The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-05-28
MURDER WILL OUT.

TWENTY NINE YEARS AGo-A HEAL
CUT oFF-THE CONFESSION VERIFIED
BY INSPECTION.
The following remarkable letter was
lately received by Mr.. John Walker
Havana, Ill. one of the gentlemen to
whom it is addressed =
SAN Francisco, Cal, April Is, 1874
To Mr.. Bob Covingtou, DR.. McCowen
and Mr.. John Walker -
DEAR SIRs-I cant put of writing t.
you much longer, for don't know how
soon | must go before my God. | hope
that Que of you three isstiIl alive. would
afraid but | can't put it off any longer
My conscience troubles me night time and
day. | must confess my great sin, for
have suffered 50 much siuce | murdered
man at Ritter's Crossing, in your
neishborhood, twenty nine years ago
Some OF the baud got shot. But | must
be shot. Now, as / was slightly &C
quainted with you, Messrs Bob Coving
ton, John Walker, and Dr. McCoweu, |
hope you will read this letter to relieve a
poor old man. | got religon-was con
verted about two months ago-and feel
not afraid to meet my Savior, Christ
Jesus, If | confess my great sin OF my lie
| stole many horses aud passed many
counterfeit bills, but | only killed Que
man at Ritter's Crossing, in your neighbor
hood, twenty nine years ago. | met hiw
South from MackInaw. and we rode all
the afternoon towards Havana he was
going to the Land Office in Springfield to
buy land for S2,04S.
We got to Ritter's Crossing after dark
and it was foggy. | and partner Of
mine intended to steal two horses that
night in your neighborhood, aud, oh, IA
God | wish | had stolen horses and not
killed the young man with the 81 ,04S
just when we was crossing the creek
shet him two times in the face. cut
the head from the body, so it would be
harder to discovsr who he was if found
My partner and me dragged the dead
body about twenty yards below the cross
and put him among the willows iu the
swamp We took the money and the
horse and head, and we divided the
mnuey, and | took the horse and sold
him in Canton for $50.
We buried the head under large tree,
near the road, between Bob Covington' =
and DR.. McCoweu's, right in the west
point Of the timber. We dug hole about
foot deep, with our knives and hands
in The sand, near the trunk of tree, and
buried the head in it.
Perhaps your folks are all dead or gone
away, so my confession will not come to
you. | hope 10 innocent person has
Suffered for my crime. have suffered
great deal for ny great sin, but my
Saviour will forgive me if | repent
sm now sixty eight years old and sickly
and cant live many days longer | and
the man | murdered talked about religion,
and he was a christina from his talk.
Now. be so kind and look for the body
IN the swamp aud the head in the ground
near the road between COvington and
DIR. McCowens, and if you fad them
please bury them in christian grave
yard; it would relieve my heart Maybe
that YOU cont find the boues of the young
| killed. Perhaps the ground is
plowed up or too much covered with vii
lows and mud, but try to fnd them if
possible and bury the bones in u grave
Yard. don't remember the young man s
name, but be told it to me that afternoon
| could die so much better aud my
conscience would be lighter to meet my
God. Pleasetry to ease an old man mind.
| came to San Francisco to see doctor
He says ca0 not live much longer, so
l have written this letter aud | will mail
1t when | so to start hoEe.