The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-28
THE BELHRT MURDER.
A Tender Goodby from Piper
to His Mother.
HIS STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.

man. Il Is printed verbatim from the original manu-
script in Piper's handwriting, without omission,
alteration or addition
CHARLRs ST. JAIL. |
SUNDAY April Is 1915.
My DxAx MorHRR--As SIS here heariLs the church
more times w,i hear the sunday church bells rlngy
Oh my dear mother, these thoughts and tho unpcas-
sna % hove poo
mother feel todayy know you arc al thinking Of
me. But, dear mother, think no longer Of me a one
one who IL about To be taken from you entirely
Our dear family has lived long and happy unbrokon
did We over think u would come In such = manner
But l look back and where, had
told tho truth, might have saved myself all this
trouble But in not doing so have brought It upon
myself, and may the Lord forgive me for not telling
now with a clear conscience and say, ..Dear Lord
Thou now knowcst my heart entirely; Thou knowest
fellow Ii men, and now, Lord, wit Thou forgive me
and make me more wiling TO meet my death ~ But
OH dear mother, how much easier and happier could
die II ! could but feel that my follow mon would b.
licve that
HAVE TOLD rmxx TuK TRUTH,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and not
have them feel that am murderer Oil dear
mother, almost makes crazy 10 think that must
what a stain Il will leave upon you all But dear
mother, let go Heavenly Father and ask Him
On Ia dear osnor canno, begin 70 imagine how
much better and happier feel aimee have opened my
whole heart to both GOD and a., man feel US though
all wish Is - have my God forgive mo and make mo
At and prepared to meet Him in Heaven. have given
up all other hope dear mother, entirely. You know
that have said lately that my hope OF comIug
home with you very slight In my mind Since my
exceptions ovcrrued II still smaller; for then
and since have told that there hopo,
that would have 70 go sooner or later. then made
up my mind open my whole heart had told my
counsel a while before and asked him II should tell
Dr. Eddy and Uncle Cook but he told me not TO do 40
yet while, 30 dono as no told me. Oh, II had only
done before. and
TRUSTED TO GOD AID NY INNOCENCE TO CLEAR MYSELF.
But, oh, mother. how many times have wanted to
open my whole heart to you for love too well 10
deceive you. do feel perfectly confident that should
have told you oil long ago could only have had you
wanted TO do SO every time saw you But, dear
mother. you know allthere is nothing that have
kept back. / am too eternity to tell the
least thing that is true much loss to my
mother who has always loved her children 80 we'll
Dear y .Soo. Sor asked s
child came TO her death. II you had
never could have told yon a he You have said to
me, 'You did not do It, did your aud you know have
always said ~No did not do IL" And then rs when
would have told sou all bad been alone for wanted
child 10 go up in the tower, and do, in meas
urc, take great blame upon myself; but oh, to have
human being, when you know much always
loved all little children That poor mother Mrs Young)
how bad she must feel to lose hor only darling babe.
Also poor Miss Hobbs Oh, my dear mother,
HOW ! DO PITY THAT PooR WOMAN.
When the officers took me to their house. IN Chester
Park, and when there felt almost trough
my heart would break Also there 10 the court, when
District Attorney showed her Mabcl's clothes IL
ovcrcame her feelings Oh, mother, ! don't believe
thcre in the court room who pitied her
than did. oh, II could but have that poor mother
and aunt feel that am innocent Of their chids death
should feel much better and could die much happier.
And all the folks at Warren avenue church, hope all
who have bard ard feelings against me- Viii sry and
forgiveness OF cvory one and u any OF you
should see them ! want you 70 tell them SO did
have some hard feelings toward some OF them but
l have none. should be very happy 10 take every
one by tho hand Yes. dear mother, am trying to
1,~~~S 4 Nx toh ~xwc
bitter thought left Yes dear mother DO forgive
everybody. II any Of tho officers ut City Hall should
them by the hand and tell them And you know
how hard have felt toward them. Yes, dear mother.
why DID NOT OPEN NY HEART AT THE FIRST.
The first and principal reason Is this-it was only the
week before that was told by an officer that the
officers Mt the City Hall watching In all my
movements and would give most anything 70 get hold
Of for they jealous OF Pinknam and Philbrick
the sd sha. was told how well was liked Il church.
how clean kept everything, and do you recoleot Of
before tho 2sd, how hard was gong 70 try
TO please them; that was going 70 keep
mother when lifted the trspdoor Cd Of that dear sio
child aud picked her up and found she could stand
up and when she began 10 scream 50 loud as what she
did. then Is when began 10 think that ought not
but %asas bow Ssd When r lifted I the
down Immediately; but the second thought came over
me at once,
for allowing her to go up there. So laid her down,
thinking that by the way she screaming that she
in church did not hear her and she would have to
remain there long, And thinking that when they found
her they would OF course that the trap door
that had hIrs her, left her closed the trap door,
down and closed the tower door, which had remained
open, with key in It. IRON the time FIRST won't up
hardly knowing what l doing, locked the
door. and taking on. the key ! passed down stairs
for going out OF the window such thought never
entered my head. But was fooissh enough 10 think
ssIed ior The IeV nat n gave Il up or went IN and
unlocked the door myself, they would blame me at
once This IS why done ~ did concerning the koys
know told lie, dear mother, and want TO ask
brought down, and they began to talk about foul play
then the thought camo over mo Il once
what II tho fellows at the City Hall get hold
get hold OF me. And when all these thoughts wcro
rushing through my mind Is just when different
with these thoughts and being questioned at the same
time, do you wonder that told things that
:. not true or even did not tell some things straight
which intended tor So, dear mother. have
planned to you in my feeble way NIL my conduct whilo
AZ the church; and now will tell you
Up to Tuesday morning, alter WAS arrested, IL was
my intention to toll all knew to the frs. friend that
saw As have said believe II I could have but seen
my mother should have told you all Mr. Ham or
Mr.. Dearborn, not recoect just which, will rcco-
Then !. was my Intention to tell all jus. as have now
done; but was allowed to write any ono,
and then on Tuesday, when Glover came aud said he
saw me jump out OF a window, and Mr.. Ham said,
There, Thomas, that Is Que OF tho principal
4 points; why, that would convict you without
anything else, DO not want any more evidence"
thcn the thought came over me- IL tell all know, all
that then they will believe all that which
true, and therefore doubt what tell them These
the same Tor my not telling al when went
upon the stand And now, dear mother will tell you
why have not told you all sooner since my trial IL
WAS because know Il would almost break your poor
heart to know that Of our nine brothers had told
falsehood Oh, my dear mothcri will you forgive mo
for dcccving your But can you imagine how much
worse you would feel II were making confession OF
murder instead OF faschood and careessncsss But no.
thank God, my conscience Is clear OF that have told
You the very worst, mother, and know you will
believe me- Not that expect any mercy have made
clean breast OF every thing; but have gwen oil up,
and. mother, want you 10 feel the same II viii
make me feel much better II can know thai you
perfectly resigned for the worst, aud talk with
you much easier when you come 10 about The
future for that is all wish 10 talk with any about
now don't want any one to hold out TO me tho