Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-08
sluloS xoxLKT.s CONFESSION.

Some months ago II will be remembered that
I. X. knight went out east OF hero q short dis
tanee and assisted Missouri sheriff in arrest
ing Marion Moxley on the charge OF numbering
his wife. Moxley was placed In Jail at Keytcs-
Vile, the seat Of government Of the county In
which the crime was committed, and put In
company with \ young man named Burton,
who had been committed for thirty days for
some slight ofense. The sheriff told Burton
the circumstances OF Noxley's guilt, and asked
him to elicit whatever acknowledgment he
could. Burton shrewdiy pretended TO be me
dium, and to while away the time proposed to
bis fellow prisoners TO make some tests. The
proposal being accepted, loose -iointed chair
that responded intelligently TO adrOit pressure
was used in place OF . table.
A system OF signals being agreed upon be-
tween the medium and the supposed spirits,
the question was put; ''Is any spirit present
acquainted with either party in the flesh
The answer was three raps for yes.
Burton then arranged the question so as TO
elicit the fact that the wife OF the murderer wAa
present
"Dld you die recentlyS'
"Yes /"
"HAye you any recollection Of dying2"
Three raps for yes, very decidedly.
."will you try to relate TO us your experience
by means Of direct questions from us2"
Three raps, lively.
''Were you willing 10 die9"
Two raps. No.
"Did you die suddenly9''
Three raps.
At this point OF the investig tigAtion Moxley was
In a cold sweat. and declared his convictions
clear and his curiosity gratinedi but Burton's
zeal was growing As be found himself increas-
ing In ability 70 delicAtely manipulate his sub
jeet, and he continued 10 press questions up
ON the "spirits" and watch the effect upon
the eulprit. The questions were put 80 as to
establish the Identity OF Mrs. Moxley most
thoroughly. and then the query. "sinee your
death was attended by unhappy experiences,
please state II you died what is called natur-
al deAth9"
The chair responding to the intelligence OF
Burton, gave two raps. mo-
"Did you die by Aocldent2"
| s'NO"
"By foul meAns9"
"Yes."
"At the hands Of an unknown assAssin9''
"No.n
"were you killed by relAtivsS"
Three loud raps for Eyes" made Moxley
I quail afresh and gasp.
In this manner the interrogations we're con
tinued until the facts OF the ease, as they hA,
been previously given TO Burton, were substan
TALLY brought out. aud the trembling oulprit
unable TO deny anything, gave Burton Ell tn
money he had 10 let him sleep with him tina
night for he dared not face his owP eonselone
In the dark. Singular as it may seem this nov
el method made Burton full possessor Of MoS
ley . horrible secret, tina. he had killed hi
wife by breaking her neck, so he might b
free TO marry her younger sister. lie Aiterwar
told Burton that he loved his wife, and what
ever possessed him 10 XIII her was 10 him uu
eNplainAble. IL was ascertained that Moxle
struck the woman twice, each time breakin
her neck that the murder occurred aboI
twelve O'Clock At night, and that he took h
two children To a neighbours without q stitc
OF clothes on. All OF those facts have sine
been fully established, and Moxley Is likely
hang through the strategy OF bogus medium