The union Democrat., 1871-03-18

A Sad Tale Of superssisiea and Crimc-An-
ether Case Of esaiiews Repentance.

a sna Tale ef super-sisioa and (rimc-An-
ether Case Of esaiiows Repentance.
We were conducted to the county Jail in
Lima TO- last Tuesday, for the purpose oi
visiting Brentlinger, the wife-murderer,
whose tine Of execution on the galiows has
been postponed by the Governor of the State
until May. The unfortunate man wassitting
by the store, engaged in conversation with
his spiritual adviser, Rev. A. S. Bartholo-
new, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church. Brentlinger is q short, thick, heavy
shouldered, shor.-necked. and plain looking
man. His white head, long lower lip, and
prominent chin betoken positiveness and exc
cutive power. while over bis face is legibly
written the characteristics of credulity, ignor-
ance aud superstition. The following colo
guy we had with him may be of interest TO
the public:
"Have you any objections to being ques-
toned relative to yocr past life and present
situation ~
mo: not if you will print the truth. The
papers have told great many lies about me. =
"please to state your name and former
history"
"My name is Andrew Brentlinger. The
history of my life is soon told. was born
in Pickaway county, Ohio. When three
years old removed to the Sandusky plains, in
what was then Crawford, but is now Wyandot
county, within one mile of McCutchenvllle.
knew old Uncle Josie McCutchen very
well. From there at tho age Of l6, removed
to Anglaize county, near the Anglaize river.
and from there to my present farm. eight
miles south of Lima, on the road leading to
St. Johns. | have been twice married. My
first wife's name was Gardiner. never had
any trouble with her. She bore me nine
children. After her death / married Sarah
Hewitt, and lived with her six years. Dur
ing our marriage she had three children, all
of them, as | firmly believed, we're illegiti-
mate. As God is my judge. do not believe
them to be my children. My wife was never
true to me she was bad, bad woman"
"What led you to destroy her life? An
swer, if you choose.
"Well, sir, will tell you some of the cir
cumstances, and then you can judge for your
self. AS said, my wife was untrue to me.
She received visits from ether men. This |
believed then, and believe now, to be true.
They wanted to kill me 20 get me out of the
road. !"
s.But did they attempt to kill YOUR
"She said they would. But they could
not shoot me-"
"Whv?''
"Because / wear a charm which turns
aside bullets, so that cannot be shot. Sew
cral of the soldiers who went TO the war from
Lima took charms along, and not one of them
was ever killed, or even struck by q bullet
Then you are not afrsid of being shot?'
"No, sir. They knew carried charm,
and so they intended to kill me with knives.
On the night she was killed, they intended to
put me out of the way, she said. | am a
man who gets very mad when crossed sc
mad that | never know what | am doing
when in that condition. In one of those fits
of anger, | struck her, and. as God is my
Judge, do not remember anything that hap
pened after that until was arrested for the
murder"
ibid your wife have any property when
you married ~ ~
"Not cents worth. had farm of A
acres. They wanted to kill me SO they could
use my wife and get my property, believe. '
"The Cincinnati Commercial reported
when the Governor postponed your execution
that you were sorry you could not be hung
on the dav Judge Mex fixed in his sen
tence. Was that true?''
"No. 1t was one Of them newspaper lies
On the contrary. was glad the time was pui
off but still it might have been just as we'll,
because it is constant trouble and dread on
my mind"
'"IIow do you feel in your mind concerning
the future. after death?"
II feel that all is we'll. (Here heconvict's
lips were tremulous with emotion.) Mr..
Bartholomew. there, a very good man, is my
adviser, and is preparing me for death.
am a bad man. hut not half so bad as the
world and the newspapers make me out tc
be. feel that my sins are forgiven, and
will be happy 10 heaven after death. Years
ago | belonged to the Methodist church. -
Bucyrus { o. Forum
THREE REASONS Why SANTo DoNINGc
SHOULD Nor BE ANNExEp.-The progress O
the Santo Domingo investigation iustifies day
| by day all the doubts and fears of Mr.. Sum
ner. There is an evident disposition on the
part Of the press to bend every item Of news
| from the Commission to favor annexation
n r. Al al ,Aohl II