The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-01-08
THE CONFESSION
OF
DAVID LEWISE
THE NOTED
HlGHWAYMAN AND C0UNTERFEITER.
,sontlnned from nrst pagel

uuwholesOme air to which | must
expose myself, from lying on one
of the stalls in the open market
place, entered with considerable
reluctance, as | disliked to be in
debted for shelter even for one
night, to a place which had been
so long occupied by Governor
Findley's public officers, and
represented as the den of extor-
ton and oppression. After plac-
ing my bundle on the bricks for
a pillow, / laid down and soon fell
into sound and undisturbed
sleep, from which did not awake
until my ears were assailed by
loud cries Gliddy Glough, Gliddy
Glough. l was not long in dis.
covering that the noise came from
poor unfortunate maniac, of the
name of Baggs, whom had often
seen before in Carlisle and other
places. | accosted him without
apology, and saying George be
still, the inoffensive idiot immedi-
ately replied, Oh, yes, Bill, and
without more to do retired to
corner of the entry where he laid
down and remained quiet until lie
fell asleep, much happier than
hundreds who lie on beds of down
under canopies of velvet. Not
withstanding my poor accommo-
dations for rest, | rose at day
break much refreshed, and re-
turned to the old haunt in East
Pennsborough, where | rejoined
Connolly, my companion in iuiqui-
ty. We tarried there two days,
and on the morning of the third
commenced our journey to my
mothers. The conversation that
passed between us on the road,
chiefly related to matters con-
nected with the course of life in
which we lad been engaged, and
the impressions made on my
mind by recent circumstance
favlrIng a change of conduct,
growing weaker and weaker, |
soon yielded with willing mind
to every suggestion and PROPOSE
ton that came from my danger
Gus companion. We now agreed
to renew our old trade Of robbery
and plumber and as guilt becomes
bolder by repetition, we passed a
kind of Fictitious courage, border,
ing on dispair, increased greatly
by the very circumstances of dan
ger we were in; conscious that
having so often offended against
the peace of society and the laws
of our country, no prospects ap-
peared Of receiving another par
don unless Gov. F'indl9y should
be re elected, Of which even his
former friends were now very
doubtful.
On crossing the Juniata an in
cideut was brought to my recol.
lection which | considered as a
very unfortunate circumstance
at the time it happened. 1t was
aas follows; Having got posses
sion of a very large sum of mon
ey in notes of the Carlisle bank,
which / had procured in exchange
for, counterfeit. | carefully plac.
ed them in curious envelope
made of an alligator skin tanned
at Havana, which the unfortunate
Joseph Hare, lately executed at
Baltimore, had purchased at Pen
sacola and gave me for q keer
sake. On being pursued through
the Tuscarora mountains / hid
the skin with it's contents under
a large rock that projected over
tie river. During the spring
freshet the rain had fallen in toi.
rents, and the food overnowirlg
the banks washed away the ear .f
and carried OF the rocks into the
Juniata, at least ten feet from its
natural bed. Returning to the
spot about three months after
tho freshet. / discovered the .av
ages Of the food, and thedgh ]