The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-07-20

Patrick ]. Gallagher and J. NJ. Davidson,
who are now serving terms in the Western
Pennsylvania Penitentiary at Pittsbure. Pa,
Tor selfconfesscd completely in the alleged
poisoning OF the non.union workmen In
the Homestead, Pa, mill, have made
smother confession in which they say they
were paid to swear away the liberty OF
Hugh +. Dempsey and Robert J. Beatty.
both OF whom. they now assert, are inno
cent OF the crime of which they were con.
victed. They further state, so far as they
know, there was no poison administered 10
the men in the Homestead mill. Gallagh.
ers confession was written by himself and
sworn 10 before Squire. Dayidson's wa.
given verbally in the presence Of witness
es
j.. n. Porter, who was Dempsey's attor.
ney, is one man who never believed him
guilty, and ever since the trial he has been
gathering evidence in his favor About six
weeks ago he got a letter from Gallagher IN
which he asked Mr.. Porter to call at the
prison, rs he desired To make a statement.
Mr.. Porter called a week or 30 later and i'm
the presence OF Warden Edward $. Wright
and Squire White. Gallagher and Davidson
told their stories.
Gallagher said the secret vas killing him
and TO relieve his own mind he wanted 10
make iull confession. lie had IL written
out and Squire White swore him 10 II
Davidsons verbal statement was simply n
corfoboration OF Gailaghers. Mr.. Porter.
With the consent ofThonias NJ. Marshall nnd
w. j. Bremen, who were associated with
him In the case, gave out the substance of
the confession, suppressing only the names
OF the men who Gallagher says were in the
plot to send Dempsey to prison Mr. Porter
read In substance, AZ follows from Gall,
gher's written confession. which he showed
was properly signed and attcsted:
DEMPSEY aud Beatty are entirely limo.
CEN never got any powder or poison
from them and never administered anv I'm
the mill was arrested by pinkerton die
tectives and was told that IL did not oo
what they wanted me TO do they would in
dict me for murder and have me hanged
They got me drunk aud prepared q confes.
sion Tor me. Twas kept supplied with money
and Whisky for - days aud detective wSs
shadowing meall the time. was told that
II attempted TO Iet away | would be shot
After the story got into the newspapers /
was given revolver and was told that /
would be justified in shooting any one who
moested me.
They told me tha, they were after denim.
sey because he was at the head OF The
knights Of Labor and that organization w,.
no good and ought TO be broken up. They
said II would testify against Dempsey and
Beatty they would not push murder
charge against me- and that would 20 free
At the most | would only get GO days 10
satisfy the public They Kept telling me
not TO get mixed in my story. but 10 svea,
10 what they said and stick 10 II. They made
me rehearse the story frequently until they
were satisfied that had IL OH by heart. There
were other witnesses who were to take thei,
cue from me and make their stories corrob.
ntsiS mine.
what Dempsey sworer 10 ~1s trus. M.
hired us TO make re oIts OF the plumber of
men In the mil. That s25 got from him
was borrowed money and was used TO pre
vent my furniture from being taken from
me. That T.. w. Robinson, tie prisoner m
Jail who testified that told him Dempsey
was innocent and that tins was put mn ioi
told the truth. ] did tell him that was
Kept supplied with money. provisions and
clothes while was IN the jail, the same as
when was out "N
They kept continually telling me N
swear this case through and stick 10 it so as
they could not swear ont Of il nke i'm tha
Critchlow case. II they got this case
through they sad that would settle The
Homestead people, | was told they had o5
witnesses ready TO bolster up my story.
They bad me TO badly frightened and kepi
me drunk so long, dld not know whether
was living or dead half OF the time"
davidson statement was about the same
as Gallagher s.
II the two stick TO the statements they
nave made, the papers will be prepared ana
an appeal to the Board of Pardons will no
made at the earliest meeting possible. Re-
sides this, something may be done 10 prose
cute the detectives whose names are con.
mected with the alleged plot. The Pardon
Board alone can free Deo.psey aud BEATTY
because ihe matter has passed beyond tie
jurisdiction of the courts the S,In,on'.
court having refused the appeal made
when new trial was not granted by The
lower court. '"'