Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-05-26

then we would follow after him. On
the road we would walk with Marks be-
hind the rigs When the horses had got
some ways ahead Blank was to hurry on
with an excuse to stop the horses to rest
until we caught up. and while doing this
he would take the jewelry box from
Marks sleigh and put it In ours and
cover 1t up with a blanket and then tell
Marks that we cannot go farther on ac-
count of the deep snow, therefore we
will turn back, then hide the box and
everything will be all right.
But alas, it was not SO easy. 1t turned
out as l never anticipated On the
morning of March 18th we waited at
Foote's for Marks until 93O o'clock a,
m., but as he did not come l advised
Blank again to abandon the idea. We
had better look after our own business
interests We had been hunting Marks
for nearly month, neglecting our own
business, made but few sales and heavy
expenses. / tried to explain that we
would not be able to secure the jewelry
box from Marks and we were losing
money in making the attempt. At last
he conceded was right. We hitched
up our horse, settled our bill and drove
away towards Forkston. About one-half
mile from Foote'S place we met Marks
and he inquired the reason we were
going back. We told him the snow was
so deep we could not get through. He
assured us that if we would follow him
that we could get along all right for he
would drive ahead and break the road
At this Blank without consulting me
turned around and followed Marks.
| then asked him what he changed his
mind for. He told ME that he would
go to Lopez with Jakey and on the way
we might get chance to secure the
box; that he would try once more and
If he did not succeed this time he would
give it up entirely. Marks let his rig go
ahead, ours following, and we all walk
ing behind. Meanwhile the horses gain.
ed on us so that we were several rods
behind. We were walking slowly, sing
ing songs and telling stories. About
this time we met three men going down
the mountain. Marks stopped and had
a little conversation with one of them.
F. Rosencrantz. Then they proceeded on
their way down the mountain and we con-
tinued walking ON as before. About ten
minutes after leaving the three men Blank
pulled out bottle of whiskey and offered
all drink, but Marks refused to take any.
Blank soon after feigned drunk and pushed
me towards Marks and as the snow was quite
deep we both fell down. Meanwhile Blank ran
l
box from Marks' sleigh and was in the act of
putting it in his own. Marks had got up and
ran after Blank ard detected him in robbng
him of the bcx and irving to hide it on his own
Sleigh While Blank was in the act of covering
the box up with an old blanket Marks seized
him by the arm. L did not follow Marks for
after got up and was shaking off the snow a
strong gust of wind carried away my cap down
the road. While in the act of securing it I
| heard two shots When I heard the first one
thought 1t was some one shooting game in the
woods, but when the second shot followed
discovered that it came from the road up the
mountain where Marks and Blank were. I then
hastened up to where they were. What a
terrible sight. Marks body lay in the snow
and Blank In the act of Wrapping it up in an
old blanket. AT first sight l understood the
situation. was bewildered and could not
| speak Blank then approached me and told
me he had killed him, but did not intend to do
SO. That when Marks seized his arm he tried
to shake him of, but Marks struck him a heavy
blow in the face which bewildered him. He
| got nervous and frightened, so much so that he
did not realize the situation. He did not know
himself how be came to do it. but he drew his
revolver, which he carried from the time it was
purchased, and shot him. He related this TO
me with tears Ia his eyes and begged of me TO
assist in trying to hide the body and cover I'm
the tragedy and to save ourselves. He begged
to have pity tor his wife and helpless children.
| then asked him if Marks was dead, He said
he did not know. l felt his pulse. He had
breathed his last, death had been instantaneous
and Jakey Marks was no more.
/ at once realized the situation, the crime
was done, Marks was dead, and unless we were
successful in covering up the unfor tunate
tragedy and were caught | would be suspicion.
cd as well as Blank for we We're all three sean
| together but n few minutes before. What was
to be donei l decided at once that there was
but one thing TO be done to save us aud that
was to cover up the crime by hiding the body
where it was not likely to be found until we
should be able to get out Of the State and If
possible ont Of the country We found the old
barn some distance on up tho road where we
deposited the remains and at once traced our
steps hoping TO reach Wilkes Barre the same
night and at once proceed to New York. But
fate was against us. The sin of our crime pur-
sued us and even The elements were against us
We upset our sleigh several times in
our haste to flee from the scene of the tragedy
ard broke one whiffietree. At last we got
stranded in the snow and could 90 no further
and were forced to make stop at Junes
where we rem aimed two days. From June's
we drove to Miller's where We LETT our rigs and
shipped our goods and took the train from
Ransom station for New York. The rest is
well known to the public.
In closing and as soon expect to meet the
Great Judge all desire 10 assert that am
innocent of the crime of planning or executing
any of the plans that led to the death of ped
dler Jacob Marks. l confess through SYM
pathy did assist in trying to cover up the
crime after it was committed. through sympa.
thy for the heartless mans wife and poor
children.