The New York herald., 1879-10-31
letter received from Michigan. which is as fol-

lows
Spare Greenfield his iife killed. her after satisfying
have heen in the wilds of Michigan yet can't do double
murder. German and before you get this snaIi
be gone far away Why ciamor after has HE: no 10 In
nocent
HOPKINS said that he was present at an early inter
view shortly after Greenfield sentenced the hrst
time and consulted with reference TO the prep
aration of such letter; that he was especily
delegated to obtain a specimen of Royal heioss
handwriting with view OF ,nt slin"ia.ins .,nst
same that the charge when brought agaihs'
ble With this object in view he Visteu ae,i
the home of Royal kelloggs father IN orwe,i s
one Sunday evening in April, ls,I ana ensaS in ~
conversation with the old gentleman. maKins ~, ~.
quires after his Royal. and drew from the iater
not only the fact that Royal could write fact some
what in doubt. but the exhibition OF ietter .t
received from Royal Kellogg tbs leter
Mr.. Hopkins says was taken from ing IN
in the old mans house. and was returned TO tue
clock after Hopkins had examined it; that he Hop
kins) on the following day returned 10 hei'osE
house. and while the housekeeper was nansins t tna
letter and gave it to Judge Huntington ana henry
d. Greenfield after which Henry ID. Greenheld TOOK
the letter and practised Tor seVerai ua9s W oeo"A
felt the writing. -
subsequently, HOPKINS says. he TOOK the anouy-
mons letter which had been prepared and went to
the county of jefferson, n. ", ostensibly on visit
his friends at which time he mailed the letter 70
Mich with request that her husband
should mail the letter back to this sheriff OF
Oswcgo county. How much truth there IL
in this statement of Hopkins do not know. but
two three facts prominently connected with the
same seem to corroborate his statement Hopkins
daily visited the Post Office Orwell and asked to
see the daily papers. This was unusual and was
continued after the letter made its appearance
This fact excited my apprehension ana as early rs
July. 1877, in the presence OF Colonel woodbury.,
1 charged Hopkins with full knowledge of .he letter.
assigning this of my reasons. Hopkins at
that time admitted to me that he was daily expecting
the appearance of such letter. knew 'hat the letter
ancs nae S hs had led @ him to the post
for the examination OF the daily papers.
Another circumstance arises from the fact that
letter, apparently in ladys handwriting, signed
Emma" and acknowledging the receipt OF the
anonymous letter. with assurances that 1t should
be mailed at the proper time was found deposited
in ali oyster can in the cavity OF hollow stump on
the premises occupied by Hopkins. That letter Is
now in my possession.
There is another significant fact connected with the
gun. At the time the Keogs were under examina-
ton Chester Groton witness called in the re-
trial in behalf OF the prisoner testified IN sub
stance and the evidence is on fle in the County
that examination, to the effect that in summer,
l think III July. 1877. he was approached by George
Hines and Charles Grenneles with a proposition
that he (iroton) should go in with them ana take
part in their efforts to obtain new trial FOR Green
feld and it was proposed that they or some one
of them take the gun from Richard Greenfield s
house and it in the "berry lot preparatory
to u contemplated finding of the same. At another
time 1t was proposed that they should hide the gun
Under e VI" log in an old clearing that he Grotonl
should be employed with his team to draw
logs. one OF which should be the log, under
and in that way the gun should be found. and
then the stealing of the gun should be charged
upon the Keoggs. Groton embodied this contes-
sion III written statement to me in October. 1877.
rea.rmed it in substance upon the Kellogg examna-
ton. and subsequently testified before the Grand
Jury. Groton. after listening to the proposition.
SAYS that declined to enter into the arrangement
but did promise to keep still George Hines. in his
confession, also refers to this proposition made to
Groton and Hopkins. in his confession declares that
q similar proposition was made to him.
look upon this whole matter so far as 1t relates
to the Kellosgs Taplin to Hines, an act of
desperation the part Of Greenfield and his friends
to save guilty man from deserved punishment.
and deeply regret that necessity which at this late
day compels in justice to the many parties con-
nected with tho case to make public these facts in
answer to the recent alleged developments"