The Washington times., 1905-02-12

| Its contents had been anticipated, and
| it was expected that it would cause a
sensation, on account of the accusation
| that she had confessed three years ago
that Samuel GreaSon. her colored para
mour. who is also under sentence for
/ the crime had had nothing to do with
| the murder.
Mrs. Edwards Confession.
The confession recites the incidents
leading up TO the murder. her arrest, etc.
| The confession goes on to say: >
THAT Samuel GreaSon was also ar
rested, charged with the murder of her
husband. and she was informed by Oliver
/ Ientz. esq, one of her attorneys. that II
| she would testify as a witness i'll the
case against said Samuel Greason and
| tell the truth concerning the murder
| of her husband. the said John Edwards.
that the representatives of the Com
rnonwealth would not oppose her appli-
cation before the board of pardons.
THAT about week before the trial Of
said Samuel Greason her attorney. Oh
| liver Lentz, and the then district attor-
ney. Abraham H. Rothermel, visited
+ her IN her cell in the Berks county pris-
on, and she then and there related her
| knowledge of the facts concerning the
death of her said husband. John Ed
! wards which facts in nowise connected
! or Implicated said Samuel Greason with
! the murder of said John Edwards
Swoons Through Excitement.
| THAT the district attorney said TO
/ her: Kate there is no use of your lying.
and then said either, We know better"
OF We know everything; that at said
meeting or q subsequent Meeting the
| said Abraham H. Rothermel saio that
n II
/ excitement incident to the interview
caused your petitioner to swoon and
/ she became unconscious. and when she
revived neither the said Oliver Lentz
nor the said Abraham II. Rothermel
were present
That the next day her attorney,
Oliver LentZ, again called to see her,
and told her the district attorney insist
| ed that he knew that the said Samue.
Greason was implicated in the murder
of her husband. John Edwards. and told
her not TO shield Greason. but to tell
the truth; and your petitioner then told
her said attorney that Samuel Greason
was there at the house on the night of
July g. 1901. and there killed her hus-
d.
Tried to Gain Good viii,
she realized it was necessary
in order to obtain the good
sistance of the representa-
Commonwealth, swear 20
tosld connect Samuel
murder of her hus-
next day and the
Il before the trial
on said CHARGE
and the her
Zen IN the
IA ated the |
:. Ser. 4 upon /
2 story muei
!, the sta. ION
n Greason. of
/ called her <,
!; July. about .asal =,
y she came dow ne haC
John Edwards. her hush
a from the porch in the
{ told her she must he'll I.m
- the cisteru: that she
him. and then threw n.
tern; together with the OF.
, your petitioner related them
trial of the said Samuel Greason.
THAT neither the said Oliver Len,
# nor the said Abraham H. Rothermel
e district attorney, knew that the cir
. curnstances as related by her wefe
| false, both having told her to speak the
!, truth; that the said Abraham H
. she told the truth, and when she learn
8 ed OF the evidence the Commonwealth
2 needed to make out q case, she invented
the story related at the trial in order
to meet the needs Of the district attor'
) ney, In the hope that her own case
+ void be benefited and she would be
d able to gain the good will Of the Com
J. r1lonwealths representatives, and thai
y having told the story she persisted
{ therein in the subsequent Greason pro
.e ceedings with the same hope
Greason Tried and Sentenced. J
y THAT said Samuel Greason was tried
e and convicted of the murder of the said
John Edwards in December, 1901. in the
= c6surt OF oyer and terrniner, Of Berlfs
county, and the jury impaneled in his
+ Tease rendered verdict finding the said
: Samuel Greason guilty of murder of thc
!; first degree: and that he also was or
April &c, 1905. sentenced to be executed
= and the time fixed for his execution has
p been set for February &C. 1866
SHE AYERS that the statements here
8 in made have been made voluntarily
( and that 30 inducements whatever have
been held out to her; that she realizes
, the wrong which has been wrought by
J. ner snisstatements, and desires TO cor
rect her errors by retracting the evidence
: given at the trial or said samuel Grea-
= son for the murder Of her husband, John
g Edwards. and in the proceedings subse-
quent thereto
, Declares Greason Innocent
!, '"SLe further AYERS: First. that Samuel
Greason. now under sentence of death
\ for the murder of John Edwards, and al
# ipresert confined in the Berks county Jail
is innocent OF said crime.
/ Second, that said Samuel Greason had
= no knowledge of the preparation of sa ID
crime. did not in any manner or form
: participate IN the commission of said
crime. nor did he by word. act, or deed