The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-04-30
THE WHOLE STORY.
Thomas Holcomb Vindicated!
He is Visited by a Number of
Citizens.
oa 9i l
T77tU ril, IIHg
His Deposition Fully Taken !
re -ratf .
Certificate Of His Watchers I!
His Deposition Fully Taken !

beeh ~ SuAuCleuV flnQlcaIlOny ylnaSnuch as
the person from whom the story was
said to have come, was traced up and
unqualifedly denied ever having made
the statement. But it having been ar
ranged for number of citizens to go
and hear Mr.. Holoomb's statement, we
joined the company BY request, and on
Friday afternoon last, wended our way
to the residence of the accused.
Arrived there we were at once ushered
into his room, and found him sitting be-
side stove looking much better than
we had expected to see him, As we
entered he greeted each one kindly and
cordially. Knowing the object of our
visit, for he had desired it, (after the
rumor in regard to his confession had
been made known to him, which was a
few days preyious,) he thanked us for
this manifestation of confidence, and
said that he had always striven to de-
serve the respect and confidence of his
fellow men, he thought he had succeed
ed in doing so, and that this visit was
very gratifying to him.
Some remarks as to the object of our
visit having been made, he said in sub
stance-''The Individual whom this ru-
mored confession says l murdered, 1
never knew, and 1 never to
my knowledge saw him, nor even heard
of him, until after his disappearance
when the stories in regard to the mys-
terry were as many and as various as
those we have recently been hearing in
regard to the mysterious death of Mrs.
Hosler. Have no knowledge of how or
where this reported confession origina
ted, or by whom it was originated, but
it is base fabrication, without the
slightest foundation as regards myself.
1t is manufactured out of whole cloths
Nothing ever occurred to me which has
hurt me as this report, and 1 will not
rest under such an imputation." Much
more was said, but we give only the
salient points.
We add here a reference to several Of
the rumors. One of these was, that Mr..
Fl. had made the confession to one OF
his watchers, another was that he had
made the same statement while edelirious;
the third thathe had made the confession
to Rev. DR.. Bushnell Of this city. The
following facts dispose of these rumors
in their order:
His wife and son were the only watch
ers who waited upon him, except part of
two or three nights, when Mr.. E. E.
Colby, who was working there, sat up
with him. These all join in the denial
that he ever made such confession to
them or in their presence; and further
more, deny that he ever was delirious,
during his sickness. These denials will
betoundinthe accompanying statements.
Rev. DR., Bushnell has repeatedly denied
that such confession was ever made to
him, or that he ever was in Mr.. Hol-
combs house. Standing alone, these
facts should fully vindicate Mr.. Hol-
comb, but he has put upon record a
solemn denial, under oath, and that is
accompanied by statements made By in
diyiduals which could not have been OBJ
tanned under any other than the most
absolute conviction Of truth. We give
them below, and in theiryorder:
10 Mr.. HoLooMB's DEPOSITION.
STATE OF ONO, SANDUsKY Co., S..
WHEREAS, am informed that certain
rumoTs are in circulation, to the effect
that i have made confession implicit
ing myself in the murder of John Hop
finger about thirty-six or thirty-seven
years ago--which rumors have appeared
In certain newspapers,
Now, In order that my name may be
and descend to my I,osterity
withits true character, and not stained by
any such imputahon, and TO furnish my
and friends the proof that
such rumors are false and groundless;
|, Thomas Holcomb, on my solemn oath
do make the following statement to wit:
L do solemnly aver and swear that ii
never, at any time or place, to any per-
son, made any confession that murder
I'd, or killed, or made away with said
John Hopfnger or any other human be-
ng. Nor did I, in fact have any part, |
'r knowingly acquiesce in oS consent to
my such act.
further swear That the only persons
Who have attended upon and watched
With me during my illness are my wife,
ny son Newell, and Enoch Il. Colby-the
after person named attended on me
,art of twonights only, and / rely on
hem to give what they may know about |
ny such pretended confession; and also
ely on all others WHO are named or NAV
'e named as having heard such confes-
ion or declaration, to deny the same.
(signe1 THoaAs Ho1coMB,
Sworn TO and subscribed before
ne by Thomas Holcomb, this 23d day oil
Lpril, A. d. 1875, at theresidence Of said h
Iolcomb, and certify that said Holcomb !
t the time Of making said foregoing s
tatement, was Of sound mind and mem In
~, and fully assented to the truth Of ]