Connecticut western news., 1878-08-22
Confession of John Fen Eyck.
PITTsFIELD, August, 1878.


 I, John Ten Eyck. am now going to make a confession of crimes that have been engaged in, thinking it is my duty, as the parties that have been suspected are not the guilty ones, and cannot die and leave them suspected of crimes committed by myself and - of Sheffield. In the fall of 187-, during which time he and l committed bad crimes, I feel it my duty to both God and man to let It truthfully be confessed that -- and l did, while looking for chickens, or poultry in Gen. E. O. Phelps barn in North Colebrook, Conn.,, and by striking matches to find the poultry, set fire to his barn and burned it. We also the same night did enter Burrltt Roberts still and rummaged it for cider brandy we found and carried away some low wines On the same night we stole one cosset sheep from one Augustine Hamilton. l was then living in E. T. Buffers house in the east part of Norfolk. 1 had a hired man who was as bad or worse than myself, and when we got short of provisions or money we went out to commit our depre-
 
 when I committed crime. That night we started out to get provisions, and we thought we should get some chickens at the barn, and in lighting matches to look for them accordingly set fire to the barn. We did not intend to burn the barn. We broke into the still of Roberts and got our brandy before we went to Phelps barn. Then after we saw what we had done we hid until the people gong to the fire had passed. then we went to the yard of Ham ilton, caught the sheep, hutchered it., and earned the mutton in bag near to my own house and hid it in the stone wall until the next night, and then went and brought it to the house. never felt so in my life as 1 did to hear the cattle below in those barns that night. l have never forgotten their cries of distress as they were burning, and when I came to Massachusetts to work some time after, one of the colored men that worked with me often when he got mad would initiate the music the cattle ble.
 Also l and - broke into Judge Se1gwick's house in Norfolk, Conn.,, the same fall; Colonel Knapp had the care of the premises. We started out one very dark night; it stormed some. but it was a good night for our work, and we managed to get in at one of the windows and took, as part of the things carried away. one iemijohn with about three gallons of alco- hoi, three cakes of toilet soap, one veil, sil- yer, colored under shirts. drawers, rszors, sun-glass and some other things. Many ot those things are now. where they can be found.
 In the fall of 1875 was arrested for an assault upon Sheldon Norton of New Marl- boro. was with Anderson but not at the time he attacked Norton. Anderson intend ed to kill Norton and would have killed him but for me. I never struck Norton or lnterfered with him, but false statements were made and l was sentenced six months to the house of correction There are many things connected with the affair that I do not state. I suffered wrongfulIy. l present this confession to ny counsel to cause it for publication.
 P. s. wrote letter to Gen. Phelps and sent it to Chatham, N. Y, to have it mailed, and said it was tramp that burnt his barn. because was afraid of justice.
 Some eight or ten years ago was con- cerned in 8 forgery; myself and three white men were the guilty parties. They forged the name of Erastus Il. Fay, treas urar of the Church Mfg Go. passed the note. My share that received for the work was $40. do not give the names of the parties that were with me. The reason why make this confession is that two men, Amasa Hubbard, colored man of Beckett, and John Coff1ng, white man of Chester. were suspected, but they are inno- cent, and want no innocent man to suffer on my account.
 JOHN TEN EYoK.