The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-10-23
THE MuRpERER's PLEA.


Last night Henry Popp gave out his dy.
Ing statement, ile gives history OF the
crime, and makes pathetic plea for q
stay OF execution. The statement ID aa
followai
10 the Publoi Realizing aa | do my
impending doom, providing kind Proyl-
dence does not Interfere, and not wishing
10 hide any action OF mine In connection
with tho crime of which am convicted,
and confess my guilt wish TO aslS the In.
diligence of tho public ~ large while re-
late such circumstances "aa | remember
them,n concerning the homicide, | had
no acquaintance whatever with Morltz
Grether, the man whom ! killed, prior To
AN hour before the killing on Aprll2, 1890.
Between the houra OF 1 and 2 o'clock p,
m. myself and two others were hired by
Morltz Grether 10 remove some liquor
from tho sidewalk 10 the cellar Of his
saloon, After placing the liquor In the
cellar, Grether opened the whlakey and
gave each OF uaa quantity TO drink. After
bringing auiilolent liquor 10 become thor.
oughly intoxicated we returned 10 the
saloon. Here all indulged In beer, eto. l
soon became happy and began enjoying
myself In singing and loud talk, which
Grether objected To and ordered me from
tho saloon. did not 90 and no pushed
me out on the street. After remaining
away some half an hour returned and
was Immediately thrown out again. DO
not know Just how long remained away
the aecond time, but II must have been
for an hour, whom concluded 10 return
and llhten 10 the music made by q German
brass band, which was playing at that
came for me again. lilo handled me
roughly aud attempted to throw
mo out again. His rough treat
mont attempted 10 resent, TO the extent
OF freeing myself from bis assault, by
my being so intoxicated ! was no match
for him phyaloally. Ia the aculllo which en-.
sued ho forced me Into the corner OF the
room and began choking mo. When /
haw my Efforts were In vain and that had
no possible show OF defending myself
from the assault drew my pookotknlfe
and struck bllndly AZ his person, atabbing
him, aa l'Afterwarda learned, la the neck
After being stabbed he released me, and
turned and loft the saloon, and was In q
fow minutes arrested and locked up. Tho.
above In my indiatinct recollection OF what
occurred, God knows ] had no malice
toward tho man moro than that which u
drunken man may form for ono whom no
thinks has lnaultod and assaulted him.
The killing regret moro than II ia poaal.
bio for mo 20 oxprcaa, A. for motive, had
none, and should have bOon sober az tho
time no trouble would have occurred, Lot
uh look AZ thh mattora few momenta. Does
my crlmo constitute murder In the ilrut
dogrooY | stand now IN tho shadow OF
tie gnllows, and 40 my dying statement
declare that had no malice whatever 20.
ward this man. Thon II cannot bo MUIR
der In tho first degree Of which | am
guilty, because the crime was committed
In q drunken fury and on the impulse Of
the moment, Az God la my Judge I had
no intention OF killing the man, but 10 the
best Of my recollection only 10 rcpulac his
assault upon me, Now, am aware that
my only hopes arc In the action Of the
Governor, | have no friendn who will
como 10 the front and intorcedc for me,
However, do yet have hopo that some
Christian people viii 20 20 the Governor
and aak that | bo given another reapit0 OF
auillclont lenglh 10 enable the Gov
ornor and frlcnda TO examine my
case thoroughly aud convince themselves
that my crimO Ia not ono TO which thorO
should bo penalty OF death attached,
My Ignorance Of the custom Of the Amer
lean people may have caused my acts
10 bo wrongly construed, With the little
knowledge which have Of the English
language, II Nv impossible for me 20 ox-
proaa myself ~ would wish, but assure
YOU ono and all that have no malice TO.
ward any one. l do not want 10
dlo on the ncalfold FOR crlmo
OF which only have fndOd
and indlatlnot knowledge OF commit.
ting, aud beg Of Che community 10 intor.
codo and save mo from the awful fate OF
hanging. Though | have taken the life
OF u fellow man, am not bad NJ heart,
and ask that at least my life bo spared,
Once moro repeat, spare my llioi coms
mute my sentence 10 life imprisonment,
and upon investigation you will find that
| am not q murderer at heart and only
committed this crlmo whom intoxicated
and irresponsible for my acts.
HENRY porp.
Annex, o. r., October 20, 1890.