The daily gazette., 1880-04-26
fObntln,led from flrst pane.l

would be unsafe TO trust him with Rhoa-
des, and that the final resort must be
reached. / decided to kill him at once,
After getting back to Jennerville talk.
ed with Goss and told him we would
20 up to Rhoades' and that would slip
down and see my mother. When /
come back got some whiskey for Goss
and good size bottle to keep my nerves
steady. After being thus prepared we
started on our fatal journey, and upon
one which sends us both to dishonored
graves.
THE BUTCHERY.
The evening was warm and we drove
rather slowly. Goss was swearing about
being brought into such country place
and was rather disposed 70 quarrel with
him, and going up we quarrelled consid-
erably. When we got above Cochran
vile . a woods 1 had noticed In the
morning, and which / had selected for
the purpose, / drove in among some
chestnut sprouts. l did not think Goss
wou notice where we were going, but
he did, and exclaimed, "Where are you
taking me are you going to kill me?"
l at that instant stopped the horse,
threw down the lines and putting my
left arm around his head covered his
mouth with my left hand with the
right drew out the knife / had made
at Baltimore for the purpose and cut his
throat. 1t was the work Of an instant.
He made no noise and very little resis-
tance, for / held him like vice. The
blood, of course, ran over everything;
he bled awfully, until, finally, his body
becoming weak, released my hold, and
1t doubled down upon the bottom OF the
wagon, smashed the front of the DASH
board over and bent the irons. While
was holding him, until he bled, to be
sure my work was completed, stabbed,
or endeavored IT, stab him In the heat,
and this accounts for the numerous
woands found upoH the body. Heavens,
how / felt for bis heart with that long,
slender blade
HIDING THE BODY.
When he was senseless took him ont
OF the wagon and laid him on the ground
and went back with the wagon to a
stream Of water we had passed. Here /
washed the wagon thoroughly having
first taken cut the oilcloth that ives In
the bottom. also washed the blood of
myself. l had black p.ntaloons on, and
the blood and water did not show on
them. The worst was on my shirt, but
took It of and washed the stains ont ,of
that, and it only looked like q sweated
shirt. After washing the wagon was
very much exhausted and drank the
rest OF the whiskey In the bottle, fixed
up the dash board of the wagon as best
could, and took the wagon back to PEN
ningtonville. After leaving the wagon
l went and sat down on platform near
the railroad, intending to rest few mo.
ments, but fell asleep, and woke with q
start Tor fear 1t was hearty morning. !
don't know how long l had slept, but L
hurried up and started back. / had seen
a.spade at Rhodes when l had been
there that day, standing In the stable.
stopped at Rhodes got this and proceed
cd on my way. My idea was to so dis
ngure the body as to prevent indentifi-
oarion If it should be found. therefore
took the clothes off IL, cut 1t up a. 1t was
found, and battered the head in with
the spade. The digging was very hard.
The ground was dry and there were so
many scots that 1 had great difficulty In
digging hole to bury the body in. And
here Is where I made fatal mistake, for
II had only dug that gravea little deep
or no one would ever have known.
COVERING THE CRIME.
AFTER Durying the body made fire
and burned the bloody clothes, horse
cover, &c. By this time it was daylight
and started to Jennerville. 1 stopped
at Coehranvllle and got my breakfast,
then went on and stayed with my moth
er for few Gays and then went back to
baltimore. Goss' ring was pulled off ir
some way in the wagon, and did not
Dotice the loss until was searching for
bis trinkets. He had with him the
ratchet screw driver, some old and cur
lous coins and various other things,
These took with me, and, with the
knife with which l did the deed, drop
ped them into the Susquehanna River
as crossed the bridge on my return to
Baltimore.
This Is the true story, ahd am sure
those who read it will believe that /
would never have gone into this il !
bad fOrseen the necessity for murder.
But the killing of Goss became matter
Of necessity for my own self-preserva-
,ion. 1 tried this last Achance and have
ost. desire to say that aud alone |
.m responsible for the killing; no one |
'lse knew anything about IL, and not a |
oul except myself, w. 8. Goss and A, |
}. Goss knew anything about the conspi- |
acy.
II was my intention to have this pub.
lshed Immediately after my execution,
,ut fearing that IL might have q bad Of
ect upon the trial of A. O. Goss, / leave |
with my counsel, j. II. Perdue, with
he request that he retain it for Ave
,ears after my death and then give 1t to
he world.
WILLIAM e. UNDERTOOK.