West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-01-25
CONFESSION OF A BRUTAL CRIME.
The Two Tappan Brothers the Murder.
ers OF the Maybee Women at
BroOkyille, Long Island.

HUNTERS PoINr, l.. l., January ls.-Ed.
ward Tappan, arrested i'm connection with
the Townsend outrngss, confesses that his
brother John and himself were concerned
IN the murder Of Mrs. Msybec and daugh.
Ter ut Brookville. The following is the con.
fession:
II know who took the lives OF lydia and
Annie Maybee on the evening of November
18th. II was John B. Tappan, my brother.
lie was in the barn when Mrs. Maybee
came in; was not in the barn; saw John
go IN the barn; he went i'm at the double
doors; was at the front side OF my house
when he went in, feeding the pigs; when
John choked the old lady 20 death 1 was AZ
the front Of the barn; 1 saw him; ho cboked
her TO death on the barn floor: he caught
her by the wrist with one hand, and took
her by the throat with the other; saw him
do IL; was looking through the door; IL
was light enough for me to see in the sta
BILE.
when John had her by the throat she
was on the ground. When she came I'm
Tor leaves JOHN was standing i'm the stable
where the leaves were. 1t took from ten
to fifteen minutes to choke her TO death.
After she was dead, John picked her up
saw him throw some leaves over her.
was standingon the barn floor very near
the opening in the door that goes down in
the stable. saw the whole thing myself.
After she was dead, John said: Il am
going 10 wait for Annie. ! am going to
choke her, too; II ! choke her, too, no one
will know about it: then l can 20 to the
house and get the money!
"Annie opened the barn door about two
feet wide. When she stepped i'm the door
John grabbed her by the right arm and
threw her down. ! was on the floor about
three feet from where he grabbed her. He
threw her down on the floor, held her by
the right wrist, put his knee upon her left
arm, and with his right took her by the
throat. She tried 20 get away from him.
When he grabbed her by the arm she grab.
bed at his face. She reached his face.
saw her hand close over his nose and
mouth. she said, Let me Co., That is all
she said. Then he held her by the throat
until she was dead She died in about ten
or fifteen minutes. He carried her into the
stable near her mother and covered her
well up with leaves, and said, Now l am
going 10 the house.
ave both went in at the kitchen door.
Old Mr.. Maybce said: 'Who is thereP John
said: Ipsme.' Then went upstairs. Then
he snatched the cane out Of Maybee's hand
and struck him with IL twice on the head.
John went upstairs again and came back.
/ said: i have all 1 want We came out.
He went to the cedars by the spring and I
went home i suppose he gave me S10,nbills
have IL now but not with me. will bring
it 10 you. / will bring IL to-day II 1 can
John showed M the pin and watch bv the
door outside. / could sec them. Il got them
upstairs he said. lie did not tell me how
much money he got. John went into Mrs
Mavbce's room. when Mr.. Maybee was
knocked on the 100 / stood bv the door.
] saw him do il, Then John came down
stairs and went in front Of Maybee, very
close % the hall, ran his hand up and down
Mr. Mayboe's breast and said: Il want that
gold which you bad two years ago. May.
bee said:I oin't gotit. I am blind, and can't
SEQ 10 get it, Il know that, said
John. John then said: Il must kill you
them
"He didn't tell me what he was going %
do with the watch and pin. / have not
seen my brother John since, alone. 60 this
day and hour. saw him stand by Che
wagon house a. the Maybce auction wber,
was gong up tho hill west OF my house
after dinner on my way % work M Henry
Rushmoro's. That is the only time have
seen him since the night tue Mabee
murders we're committed. After John
showed me tho watch and pin I went home
by tho old bridge. This was about a quar-
ter 20 six o'clock. know 10 vas not six
O'Clock. am sure Of 10. Ny wife asked
me where bad been and told her down
the road. Ny wife does not know had
hand in the Maybee murder"
Tappsn swears tho confession was made
unsolicited, believing 30 TO be- my duty %
make complete confession in regard t1
tho part took in IRE Maybec murders.0