The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-17

got q team at Smart's stable, and went
from there to Wallace's hardware store
where got spade pick and shovel, and
asked if they would take back the tools if
they were not used. They said they would.
l did up the tools and put them in the back
of the wagon.
81 drove past Rankin's house in Maine.
| asked Hiram if it was not better to sell
the land and pay up the mortgage, so as to
have an income from the house on Dudley
street, rented in Boston. He said he would
like to have an income. When turned
into the Marsh road he wanted to know
where l was taking him. Directly turned
into the little path, near the woodman's
shanty in the woods. l saw he wanted to
get out, and he did. Then he got in again.
l said. 1 have got some papers here that l
want you TO sign / took the papers from
my pocket and said: You may sign those
or take that pulling out revolver and
pointing it at him. He then jumped from
tie wagon and | after him. He fell down
and said: Don't. Isaac. don't l said:
NO. Hiram, wont; do as want you to and
| wont hurt you He held my hand in which
the revolver was until l promised not to
hurt him. Then l stepped away and he
got up. / then said: II came here not to
do you any harm. / want some property
from mother. He then began to walk
tOhoio thc anu dibCl kOIuS SuLlb
twenty. feet broke into a run. l started
after him and called several times, 'HIramI
Hiram! stop. or | will fire! As he kept on
running l fired. He ran little way and
fell. then ran up TO ana shook him, but
he said nothing. l then thought of the
where Hiram lay, and he did not speak. l
then put the pistol 10 my head to kill my
self and said: 'Good-by, Hiram, I'm going
to shoot Immediately l said My God!
There is my poor old mother l must live
for her.. | lowered the pistol, and, as l
thought Hiram was moving, l fired three
more shots into his body TO put him out
of pain. l then took hold of the
boots and dragged the body about 100
yards and began digging grave.
/ hurried up and took off his clothing. The
grave l dug was not large enough, and 1
took the Ratchet and chopped off his head
and arms. found l had not buried the
head, and l took it and put it in the bag
with his shirt around it, put the bag In the
team, and finally drove into the woods and
buried the head under some birch trees. |
dug a hole, took the head out Of the bag,
and, as l buried it, said 'Good-by, Hiram
L threw the lamp, AK and shovel into the
river as L crossed from Maine back to
Rochester, took Hirau,'s clothing to my
boarding house and went to bed. Not meet
ing mother and Marion, went to Boston.
l threw the clothing and revolver from a
Ierry-boat into the harbor. his clothing
was bloody, also my own. / bought the re-
revolver i'll Boston the day | went to
Rochester. l didn't buy the revolver for
any particular purpose. intended to use
II upon Hiram II necessary, but | never
expected 1t would come to that. Dr. Blood
told nae III Boston. soon after l returned home
from Charlestown Prison. 10 get him down
in Maine to sign the papers relating to mine
and his real estate business. l took up
those papers at Portland and DIR. Blood told
me what to write. One was something as
follows: l. Hiram E. Sawtelle, relino1ish
all my right to my property in Boston and
Withdraw the attachment and injunction
from the same The other was: swear
that l shall never mention anything of what
has occurred here My idea was 10 get him
to sign the papers so as 10 clear up The at
tacbment and injunction and leave the prop
erly in my name. / knew that if he signed
them there IN the woods he would never say
anything about what took place between us.
DIR. Blood gave me plan of the woods
and the vacant shanty in Maine and | went
over there from Rochester ON Tuesday TO
locate them. DR.. Blood said it would be
just the way to go up to Rochester and take
mother and Marion with me and send for
Hiram. lie also spoke about the vacant
house. l never made up my mind to kill
him, for i knew if got him into the shanty
and put my back to the door he would sign
the papers without my killing him."
Il would not have killed Elm if he had
not run. He was truthful. honest man,
and / believed if he said he would do any
thing he would do it; therefore | felt that
if he signed the papers everything would be
all right.
IL returned to Rochester from Boston on
Monday after the murder and drove over to
see IL the head or body had been discovered,
but they had not been, and l drove back to
Rochester and went TO Portsmouth. took
mother and Hiram's daughter to Rochester
because 1 knew Hiram would not come
otherwise. | sent telegram to Hiram say
ing his daughter was sick, and he came
Il intended to have buried the head with
the body. l put the arms on top of the
body. j was frightened by the light of the
moon, otherwise / should have dug the
grave long enough to take the body without
mutilating it. / got the tools for the same
reason that got the revolver. prepared to
use them if necessary"
"When did you first tell where the head
wasp"
Never until told my counsel since this
hearing began: my counsel and the Warden
told me to tell the truth. l knew l was
going to be hung for this murder, and as /
wanted my body to be buried with my
brothers, knew that unless told where
the head was il would never be found, and
all his body would not be beside me-"
At this Sawtele's eyes filed with tears
and he spoke with much difficulty. This
was the only indication of feeling or excite
ment manifested by him during his remark
able narrative. extending over more than
three hours.