Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-10
BEAl CONFESSES.
Admits Putting Strychnine in
His Fathers Whiskey.
Claims He Wanted Only to Cure
Father Of Drinking Habit.
Mystery of the Clinton Patricide at
Last Solved.

Thomaston, Me-, May 9.-Charles L.
the Maine State prison for poisoning
his father, G. c. Beal, at Clinton, in
kennebec county, Feb. IA, 1883, has
made a confession, in which he states
that while he admits having put
sytrchnne into his fathers whiskey, he
did it thinking it would cure his father
of drinking and not for an instant sus-
pecting it would cause his DEATH The
confession is as follows:
To the good people of my native State,
Maine:
1t is with a contrite heart that | sub
nit to you a true confession of the
crime for which l stand convicted. And
ask you all to try to judge me as you
would wish to be judged under like
conditions.
l was convicted in 1888 of wilfully
poisoning my own father. | am guilty
of great wrong, but not guilty of
Wilfully causing his death. My chances
Of pardon on grounds Of innocence are
said to be good; and. although | miss
this chance and have to end my days
in lonely CELL I Will speak at all cost,
l believe it my duty to my fellow men
10 state the truth.
I alone am guilty Of this great wrong,
neither my brother nor anyone else had
any knowledge of the affair.
With no intentions Of crime or wrong
doing. 1 unwittingly caused my fathers
death. May God forgive me, 1t came
about thus:
For a few years previous to my
fathers death, he had been drinking to
excess; his usually careful business
methods were becoming slack, and his
extensive business less profitable. l
was but a lad in the experience of the
world outside of the little town in which
[ resided And my fathers habit Of
drinking was a matter Of great con
Germ to me, as well as to each member
OF my family. Often | found my beloved
mother in tears; many and earnest
were the prayers she sent to our Heav
enIy Father that my father might be
delivered from the curse Of drink, but
the habit grew worse. His reformation
had been the topic of family consuIta-
ton; various remedies and methods
tisements for liquor and tobacco habits
l think there was mention about this
! time of something which could be
| placed in his tea or coffee, and cure
| him without his knowing anything had
been done L am not sure that any
tthing of this kind hard been tried. My
young brain was active in the matter,
for | strongly desired to cure my father.
We employed many men in our bust
ness, ana | had often heard them talk
of drinking and ways and means to
cure this habit. Among other things
! had heard that "strychnine whiskey"
was a sure cure. With this story,
went to my old confidant. He was an
old barber who was ever ready to adj
wise us youngsters on any subject IN
der the sun. He told me that ''strych-
nine whskey' would cause one never to
want to taste liquor again. But for
my part" said he, II had rather have
Halls Liniment."
Without a suspicion that this drug
was poisonous. | resolved to procure
and try it. | did so, and God pity me!
| You all know the result. 1t has
wrecked my life, brought misery and
poverty to those / dearly love and de-
privod me and my loved ones of kind
and indulgent father and friend.
| Great has been my suffering in soil
! tarv confinement where the loneness OF
soul through dreary years has been q
| constant agony. and the pangs of re-
morse a dragging chain about about
my neck.
Hearing that evidence is aCcumulat-
ing that wrongs my brother, | at last
find courage for his sake to reveal all.
If had only taken some intelligent
| friend into my confidence, this youth
mi error might have been prevented.
| But. like most boys. I was something
| of a fool and thought / knew 1t all. Ana
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