The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-04-30

SEAL Notary Public
Sandusky Co., 0.
STATEMENT OF WATCHERS.
April 23d, 1875.
Weheroby state that Thomas dolcon,b
mas never made any such confession as
rumor imputes to him about the murder
OF John Hophnger; and further state
that during his illness he was at no time
delirous or deranged, but was and IL of
sound mind and memory.
" LOUISA Ho1cosm.
,g daas NEwH1r Ho1cosfs.
81 faa o EsouH u. CoLBY.
STATEMENT OF yIsIToBs.
iig.. sH April 28rd, 1s75.a
We the undersigned. state tbat va
were present with Thomas Holcomb AZ
his residence, When the foregoing state
ment was made. That said HoIcomb
wos sitting up IN his chair and conversed
with MS III his full right t-niihdedness and
reason. We heard him narrate briefly
his life and career, and his recollec-
tion of the event of Hopfnger's disap-
pearance, whom he declared he never
knew, and to the best of his recollection
never saw, and that we are fully satisfied
that the said statement is true and that
the rumor therein mentioned is without
any foundation and is entirely false.
PETER BUReooE, HOMER EvBBETr.
SAMUEL SKINNER, S. p, MENa,
JOHN KooNs, 4. F. HEFFSpr.
l. ii. BURGooS, ISAAC NJ. KEELER.
JOHN RYAN, A. H. BAIs1Fy
The Deposition Of Mr.. Holcomb hav-
ing been taken, the conversation CON
tinued, and Mr.. Il. was asked. ssis there
anything in this whole matter YOU would
desireto keep from publicity" and his
response was ready and determined
"Nothingl L call God to witness that I
am as innocent of this offense as an un-
born babe could be"
While it was evident that the story
annoyed and preplexed him, yet there
was nothing in his manner or bearing.
the expression of his face, the tone of
his voice, the glance of his eyes. but
carried conviction of his innocence and
uprightness with them. We do not
mean to pettifog his case; above stands
the record; let those who disbelieye az
sail it if they can, but we may be allowed
reference to the following
INCIDENTS.
1t has been stated that the last known
Of the missing man was that he had stop-.
ped with a person named Thorn. Thorn
lived about four miles from Holcomb's
in straight line, but to reach it the riv-
er had to becrossed, section Of country
traversed, Mud Greek had to be gotten
over, and anothersection ofland crossed.
At that early day, the difficulty of doing
so was no Insignificant matter. Added
to this the fact stated, and which we
have not heard disputed, that Thorn
wore the coat of the man, who had so
unaocountably disappeared, toPort CIin-
ton, few days after; and the further
fact that though Hopfhger could be-
traced to Thorn's he could dot be traced
beyond Thorn's, (when to have reached
Holeomb's would have obliged him to
cross the creek and the river, which he
could not have done without obtaining
a boat and thus afforded trace of his
going; or, allowing for his crossing the
creek on bridge, there is not and has not
been a bridge across theriver lower than
at this city, and to have crossed the rfv-
er here would have necessitatedthem mis-
sing man passing through settlement
where he must have been noticed, and SO.
tracedD and there is not, apparently, a
shadow left for the reported confession
to rest upon. frsl aa 1
In conclusion, we will add that Mr.
II. has been confined to his house since
August last, when he was attacked with
a disease which has developed into drop
sy. His lower limbs are badly swollen,
and his bowels are also affected, but his
chest and upper limbs are free from the
disease as yet. His voice is clear and
strong, his nerves steady, his mind acute
and his reason unimpaired. To look at
him and talk with him is to be convinced
of the utter improbability and ground
lessness of the reported confession.
We commend the above deposi-
ton and statements to the editors OF
OF those papers which, have given cur
reney TO the reported confession