The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-21
CONFESSION OF A DYING THIEF.

THE REMARKABLE DEATHBED STORY OF BAR
NUNS VANCOUVER, THE No-HAIRED MAN, OF
VANCOUVER IsLAND"-HE WAS BORN IN con-
NEcTIcUT-HIs SUBSEQUENT LIFE OF CRIME
CONFESSIONS OF MURDERS AND BURGLARIEs.
TROY. May 20, 1875.
few weeks since an old man was arrested IN
this place having in his possession horse ana
buggy whica he had stolen rom a livery stable In
Norwich, Uhenango county. The man gave his
name as Burr Deming. and was noticeable
for the absence OF HAIR his mead
and face. shortly after his arrest he
was taken i'll and continued 70 grow
worse until Saturday, when he died. The day
before he died he requested a clergyman to he
summoned to his bedside, as be desired to make
certain revelations and confessions before he
died rne story he told, or portions Of II, nave
JUST been made public. and is one OF he most ex-
,raordinary narratives known to the records OF
CRIME
81 was born, he said, In Sharon Litchned
county. Conn. and the fact or his having nair
attracted the attention OF p. I. Barnum, when
that Snowman first started out. and who engaged
him to travel with him. Barnum advertised him
as vancouver, the no-nared man OF Vancouver's
Island" a feature OF the early exhibitions oil Bar
mum which VIII be remembered by many yet living.
lie was with Barnum seven years, and then lett him
TO follow life OF crime, which he adhered TO ever
alter lie was married eight times, and seven OF
his wives, he declares, are yet living-one In New
YORK, two IN Philadelphia, one IN Connecticut, one
in New Orleans, one In Lockport and one
IN Boston. he said he had been concerned
7. ia no less than 800 burglarIes since he
left Barnum, three Of which were attended VII n
murder. lie mad been arrested lis times, and
served many terms in prison, ranging from six
months 70 two years. Inc last time ne was sem
tenced was IN Buffalo. He was an accompce OF
Dan Noble IN the celebrate bond ROBBERY OF 1862
and in 1870 ne was tried at Buffalo aud sentenced
10y Juu2e Boardman to i've years In Auourn Prison.
lie served two OF IL, and was then pardOnea out 10y
Governor Hoffman 1T the petition oil friends.
Alter leaving Auburn Demng went to canada.
lie mad ueen there but a few months when he
iosned gang Of burglars and planned ana helped
10 execute the robbery OF the ST. Catnernes'
province, all the rest escaping. Mnen put upol
trial he succeeded in establishing an abb through
the testimony OF one Mary Washburne. supposed
mes, but IN reality the wife o. one
OF the gang ana an accomplice IN
$1,000 stll standing or the arrest OF the parties
engaged IN the 1T. Cdthernes' robbery. They got
away with about 100000 and large amount OF
bonds. These latter, according to tue dying
GRIM nal were buried In Delaware county, near
knew to tue contrary Demlng said that the robbery
OF the United States mall OF i've bags oil valuable
mat. er at Utica year ago Was planned by nin,
but he dd not participate IN the ROBBERY, although
lie knew all tie parties engaged Ia IL, and now
they nave managed TO eIude justice. lie vas one
OF tue gang who committed tie ComstocK robbery,
also IN Utica, which, he said, did not yield the
amount that was reported "a taken, it
beng, IN fact, unproniab job Be-
sides these leading crimes in which he
was concerned, Demlng confessed 10 being
a leader In numerous Others which acquired but
local reputation, but winch were important TO
the profit they yielded. He claimed TO Know VINO
broke O. en- the Port Jervis Bank IN 1852 wnen
about 500 .O0J IN money and bonds were stolen,
aud sald lie was one ~ the watchers outside wnen
1t was zone. DeminR also salu that ne knew who
r0boed and murdered MI. Edwards few months
ago at CooperstJwn. IL will be remembered That
kawards, VINO was wealthy resident OF coo 1ers-
town, was attacked at sight at MS residence,
rOhbed and murdered. BY nat which was lie t
behind by the murderer or murderers supposed
clew was obtained 10 party concerned la the
crime, and he arres ed. Deming SAID they
had not got the rlgnt man; thai ne knew to
whom the hat belonged. He gave detailed ac-
count OF that crime mentioning tue names OIL those
concerned In II, and made many extraordinary
developments, wuicn the authorities VINO now
have the sworn confession viii not as yet di-
vulge. DemnR lved but few hours after making
his statement aud was fully aware OF MS D.
preaching dissolution. opinion as 10 the trutn OF
his confession II considerably divided; many
believing tnat a dying man would DOT trump up
tue stories he told, and others claiming that
Deming was GRAZ. An investigation OF tue state
nients VIII be made, ana tner truth or lastly
V