The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-04-12
lIEsTER's LAST LETTER.

The following letter, addressed to Patrick
Tully and Peter McHugh. was written by
Patrick Hester, two days before his execu-
ton.
My Dear Friends | write these few lines
TO both of you. / suppose it is about my last
writing on this earth, as believe our time in
this world is short, and may God prepare us
for the next and better world. This want
our father confe-sor to read to both of you, in
regard to our present situation, aud in regard
to what | am convicted of. In the first place,
Kelly sworc that he and us met at Barney
Doan's, and went from there to Ashland with
him. Next Morris Morrison swore that he
saw you in company with Kelly and others on
the morning after Donahue was taken, going
to my house. This also you know is lie.
Next Harris swcars he saw me with a num-
ber of others at the toll gate on the morning
of Rea's death. This also is lie, and both
of you know ii to be a lie ; and in fact every
other one that swore against me at the Feb
ruary Court sworc false.
This will send with our father confessor
TO read to both of you No one knows any
thing about this but the man that does know
and should know all about this affair. The
reason write this is to let you Know that be-
fore die will relate these facts and the
false perjury that has been sworn against me.
do declare and will declare that l am not
guilty of the murder of A. w. Rea, that ]
never got up that job or plot that has been
sworn against me and that both of you know
/ write this to let you know what intend to
do and will do, but at the same time, will
say nothing to hurt any Of your feelings
This is one thing that l do ask and request
Of both of you, as I believe and know that
both Of you can say l am not guilty Of the
death of Rea and that with clear con-
science, not that beg any favors Of u,only
what is honest and true before God, and may
God do what is right, that is if you want tt
do what is just and right, yet you are free as
to that part, to do what is right, and may
God direct every one to do what is right, ant
may God forgive them that is the cause o.
WY being here. What feel most sorry abou
is my poor family to be left desolate, poor and
forlorn, and I might say homeless, all by thii
means, and all that was done was done fo
you as well as me. There was nothing spared
or left undone that could benefit either you Of
me, and it was done and not grudged. Anc
as for death, am not afraid, for l am almos
tired Of this sinful world, for they are afte
my life these good many years. All tina
troubles me about dying is to die of what
am not guilty of, and that both of you know
and may God in His mercy do what is jus
and right to ALL From the first day up t
this present day the whole weight and abus
is thrown on top of my back, through tn
public press and also through the communi
ty.
Please give the answer on the return G
this, and if have said anything in this tina
is not true, please state it also. No more a
present, and God have mercy on our souls.
PATRICK HESTER.
SATURDAY, March 23, 1878.
As stated in these columns two weeks age
Hester and McHugh both admitted their gull
on Sunday, the day before the execution
The above letter was written before Heste
knew that Tully had confessed. The follow
ing Is seQuel W tue whoic mateoi'
Rev Father Koch, of st. Edwards Romar
Catholic Church, Shamokin, on Sunday tol(
his congregation that Hester, Tully AM
McHugh were all guilty of the murder o
Rea that they! all. admitted their guilt tt
him before the execution, and that the letter
written by Hester and published in the pa
pers should never have been published and ht
advised Mrs. Hester so that the letter wa
written for the express purpose of infuenc
ing TuIy and McHugh to assert Hester's in
nocence on the scaifold, and that Hester him
self never intended having the letter pub
lished. Some persons, he said, had intima
ted that he had gone to Bloomsbury to us'
his influence on Tully and McHugh, and TT.
to persuade them to assert Hester's innocence
He declared this to be untrue, as h
, went there for no such purpose, and if Tull.
. and McHugh had done so they would have
died with perjury on their lips.