Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-05-31
CONFESSION OF HOLLOHAN.

Thomas r. Hollohan, who will be
hung on the 18th of June, and now IN
the Baltimore jail, for the murder OF
of Mrs. Lampley, in Baltimore, last Fall,
has made the following confession =
Baltimore City Jail, May 20, 1878.
While working at my trade last Fall, at
No. % South Bond street, made the
acquaintance of Nicholson. About a
month after he invited me up to his
house. He introduced me to his wife,
which at the time | was very much
pleased with-my new acquaintance,
A week or so after he asked me to take
a ride with him down to Lower Canton.
He had English's horse and buggy. He
then told me about this old gentleman,
Mr.. Lampley, having a large amount OF
money in his house, three OF four thous-
and dollars. He then said, "Tom, we
can make a good raise without any
trouble" He told me how it could be
done. lie said that Mr.. Lampley goes
into the country on Sunday fishing,
and did not get home until late atnight:
He said he once lived i'll the house, and
knew where the money was kept. he
knew that / had been in trouble once
before, and he was no way bashful ask
ing me to assist him. | consented to
90 with him-the day was appointed, it
was one Sunday night-to carry out his
plans, when he said that we would have
s.to 'croak' the old dwoman." Those were
the very words he used. suggested a
better plan. told him if we hurt the
old lady we would be running greater
risk. | said that we would get the mon
ey without using any violence if he
would dress in disguise; that we could
talk the money out of the old lady. To
that Nicholson would not consent, Civ
ing as his reasons that if the old lady
was robbed every one Of the relatives
would suspicion him, and that if he
"croaked" her no one would think that
he would do it. / would not agree with
him, so we gave it up that day. But
he mentioned it to me about a week
before Christmas. He still wanted to
croak (kilD the old lady. | did not agree
with him, and we gave the thing up for
that time. I told him it was useless to
run such a great risk when we could
ret the money without. He said the
old lady would recognize him; that /
could not do it myself with safety.
Nicholson did not say anything to me
on the subject again until the afternoon
of the I'd of January, 1878. | acciden-
tally met him at No. 90 South Bond st.
He invited me to his house, went there.
While there l was introduced 10 Mr..
John Lampley by Mrs. Nicholson. He
did not say he was going to the theatre
in my presence | afterwards accom-
panied Nicholson to his fathers house
on Forrest street near Central avenue.
On our way there he told me what a
splendid chance we would have to night
to get that money. He thought the old
man would go.to the theatre with John
Enplish's wife and his little boy. lie
was not certain that Mr. Lampley would
90 to the theatre, but if agreed to &c
with him that night he would meet me
at half past o'clock on the corner OF
Bord and Baltimore streets. We met
there at the appointed time. He then
told me that the old man had gone. So
l agreed to 60 with him to help to car,
ry out his plans. We arrived at Mrs
Lampley's house at about I o'clock. Nc
one was there but this old lady. She
spoke to him very kindly. followed.
Josh gave me an introduction. He said
that was friend of his; that wanted
her son John to do some papering tol
me. Nicholson asked this question to
ascertain where John was. We talked
there little while, when Mrs. Lampley
got up and went to the cupboard and
; took from there brown paper bag OF
cakes, telling Nicholson that she had
put them up for his little children, that
she intended to send them over to
Nicholson's house that morning. Then
she treated Nicholson and myself to
some wine, stating that it was home.
made. Nicholson stood behind her.
was standing by her side, Josh gave the
signal. 1 grabbed her by the throat
At the same time Nicholson struck hel
with his fist in the stomach. We then
carried her into the other room and laid
her on the carpet She was dead. Mich.
olson ran out and fastended the gate
and closed the window shutter. Every
thing was arranged between Nicholson
and myself before We entered the house
Josh took the light and went up stairs
to get the money. l remained with
Mrs. Lampley in the dark, and if John
Lampley should come in l was to get
away with him. had my pistol with
me. Nicholson made considerable noise
in prying the trunk open. l ran W
stairs to caution MIN about making sc
much noise. He said, ''Tom l have
got it opened" He then handed me
the silver; he took the paper money.
did not remain up stairs but a minute
we both went down together. He sal
the lamp upon the table, and turned