New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-09
LANSONS CONFESSION.
HIS PARTING WITH HIS WIFE-ADMIssIONs OF

HIS PARTING WITH HIS WIFE-ADMIssIONs OF
GUILE
From, The Losdon Standard Aprfl 90
About hait-past yesterday afternoon Mrs. Lam
son arrived at the jail for the purpose of seeing her
husband for the last time She remained III the cell
for two hours and half, during which time Lamson
conversed with her on numerous topics lie asked
after the health of his relatives and friends, max
ing special inquiry after hs little child He
diI his utmost TO a,suaCe her grief, especially when
the moment Tor parting arrived During his con-
VcrsatlOn he lntnatcd. III almost the same terms as
he has used III the letter below, that his tate was
wholly due the Tree use OF sedatiVes, which
had rendered him almost incapable of knowing
what he was really doing. At first Mrs Lamson
maintained her c0mposure, though not without evil
dent difficulty. Toward the close Of the interview
however. intense grlef gained the mastery OF her
feeling, ana she utterly broke down.
The following letter was addressed to gentle
who las shown great interest III The fate OF the
prisoner: ,...... ,,....,. ,,-.,. ....., 100,
My DEAR NE. -: l feel II my duIy to : gu aHd an
my friends and especially 10 my own family and Telt-
tons TO say few words il these my last hours upon
ea11n IN reference the offence for which con
dcIunrd TO forfeit my lie shortly have told you
aud endeayor,d to make clear 10 you my impress
sons and deas as to my mental ana mora condition Tor
a long tine previous the ac, for Whch an sentenced
To death The news OF my brOtneTnlaw's death reused
from Species OF cloud. Then came my long
period OF imprisonment at ClerScnwcl and while there
necessarily the total deprivation The drug had
long been accustomed to. With great mental and
phy steal suffering was the weaving pshed, leav
ing h9%eyeri sir9hSy ptFcfpuni; resili- Then the
cucc and then the sjJuru the condemned room, here
face face with death, cleared away all clouds from
1
past, believe can truy ana -Ocmn.y say, rs only
can be said under my present conditions That IN
my right aud normal state of the couip1sslul,
and committing such crime a. That for which mus
now die would have been utterly anu absolutely IN
pOssible and alto scther foreign 10 my whole nature
aMI instincts. subject TO mental disturbances from
slight fiom earliest years WIKI brain easily
affected, the or abuse Of nOrpAia and srtatiyCs
and narcotics made ready physical mental ana moral
victim OF me- earnestly pray Almighty God t.
pardon my yielding 10 sdch haOr. aud trust They may
oe an awful warning TO others similarly tempted aud
a.-alled seeing what lndescuDaby fearful cou~e-
0ucnces they have led IN my / earnestly thank
Jou AMI all ny friends Tor efforts ana pra obtain
mercy for me- and although Intellectual, you may have
tue great satisfaction Of knowing from that they
W. re- based upon tcuable ana honest grounds fOu-
dalton. believe me, dear Mr. - win -nceIcst graft
and true friendship and regards, most faithfully
yOuIs, Ht'oh"L H. LAhsoN
In addition to the above, the Press Association
learns that Lanson has III the presence of the
deputy governor of the prison, Captain l.. l..
PeuncthOrne and the chaplain written definite
confession that he administered poison TO Percy
Malcolm John with intent To take his life The
confession gives brief outline Of the far as
L4aaau'A Unmarried IccollaGtl0l w0dld permit.