The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-28
TRYING TO SAVE GREENFIELD.
A QUESTIONABLE STATEMENT FROM OHIO
WHAT ROYAL KELLOGG IS ALLEGED TO HAVE
TOLD HIS GRANDMorHER-A VERY TARDY
CONFESSION.

CONFESSION.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
SYRACUSE, N. Y. Oct. 81. 1879.
sensation was created in this city to-day by the
announcement that new evidence had been discov-
cred calculated to throw grave doubt upon the
guilt of Nathan Orlando Greenfield recently tried in
this city for the murder of his wife at Orwell, Os-
wego county. in October. 1875 and now under sen.
tence to be hanged December r. In all the three
trials Of Greenfield the theory of the defence has
been that two brothers named Alden and Royal Kel-
logg, neighbors Of the accused. committed the
der. As far possible Judge Huntington Grecnfeds
counsel. endeavored to make this apparent. This
defence suggested by the receipt of anonymous
letters. dated in Ohio and Michigan, and warming
the authorities of Oswego county not to take the
life of al innocent man. One of those remarkable
epstles is stated to DO to this "Spare Green
field. His wife killed after satisfying my inhuman
appetite on her senseless form. Since that time
have been in tho wilds of Michigan can't do o
double murder" None Of the judges to whom
these letters have been submitted the several trials
written by the Keloggs. who, after the murder
of Mrs. Greenfield, removed suddenly out West-no
one knew exactly where. Now comes collateral
proof of the genuineness of these letters which, il
considered at all must give the doomed man another
chance for his lite.
ALLEGED STATEMENT OF MRS. DRAKE.
Mrs. Mey Drake, al old woman the grandmother
of the Kelloggs. residing at Lafayette Ohio having
within the past week been visited by parties inter-
ested in saving Groenfeds life, is alleged to have
made the following startling statement
"a few months after the murder Royal came
home He stayed until Greenfield WIS convicted
and sentenced the first time, but didn't tell any
thing about how the murder was committed then.
The next time he came back year after
ward, and he was here long before he began to
tell about the murder. He said that the night
that Alice was killed he and Alden and George Hines
went to the farm to steal drsenfeld's oats. Green
field wasn't at home but his wife them, and
then they went into the house. Then somehow the
idea got in their heads to outrage the woman, and
one of them knocked her down ana stunned her
and then all three outraged her. Then. Royal said
we thought she was coming to, and she died--died
quick. 3 They divided the things up.
DID NE HIDE THE GUN?
.sRoyal took the gun aud went outside and buried
it in the field. He told me that hs irst wrapped 1t
in n rubber overcoat and then all around with some
old woollen cloths, that it wouldn't get wet and
rust. Then there was $50 in money. They took
that and watch and good deal of the oats. Hines
took part of the oats to the house and used them
The they sold. Royal said to me. don't think
anybody can hnd that gun. but il they do and know
what have told I'll swing, sure He made awful
threats. interposed the grandmother.
Eyes. continued the daughter soften and often
I've laid awake nights, afraid he would kill He
said that the morning after the murder he and
Alden passed by the house and went in with the
said, why what made him faint?' 'Ho thought Of
the night before, he said"
During the whole of the statement which was
given hesitatingly tho mother frequently inter-
rupted with corrections, her memory being very
clear to day and date.