The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-24
LETTER ON RELIGION.
1t Unseals Blanck's Lips on His
Early History.
SAYS HE WAS BORN AT TROY.
The EEasten of Pastor Benson Makes
Him Langh-He Was Raised
Catholic, bat Is an Infidei-

N@E Effa-a1NS &tsl GkseIAAsrs I0fA-
menee TO haunt the jail and the jail ON
cisis With their opportunities 10 re per
nitscd 10 see the murderer and console
his remaining days with flowers. fFuit and
letters. The first of this species made his
appearance a. the jail yesterday with
small paper Gag containing large red
apple and an equally large California
peach. together with an officisl-size
envelope containing a letter, written on
pad OF grocer's order blanks-furnished
gratis 20 the trade by a baking powder
hrm-aad long enough TO make about
column of solid matter IN the PosT-IxTEI-
LIGENeER- Il is signed "A. Benson" who
gives his home as Renton, bat says he is
patching" il at Fremont, where he has 8
JOB at plastering. Il Is a long winded re-
ligious exhor;ation for Blanck to save his
soul before ii is too late.
Mr. Benson is evidently q Seventh Day
Adventist. from the way he raps the
churches on the violation of the Command
ments and the Sabbath. Churches and
protested Christians" he says. ''are COM
hitting this greatest sin against God
Sabbath breaking. for the seventh day is
Sabbath, and many paw no regard 10 the
Commandment. but honor the first day"
ing to Benson. are the highest sinners
against God and man. He gives the
preachers another dig in another part Of
his letter by saying that Zone sin only
cannot be forgiven, namely, against the
Holy Ghost. and preachers aud church
men are more liable 20 commit that sin
than the common sinners. even In breaking
the holy Sabbath" In order to impress
Blanck be informs him tina, he got up in
the night and cold. against my will"
in an open shack" to compose his
etfusion. lie gives him highly colored
description Of hell fire and dsmnation and
quotes many chapters of the Bible, which
he recommends Blanck 20 read. He closes
by asking for return of his letter.
Jailer Munroe, faithful to his trust.
after carefully examining the fruit for signs
of ''doetoring." took fruit and letter in to
Blanck's cell. A representative of the
PosT-INrELLIGEScKR accom- panied him TO
see how the murderer wouid receive this
communication. Blsnck was in the cor
ridor. and. when called. went promptly
into his cell and looked through the graf
ing TO see what was wanted. He had a
smile on his face which broadened per-
oeptibly when the apple and peach were
passed to him.
"Some man left the fruit and this letter
for you. Tom" said the jailer.
Blanck took the bulky manuscript and
bent his head down towards the grating in
order TO catch the light on the paper. He
had not read dozen lines when a broad
grin covered his face. and after reading
several more pages be broke out in a loud
laugh that showed his large month and
coarse. wide teeth, with two missing upper
molars. and which gave his face coarse
and sensual appearance. Jailer Munroe
told him that the reading of that letter
would take him an hour or so, and that
he should take his time at Ii. Using the
letter ss a subject of conversation. the
Posr-fsrELLIeKScER reporter asked Bianck
whether he believed in any religion.
Nav. There's nothing in it.
"Did you ever have any early religious
training or teaching"
Yes"
What denomination p
Catholic"
"How old were you when you ceased to
believe in religion7"
"Oh, about i6.'
Were you a firm believer up TO that
iimea"
ayes, was"
What changed your mind2'
With grin--'l had too much of 1t
when | was young.
''Whsre was this2"
'In Troy"
What Troy ?"
"New York"
"what. then. is your idea of . future
existeneef"
al have none. don't believe In any,"
Blanek then seemed to thaw out OF his
monosyllabio mood and entered into dis
sertation on the after results OF death.
such as very illitcrate man would de-
liver, being so incoherent as to make il
impossible 10 follow his confused and
chaotic notions OF the after life. In sub
stance. he thought life ended il all and
that his body would return 10 the germs
from which it originally emanated and be
evolved into something else. He would
net admit that his soul formed a distinct
part of his existence. and positively denied
that he could possibly be punished after
death for his crime committed in this life.
You admit committing murderf"
Eyes, and | admit the business Of my
sentence II is right II is what I de-
serve, and mr. punishment is death. That's
Gil there Is TO II.
This was not said with any degree Of
hrayado. but more as If he were speaking
OF n third person who. he fest, vas rightly
sentenced.
"Have you ever had any schoOiing'"
Yes"
'Whenf"
ain my youth.
How much Of il ?"
"Oh. lust common school education"
'In the public sehoolsR"
ave"
.'In the paroehial schOols-I mean the
schools connected with the Catholic
church p
Yes"
Where vas thisf"
''In Troy"
In Troy. y. W"
Yes"
Are yoar parents, father and mother.
uvine2"
lie bowed his head as be answered
this question. IS If suddenly brought face
to face VITA sad and unpleasant fact.
Where are they."
"In NeW Iors.'
ain Troy"
"Y-ss"
"Do they kaow Of your prssen,
Ne. no. Al least hope not"
"pon'I you vaat them 70 kaoS -
Ne: / don't"
The sahjec; VAS clearly unpleasant 20
him. and dark soowl on h.s deeply
marked. coarse fsAs1Fes showed that he
wanted a dropped.
How do yea feel relative 10 the date OF
xour execution :" inquired JslisT Monroe.
'V0a aave nothing - say and no fault
10 and"
Tais be sail With a smile. having re-