The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-05
THE MYSTERY UNRAvELING
A Daughters Confession of Perjury
that Consigned Her Father
to the Gallows.
A RESPITE RESULTS.

tains the following particulars of the con-
fession made by the daughter
of a story, duplicating her father,
Lodcis Fredenburgh and Albert Freden-
burgh, her son, were condemned to be
hanged AT Herkitner on Friday, Dec. 81, for
the murder of Orlo Davis, an aged cripple,
in the town of Gray. Hefkimer county, last
summer. They were convicted on the evil I
dence OF Mary Davis, young married
daughter OF Albert FIedenburgh, and
dalghter-in-l law of the victim, and
confessed accomplice in the MUIR
der. Mary testified on the trial
that her father told her that the old woman |
and himself intended TO kill Orlo Davis, and
that she muss assist them, or they would
kill her also; that abe went to the barn aud
held the light tor a time, until relieved by
her father; that she then stood guard while
her father held the light and the old wo-
man killed Orlo with the axe; that her father
washed the blood from the axe, and threat
ened TO kill her if she told OF the murder.
This story was told in such simple and
artleSs way, and the girl stood the searching
cross-examination of Mr.. Morgan, counsel
for the prisoner, that the court, Dis
tTict Attorney Mills and the jury
believed it to be true, and the old woman
and her son were found guilty. Ever
since his sentence Albert Fredenburgh
| has persistently maintained that if be could
have an interview with bis daughter who,
with her husband, Franklin Davis,-is still
confined in the Herkimer Jail, he could prove
| his innocence. His counsel went to Herki-
mer last Friday to bring about such an in
terview, and it was arranged to have the
meeting in the parlor of the Jail yesterday
afternoon. Albert was first taken into the
parlor and seated in one corner. Then his
daughter Mary was brought in and given 8
seat in an opposite corner. This was done
to enable two persons, who were in sdjoin-
| ing rooms, 60 hear the conversation, which
must necessarily be loud. FredeEburgh
said to bis daughter,
MARY's CONFESSION TO HER FATHER.
"Msry, am going to die on Friday and l
want you to tell your father the truth
with reference to the murder OF Orlo Davis"
1t was IL minutes before Mary spoke word,
and then she merely said something about
the stove. Then her tstber asked, "who
killed Orlo Davis?" and she replied, "She
killed him." "Who is she?" asked
the father, and Mary replied, "The
| old lady," In answer to further questions
| Mary said that her father was not present
when the murder was committed, and knew
nothing about il; that she held the light and
her grandmother struck the blow. She
then went on to detail the circumstances of
! the murder as given in her statement be-
low. The persons in the adjoining room
down what was said. After all bad been
told, the two persons stepped into the room.
| Mary emed frustrated at first, but, on be-
ing spoken TO, recovered her self composure.
She was then questioned as follows:
Q-Mary. did you know that anybody
was listening during the conversation you
have been having? A-No.
| Q-Your ssa 'ement is altogether different
from what you swore to in court. A-Well
it's true.
Q-You say the statement you have just
| nLade to your father is the truth, as it was?
Ayes, it's true, every word.
Mary having said sne was willing to re-
peat the statement in the presence of Dis
trict Attorney Mills, s. S. Morgan, the pris
oner's counsel, Deputy County Clerk Smith,
and Sheriff Eaton, telegram was sent for
District Attorney Mills, and that gentle
man reached Herkimsr in the evening.
Shortly alter o'clock last night Mary
Davis was taken into a room where the
persons named above were, and made the
following statement, which was taken do wn
by Deputy County Clerk Smith:
A SWORN STATEMENT.
The first time b card anything said about
killing Orlo was about midnight. Grand
ma first spoke about 1t. 1 was in the bed
room. She came and called me and said
she was going down to kill Orlo and wanted
me to carry the light. / said i would not
do it. She ssid if did not go she would
kill me. told her did not want to go.
She said il you'd make no difference, that
would have to go. She made me take the
light and carry it down to the barn and
hold it for her. She took the axe and killed
him. Then we went back to the house. /
, went hack To bed. / saw grandmother next
morning. Father was sDed when we went
to the house. Father did not get up.
don't remember whether she or me spob g
| fol 10 "a ,nf Mr.
father did not know was going to the barn.
Father did not go 20 the barn with me.
, Father got up first next morning. / had
not yet got up when father got back from
milking. When got up l saw father going
toward Mr.. Adams. 1 don't remember as
, grandmother said anything next morning
l went TO the barn next morning to iced the
chickens. Grandmother stepped into the
barn and looked at Orlo and came out
, Then we went to the house. / took the
lamp TO the barn that was to court. Grand.
: ma took the same axe that was to court
house. / stated at court on trial that father
,. went to the barn with us: it was not true
Father did not say he would kill me il die
not go to the barn, as / said in court
Father did not hold the light when
GRANDMOTHER STRUCK THE BLOW.
o Father did not wash the overslls when b,
: came from the barn, as 1 swore. Almiri
s Davis told me to swear that father went tC
4 the barn. Father had no knowledge that
know OF that Orlo was TO be killed. Almirs
Davis told me to say that father went to thu
8 barn al FL shs Under woods after my child
was born. Yesterday Albert Fredenburgf
: gave Deputy County Clerk Smith, of Her
4 kimer, a sealed letter which bore this in
= scrptiOn: "This is my confession, and
: true one" Mr.. Smith agreed to preserve
. the letter sscredly and not open it until
. after the hanging on Friday. He did no
: believe it was confession of guilt, but a re
iteration of former stories. After the inter
view with Mary, however, Albert, at the re
q quest OF his counsel, directed Mr.. Smith &
= deliver this letter TO the sheriff This wa
a done, and the document was opened ant
. | read in the presence of the persons VIII
were present when Mary made the abov
statement. It is as follows:
q ALBERr's ssrRUE CONFESSION"