would
beat and 6ruise me IN most if'l st lnaH hea
ulon the, head, face, and body -, He often
tod me and also others nat knew US both that pc wSna
drive from the ward or beat my head OIL smed1ck
drank as well l. but not, perhaps as much as some
chase with his club, sometimes striking me and some
times would get away from him ana from ms threats
was too much intoxicated to get away he would beat
me terribly indeed once in while when severely
prcteuo (which now in these my dying hours soedny
or shoot him. never prior 10 the night Of his death,
NJ 6rrf ni,to at him or attempted threatened TO do
5lncver nor did strike him with my fist or with any
thing else and never assaulted him or attempted TO as
sault him iu any way whatever.
part ally intoxicated and he would beat me- would re-
si>t h, assaults as Vel as could with my hands ony.
in all his life bore marx OF violence however
slight, which ne had received from me, while have
often kicked with heavy boots and once, well re-
:" .i tt was unable 10 walk for two weeks. could
relate particular times and circumstances OF many differ
counsel Judge Stuart, has large number Of aft
dayt, Of various persons showing fully and in detail
n win Mi. constant and cruel abuse of in this way,
Td ali I'M his power 10 prevent me from obtaining liv
ing by honest labor. lie denounced me as thief TO
tho>e i'm whose employment was and drove me ron
po. or of IT, will say that of me. was accused
.u-r,cte Of stealing aud had that character i'm
i''f..a on the secoud-ave Railroad as conductor.
sucIfe caused me 70 De discharged from there, as an
sf.Ilft ,udcnt i'm the hands of
counsel wiz show. Ny friends then obtained for
When Smed.cE hearing this procured me to be
dismissed. ike affidavit Of Superintendent
Alderman Crooker sought 10 get me on another road,
when ~ucdck, hearing OF this reported me thief, and
defeated the application which there Il proof oath
IN The hands OF my counsel. He followed and injured
neincr. who was Deputy Collector OF the United States
.avcnuc. employed TO watch a barge IN the East
Eir loot OF Thrty-frstst which Rad been seized with
an Illicit whisky stin ON board. smedick, finding this
out. went 90 him and told him was thief, and did al
aav +, with INV counsel. showing this 10 be true.
Besides these cases. he wa, in the habit told
20 almost every with whom he spoke about me- and
pointing ne OUT as sCch Whenever ana wherever seen
NJ character for honesty las never To ny knowledge
doubted or questioned by any one else, and even
sueCiek himself with an his hatred arrested
Tor any e-cd dishonest act lie knew that that would
not Dc believed by Ory one who knew me- My fault
NAT of sometimes drinking too much, and was mostly
fy condition at these times that he took advantage to
sluh tine peril OF my life In qualification of his
Of the dead. and l therefore refrain from any
comment upon the wel-known disposition and
far ice NJ
ha{rv victim Of his wrongs and mine. Touching
he facts Of the killing have this plain and truthful
starfeut d. make: Augustus Adams and myself were
employed upon the barge Franklin, foot of Thirtyfrst
st watching Illicit whisky still that had been seized
~ United states revenue officers We watched in turns
On that night short time aboard in the early
eveuin and went about o'clock or niue after up to
che eUtu saloon OF Mr. KOCH near the corner OF Thirty
!hrdst and tlr>aye, 10 get glass OF afe ana some
tvioe ] think started alone to 90 back 10 the barge 20
watch for the night; came down FrStave. TO near the
corner Of 3hirl -seconqSt when saw slngdck niue
ahead o. going in the same direction, walking slowly
4 walking faster than he was ana about passing
MIN. when. he turning, saw ana recognized me; he
crossed Immediately IN front Of Inc, and raised and
a1--h. Fves good mind TO lay you out" words like
ythcse Ijqnped aside from him, and toward the inside
f~snced, and n stepped back until had got partly,
Followed me uP close aud al blows at
e. head with his club. AT this fred He reeled around
ss1 was involuntary and Of which was not conscious
ole pistol went Oft he fell 10 the Sidewalk and
o@d seized with horror thar no language can express
~ heard (which proved 70 he Officer Mee)
min toward then attempted 10 nee, but was
m, .Sed and arrested by that officer This is true
spdS faithful account of the kllisg precisely it
eccuTsd And here desire 10 say in the presence of
that God must appear, that the testimony
Of thu, stiffness, who thai came rom behnd the
tOalbrx the time that shot the deceased Is utterly
and eIvffey untrue. not concealed behind any
tIiDg al did not lie in wait ! soemlly say tlsi the
meeting purely accidental, and that II was wholly
one 1pe,s6 and uUpTcmeGtated by me. II was az the
work Of New moments; Of tine witness, Carpenter VINO
twOrc he come from there, II may MOI DE
improper ~ say that he has sluce then stIled
great sTtfOn OF lns time in the PenltentAry
FOR stealngS my counsel has the record or MS con
giotiOn by Judge DOWiug wish here 70 add that wat
ever wicked and foolish words 10 Oncer Nee u
DraVe officer and truthful mani immediately after my
arrest the evid'nee given by Officer LamFecht az my
trial what said at The time about the killing
II SIediek, Inquahedly false the clear ana pos
tive affidavit OF OtheeT Aiee, IN the haHds OF my
counsel fully prOyt~ perhaps ought not 10 speak OF
these things at this lime in the bsrh way do and would
moi cKcept there the day m trial aud still IL
eu0ugh for TO, without being made su
Ter bY false testimony 'Or what did not do or say
The pjstO with whclhBmedick shot wa procured |
by me 81 the request Of Mr. Mouheiner (as affidavit
IN the hands of Judge Stuart will shOw) after went on
board the barge be used IN protecting the whisky still
from being stolen by those from whom IL had been taken,
and for mo- other purpose. Not only because the con
sequences II has brought upon We and upon my relatives