Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-10
BEAL CONFESSES,
Continued from page ~

thus il was that | told no one of nv in
itentions except the druggist. thinking
ii would be a pleasant surprise for NV
mother to know that L all by myself
had cured father of drinking. / told
the druggist just what / wanted the
Istrychnine fOr-to make father sick and
tbreak him Of drinking. He seemed To
think this huge joke for he laughed
and said he had none of that kind. So
| procured it elsewhere. 1 did not ask
him whether it was poisonous for
hadn't Il suspicion that it was Rut i
had considerable talk with him ahout
it. and think / told him that an old
friend of mine had told me il was a
sure cure for the drinking habit. AS
look back now / plainly see that he
thought | was joking, for he spoke in a
bantering mood, and gave me to I'M
derstand from what he did saw ana
what he did not say, that the drug WAS
| harmless. ana that one would never
drink anymore liquor after having if
mixed with strychnine. L was careful
| to ask him how much | ought to use
and he told me point blank, and this
was his testimony 1T my trial, that one
could take as much strychnine as he
| could salts.
AS the chemists analysis will show.
l did not use more than half as much
as one would take of salts, for | did
not want to make him too sick till
! had seen how it worked.
| Can you imagine my anguish when |
learned that my father had died of
poison administered by me. Can any
man who must have once been a boy
| believe | slew my own father in cold
blood. If so ne has evil in own heart
On hearing of my fathers death |
was on the point Of making clean
breast of the whole bOyish mistake: but
something bid me consult my old con-
fidant. / told all to him and blamed
| him for my trouble. He was fright
| ened, thinking 40 doubt that he would
| be connected with the affair." and, told
me never SO long as | lived TO tell a
living soul, for said he, If you do
| they will hang you.
| Shortly after I was locked in Jail and
| surrounded by men who patted me on
| the back and told me to stick to my
| story whether it was true or not and
| / would De al right.
| lied to every one, and in this lie |
| feel that I have been more wicked than
| in placing the strychnine in the Whis-
key. for then | meant no wrong and
| knew not what ] was doing. And yet
| this lie was not so glaringly unnatural
| under The circumstances. [ was young.
| | had not reached my majority. Where
| is the man who can truthfuly say that
he always had the moral courage to
own to the faults of his youth Cor even
manhood) when it would bring the
| blush of Shame--the finer of Scorn?
Cannot every man look back and re-
can when he stoutIy and obstnately
denied his misdeeds? And was ne sur
rounded BY older heads who advised
| his course? And was he threatened
with hanging o. imprisonment? We
are all human ana therefore err; but
some OF us are painted blacker than
we really are. Who can say what he
would have done in my place?
At my recent pardon hearing, the
Watt affidavit. which seemed to show
that my brother was the one in Nc
Manus' drug store about this time was
used These statements We're true 50
far as they went, but they We're mis-
leading. for they threw suspicion on
him, who is entirely innocent of any
connection or knowledge of my wrong
doing. lie was in this store but after
liquor. not poison. And | cannot allow
this lie to live and grow larger, even
| if it will get me free. He was my play
fellow and chum throughout my early
life-in fact all my life outside these
prison walls-und though l have not
seen him for many years. his memory
and welfare are very dear to me. God
be with him!
TO those good souls who have be-
lieved me innocent. l will say that your
belief does you credit. Your hearts are
good and kind and cannot believe evil
of your fellows. l implore your for
givcncss for deceiving you. But you
are perfectly correct in believing me in
nocent of wilful murder. | am as in
nocent of murder or intentional wrong
| as you are, yet I have done Il great
wrong through ignorance. And my
| punishment has been All. so long and
| severed Twelve dreary years in II lonely
| cell, May q just God and just men some
! day forgive the great sin of my youth,
and | find peace and rest at last
! Those misguided souls who told ur-
truths at my trial are freely forgiven.
! The court officials are honored, for they
did what they considered their duty as
| they understood it.
| With every feeling Of humanity,
every principle of generosity kindled in
! my heart [ will close with Peace on
earth. good will toward men"
CHAS. l.. BEAL,
Thomaston Prison) Maine.