The New York herald., 1877-02-17
A Confession. Signed by Ryan, Found
in His Cell.
SUICIDE TO ESCAPE HANGING
Alleged Indirect Admission Of His Completely
in the Brock Murder.
THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

discovery In tho cell occupied by Ryan, during his Lac
night OF torture and drunken derum ending in death,
OF paper signed by him. II came TO light IN the
rou.se OF thorough search OF the CELL which was a.
Me same time being cleared for fresh occupant
The document Is confession, which states directly
that In fear OF the shameful death upon
the galows Ryan had deliberately committed
suicide but avoids all mention Of those who aided him
IN his scheme to get out OF existence before the
take his lie. In reference TO tho crime
for which he was condemned tho statements
pf the document rather misty and evasive, but
hose who have than glanced over 1t aver that 1t
Indirectly acknowledges his completely in the burglary
which came to a sudden pause in the shooting
of officer Brock. It Is thought possible bere that the
whole thing may have been got up by somo OF tho
,nicals who are dcsrous OF washing themselves
or all blame in the probable declaration
o, the New York chemists that Ryan died Of poison,
SO as to set at rest tho question by how the
poison reached the wretched being who cheated the
gallows.
CHASING THE SPECTRE OF A POSSIBLY UNJUST
DEATH SENTENCE THROUGH NEwARK-wHAT
RYAN AND oscHwALp
An inquiry into the OF public feeling over the
fate of Ryan and Oschwad, that they are beyond
the pale OF earthly jurisdct!on leads to the con-
cuson that in this one instance, at least,
a strong tide OF popular prejsdicc runs coun-
Ter TO the course of ''Jersey justice" How
EVER earnest the peoples demand for satisfaction
may under harsh provocation there always comes
time for reflection and it is well for the peace OF the
average Jerseyman as Tor other men that TINS renee
lion should not bring with II u suggestion OF re-
morse. While condemned man awaits his
doom anywhere, pcrceptibe sense oi opprcs-
zion is traced the features OF all who have
RESPONSIBILITY in his keeping in the administration
Of the law which out to him his punishment and
prescribes the and method OF his execution.
Whom he Is dead there succeeds this feeling sense OF
relief ANYTHING tending disturb which Is unlikely TO
meet with any measure Of crcdence or OF favor.
Aud when in the hrst instance the popular
mind happens not to 3e wholly free from the
shadow oi a doubt on all tho evidence adduced
through the proper legal fo-ms-when that evidence
leaves room for surmise or suspicion tnat Justice
may have mscarred-a sort OF aggressive popular
feeling combats ressts whatever tends 10 raise the
spectre OF that doubt 1t was with this spirit
viewed the strange anonymous letter. lac
smile OF which was printed IN yesterdays
ID,
woman accused her husband OF Inc killing oil officer
Brock for the taking oil whose lie Ryan and Oschwad
then stood with loot the scanod. The Newark
Daily Jcaai prints the letter, with the following BRIEF
introduction
There is an other anony letter in the Ryan and
Oschwald case. 1t printed this morning In fac-
emile By the HERALD. and imparts decided sensa-
ton this altogether sensational affair Here Is the
letter, with the HERALDs Introductory comments.
under the caption OF who knows this HandwrltinsY"
Then comes the letter. which was read and discussed
by all Newark yesterday. What was the popular idea
pf its purposs woulc be difficult TO say in brief II
created sensation II is true but was not accepted
by any considerable number us having about
iown device TO relieve the minds OF
me afflicted relatives OF tho two men. and
liter hurried consideration OF Its claims the popular
yerdct s--sI guess they wcro the murderers, but
iilI they hardly should have been hanged" Trick
and device this sort SAID, were not new to
the case and tho had friends enough to do more
Than that Tor them. Besides tns was not tho hrs!
the proceedings the prisoners counsel re.
served another letter from Baltimore purporting
ired tne ina shot But at that time it was easy to
divine the purpose OF such n mssive. II was used
among othcrthings by counsel IN an appcat0n 70 the
Governor TO con the court of Pardons. This one
came TOO late for purposes of any appeal but WAS
equally rejected and Al guess they were the murder
crs" the general verdict following It's perusai 1t
Is 20 be hoped the jury did not view the case IN the
same indifferent style and guess they were the mur
derers' TOO
Mr. Morrow, OF counsel Tor Ryan and Oschwald, said
he had read tho letter but did not consider It OF much
importance, viewed in a legal aspect. lie could not
uccoumt Tor the motive which dictated II, however,
unless it was the work Of some friend OF The family
ing relatives. Apart from this letter Mr.
Morrow says he IS inclined to accept as
Oschwad respecting their innocence Of the murder OF
Otlicer Brock. At the trial they both rested on an
saloon during the night and morning OF tho murder
and Oschwad that lie was in bed In his fathers house
Ryan's abi Jailed and the jury rejected Oschwald's
THE JERSEY MCRpkR LAW.
The law under which they were condemned declares
that II of number OF pcrsons who shall have Gu
tered upon another's premises for the purpose OF
felony, kills officer other person seeking 10 pre-
vent thor escape all shall BIO deemed guilty OF
murder in the first degree. In other
munities the custom has heen TO consider accused
person innocent until proven guilty. though II IL true
The French process at once puts murderer the de-
fonsivc. But with equal justice all might be held Tor
and assault II one alone, OF his own WILL re-
mancd behind TO offer violence 10 the Inmates aud set
rho mems emphatic denial Of any participation in
the crime guilty knowledge OF It's perpetrators Is
secuted by the public equally, as are the anonym
letters charging with the deed These denIas
some pronounce evnsivo. Others consider them tho
illusions OF men hoping in the lace OF despair spoken
with mental reservation to save themselves II possible:
II not TO be, at least, soacc TO their relatives when
the law bad done It's worst & WIN Them Ana % to-day
that neither Ryan nor Oschwald ever said IN
distinct terms that they wore not 10 Mr.. Bede's
house when Oncor Brock was shot. Ryan, they Will
tell you has only said that he did not shoot Brock,
and Oschwald has only said 81 am innocent Ana
these arc you are told But this may be
way they have in Newark.
WHAT THE POLICE SAY.
The police, II would seem, have fully made up their
minds that there is nothing new TO discover In Tho
Brock murder. Two comparatively worthless lives
have been claimed and Obtained Tor ono tnat Was valu-
able, aud they satisfied. They point to por-
tons OF the evidence In vindicaton OF their
position, ana are doubtless fully convinced
that Ryan and Oschwald were the guilty
ones II has never been questioned, they say, tnat
two men 70 leave the house when the fatal
bullet was sent speeding through the chest OF stanley
Brock and them II is equally without question tbat
Thomas Ryan anu Charles Oschwald we're the
men who fed from the scene oil blood. lhev
believe the identification 10 have been COM
ujetely established. They Will, therefore, take no
action on anything purporting 10 throw new hight on
ths dark tragedy unless some one should choose TO
rurrcndcr himself into their hands, or the writer OF
tho mysterious letter should make confession TO
them None of them appeared 10 Know anything OF
si,e handwriting IN the HERALD fac-simile.
THIS afternoon will commence the inquest 10 the
cage ,,f ~ an and IL Is believed tat not only the
admin isration Of poison TO hun VIII De shown oui the