Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-09-11

MtkDEhthS Vf tfE rkASVNiC 1rVoiAlEs
The publication Of an article by Thur
low Weed, assuming to throw new
light on the Morgan Masonic mystery,
but which contained no facts new to the
public, has caused the republication of
the confession of Henry L. Valance,
who died in 1913, accusing himself of
the murder of Morgan. This was pub
lished in pamphlet at the time, enti-
tied, "Confession of the Murder Of VIII
lam Morgan,as taken down by DR.. John
L. Emery, of Racine county, Wis, in
the summer OF lS4S, and now, QS49)
first given to the public" and sets out
as follows:
"My last hour is approaching and as
the things of this world fa6e from my
! mental sight, | feel the necessity Of ma
king, as tar as my power lies, that atone
ment which every violator OF the great
law of right owes TO his felow-men. I
allude to the abduction and murder of
the ill-fated William Morgan" He
here proceeds with an interesting mar
rative of the proceedings of the fratern-
ity in reference to Morgan while he was
incarcerated in the magazine OF Fort
Niagara. The contessor continued
Z" Many plans were proposed and dis
cussed and rejected. 1t was finally
agreed by council of eight thae he
must die must be consigned to con-
fnement from which there is no escape
the graus. Eight pieces of paper
were procured, live ofwhich were TO re-
main blank .<while the letter ID was
written on the others. These pieces of
paper were placed in large urn from
which each man was to draw one at tho
| same moment.
"After drawing we were al to sepa-
rate, without looking at the paper that
each held in his hand. SO soon as wo
had arrived at certain distance from
the place of rendezvous the tickets were
to be examined, and those who held
blanks were to return instantly to their
homes, aud those who should hold
marked tickets were 10 proceed TO the
fort at midnight, and there put Morgan
to death in such manner rs should
seem to themselves most fitting Mr.
Valance was one of the three that drew
the fatal letter ID. He then returned i'm
mediately to the fort, where he was
Joined by the other two, who had like
wise drawn the death tickets. ear
rangements were Immediately made TO
siuk him in the Niagara river with
weights, in hopes that he and our crime
alike would thus be buried beneath tho
waves. While my comrades were to
procure boat, it was my lot 10 20 TO
the fort where Morgan was confined,
and announce 10 him his fate. Morgan,
GU being informed of the proceedings
I against him, and what they intended to
do With him, demanded by what au-
thority they had condemned him, aud
who were his judges. He commenced
wringing his hands and talking of his
wife and children, the recollection Of
whom in that awful hour terribly affec-
ted me. His wife he said was young
and inexperienced, and his children
were but infants. What would become
of them were he TO be cut of, and they
ever ignorant of his fate Morgan
wasr told that his remonstrances wero
idlej that he must die, and that, too, be-
fore the morning light Ie continued
to plead most piteously for his life on
behalf Of his family, My comrades
had iE the meantime returned, saying
they had procured boat. On consul
tation we concluded TO give him half an
hour to prepare for his inevitable fate.
For this we retired from the magazine
and left him. How Morgan passed the
time / cannot tell, but all was quiet as
the tomb within. At the expiration of
the time we entered the magazine, laid
hold of Morgan, bound bis hands be-
hind him, placed gag in his mouth,
and led him forth. A short time
brought us to the boat, and we entered
it, Morgan being placed 10 the bow
with myself alongside Of him. My
comrades took the oars, and the boat
was rapidly forced ont into the river.
The night was pitch dark-we could
scarcely see rod before u.s. and there
fore was the time admirably adapted to
our hellish purpose. Having reached
the proper distance from the shore, our
oarsmen ceased their labors. The
weights were secured together by
strong cord, and another cord of equal
strength, and Of several yards in length,
proceeded from that. This cord | took
in my own hand and fastened Il around
the body Of Morgan just above bis bips,
using all my skill TO make il fast, 80 that
it would be sure 10 hold Then In
whisper bade the unhappy man to stand
up and after moments hesitation ho
complied with my order. lie stood
close to the head OF the boat, and there
was just length enough Of rope from bis
person to the weights to prevent any
strain while he was standing. then,
requested one Of my associates to assist
in lifting the weights from the'bo(tom
to the side of the boat, while the other
steadied her from the stern. Morgan
was standing with bis back toward me.
approached him and gave bin strong
push with both my hands, which were
placed in the middle of bis back. lie
fell forward, carrying the weights with
him, and the waters closed over the
mass. We remained quiet for two or
three minutes, when my Companions,
without saying word, resumed their
places, and rowed the boat to the place
from which they had taken il.
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