The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-11-17
A MURDERED MANS PRAYER.

THE vANDALIA BRIDGE MURDER-ooNFEs-
SION OF THE MURDERER-HIs VICTIM
PRAYED FOR HIH-AND THE WORDS
HAUNT HIM STILL.
TERRE HAUTE. IND, Nov. 9.-On the 10Th
of October, Joseph Robbins, a bridge watch
man at Kaskaskia river, on the Vsndalis
railroad, in Illinois, was murdered. Nathan
Burgess, neighbor of Robbins, was arrested
by the officials Of Fayette county, and the
evidence against him was 50 strong that he
has made the following confession In open
court: "I knew that the Vandalia pay-car
had passed that afternoon and r,hss had
wanted money. got that
shot gun and went to the
bridge. AsI approached the watch-house
saw, through the window, Robbins sitting
inside. His shoulders and head only could
be seen / raised the gun and fired.
then hesitated a few minutes to see If the
report OF the gun had aroused any one. L
then went up to the door OF the watch house
and found Robbins on his kness praying. L
plainly heard him say: 30, God, have mercy
on the one who did this. Spare him for
Jesus sake.' 1 was Mortified, and turned
aud rap did not know where. i did not
enter the house nor touch the door. His
words haunt me STILL" The sum OF money
for which Robbins was murdered was SSl %.
There is great excitement in Fayette county /,
and threats of lynching Burgess are heard.
THE SCENE IN THE COURT ROOM.
[By Telegraph to the Sentinell
TERRE HAUTE, IND, Nov. 9.-About 9
o'clock on the evening of the 18th OF octo-
ber. Joseph Robbins, a railway watchman at
the Kaskaskia bridge, two miles this side oil
Vandalia. Ills. was shot in his own wat sh
house by some then unknown party. Not
long since Nathan Burgess, living in the
country near vandalia, was arrested on sus-
picion and confined in the county Jail. He
had only been there hve days when he was
brought into court and confronted with all
the evidence which states Attorney Ash
croft had worked up. The shot picked
from the murdered mans head exactly
corresponded with those found on the per-
son of the accused, and the gun Of Robbins
which Burgess had borrowed in the after
noon previous to the shooting, was found in
his house. The piece of the Vandalia Union
used as wadding, and found sticking to the
window frame, was also shown to CORES
pond with part OF the paper found in the
prisoners house, and from which small
piece had been torn corresponding in size to
the .wad when unrolled. When
Burgess saw all this, he yielded
to the fear aud remorse which were con-
suming him, and said to the attorney
'sOnly protect me and I'll tell ALL" he
then made full and informal confession
stating that he killed Robbins for hi
money, S31 35, but that he was so over
whelmed with remorse that he could no
even enter the watch house to plumber ths
diving man afser the deed was accomplished
After the confession was through the wild
est confusion prevailed in the densely
crowded court room. A clamor to hang hin
was raised, but the officers surrounded
him to protect him. and stat.
Attorney Ashcroft addressed the crowd, ex
horting that no violence should be done. Ii
reply some one in the crowd arose and saiC
E'if the law will hang him we will let the Law
take its course, but let it be here known
that this wretch must be hung b,
the sheriff or by our own hands. He mus
have no mercy" The prisoner was hurrie'
OIL by a side door and the crowd quietl
went away. Burgess will soon be brough
out and some disposition made Of him
though If he is sentenced to the states priso
for life it is feared that he will be taken fror
the jail and lynched.