Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1894-07-19

carry my wife into the house and asked
II l would stay there while he went
and got constable and summoned
jury. I told him would and did so.
My mother-in- law came and told me
that had done what / had int nded
to do. l told her did not do II, SO I
was put In jail, did the murder,
want the law and:all to know did
1t and am heartily sorry for 1t. I
cant tell you how I allowed my
passion to get the better Of me. II
bad been rowdy could not have
expected anything else, but before
this had always endet vored to at
tend to my own business. 1t has
been reported that I threatened to
kill my wife before. l never had
threatened her nor ever thought Of 1t.
1 cannot see how the devil got the
start OF me as he did.
advise young men and women not
to marry until they know whom they
really want. Mere notion is not
knowledge.
Many are too hasty In choosing
their companion for life and happiness.
I was too young; I was too hasty, but
I thought was right.
Had I taken my mothers advice,
doubtless I would not have been in
this fix to-day. am now sorry, but 1t
is too late to do ME any good.
I want to thank the Sheriff at
Bridgeton. and the watchers. Isaiah
Barnes, John Nieukirk and Lewis
Marks, and all the helpers and friends
about the jail. ALI were kind and
courteous to me. Also Rev. j. 8.
Thompson, who has been faithful in
advising and instructing me for good.
I bid all farewell, and commit my
soul to God, before whom I must soon
stand and be judged.
I received like kindness from the
hands of Sheriff Hand, at Cape May
Court House.
Now have told you the truth about
the dreadful deed committed with my
hands, l ask pardon of God and all
whom have wronged. Signed,
RICHARD PIERCE.
IETEvIEw WITH MRS. HARMON.
AFIcNEER reporter Thursday, saw
Mrs. Nancy Harmon, the mother of
the murdered women. She had been
out to the County House, paying the
last rites to her SOD, David Harmon,
who died there Thursday.
Mrs. Harmon, is the widow of Levi
Harmon, who used to reside in Back
Neck.
After detailing some of her family
history, Mrs. Barmon said ''yes, I am
glad he is to be hanged tomorrow,
Any man who would murder another
as he did Sallie, ought to be hanged" :"
Mrs. Harmon was asked if she had
any doubts of Pierce's guilt, she re-
piled that she had none, and then she
gave the reporter her reason of the
murder.
She said her husband Levi Harmon,
was sick with his death sickness, and
her son David, who died Thursday,
who had been sick and almost In ebecile
for six eyears, was also home In bed.
Richard Pierce and wife lived with
them. Richards wife was her daugh-
ter Sallie, nearly 90 years of age; she
would have been 20 on February gath.
She was murdered Feb. 10th 1894. Sal
lie had buried her oldest child on the
last day OF January, only about three
weeks before the murder, and she had
three months old badly.
Mrs. Harmon said: II was going
away to work about four miles from
my home that morning. 1t had been
Richards habit to take me to my
work, and he and Sallie and l ate
breakfast together. asked him If he
was going to take me to my work, and
he said Joseph Taylor would take me
that morning, and pretty soon Joseph
drove up. I left Sallie minding her
baby and Richard was sitting with his
feet on the stove hearth. There was
no quarreling, and they both seemed
In pleasant humor.
When had been at my work an
hour or two, I was sent for and told
that Sallie was murdered. / started
for home and on my way stopped at
Conover Wades, who went along.
barn where Sallie's body lay. 1t was
then about IL o'clock, and soon Rich
ard came. l said to him, We'll you
said you would kill her and now you
have accomplished your purposes
He said he didn't do 1t. l said You
need not lie 10 me; you did it, and he
hung down his head and walked