The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-02-22
PAT GROVE CONFEsSE IN A LEI
TER TO A PRIEST.
The Farmers sKidDapper Gives Eis-
tory of the Miserable Life He
Spent After His Crime.

at Vail, Iowa, was Friday morning
read to the jury before which he is
now being tried.
During the reading Of the letter
which it is believed will send him to
prison for a term of years. Grove
sat with bowed head, never once look.
ing up, his hands twitching nervous
ly. His old smile had disappeared
and there are drawn lines around his
eyes and mouth. He whispered to bis
brother, who sits with him, and each
wore a look Of care.
There was an air Of surprised OK.
citemeut In the room, which was
crowded an hour before court con-
vensd, when Judge Sutton took his
seat. It was known that the decision
in regard to the letter, which, it is
believed, would practically settle the
case, would be handed down and the
letter read in open court If admitted.
Judge Sutton admitted the. letter,
saying in bis ruling.
There .is nothing in the communi-
cation which could not have been
granted. by any person other than
priest. He does not ask for any spir:
itual relief whatever. The sole rea-
son for writing this letter was to &c.
cure relief from secular law, not from
the spiritual law. He authorized a
disclosure Of this letter to both Mr..
and Mrs. Cudahy, thus showing it Is
not a spiritual communication. The
letter was to secure earthly, not spir-
itual relief"
CONFESSION TO PRIEST.
The letter which was then read to
the jury, in part as follows:
Omaha, April %, 1904.
"Rev. Father Murphy, Vail, Ia:
Dear Friend-I wrote you letter
from Chicago few months ago, and
your answer was very encouraging to
me, as I have for several years
thought of reforming and starting life
anew. For the past fifteen years my
suffering has been intense. My chill
dren are dead and my wife is a ser
want for others. I am 81 outcast and
. disgrace to the mother that gave
me birth, and to add to my suffering
Ihave wronged a man that has been a
friend to me.
IT am guilty of the Cudahy affair.
I am to blame for the whole crime.
After it was over I regretted my Bit
and I offered to return o2l, 90 to Mr..
Cudahy, but he f,fused to take 1t and
then I vent to South Africa, where I
j,ined the rebel army and was badly
wounded, being shot twice. Then I
returned to America and have repeat
sdly tried to make peace with the
man 7 wroDged. Now am going to
give myself up and take whatever
comes, and IL Mr.. Cudahy would show
ne mercy would come out all right
and could start life anew.
''Cudahy Is q remarkably good man
and I haYe known him many years and
must say that he is generous and for
giving, and it would be hard find a
better man. But he feels he owes 1t
IS his duty to the public to prosecute
me. could stand trial and beat the
case, but that would not relieveof the
burden that Is crushing ont the last
ray OF happiness in my wasted life. I
would rather plead guilty and have
the sentence suspended, giving me
chance to start life anew My plead
ing guilty would harm no one but M =
self, and II I could inducs. M Cudsoy
% show me mercy, it would stimu-
late the harsh judgment that Is prac-
tic.d In courts with feeling Of met-
cv II at God intended should be shown
to sinners.
II wlsn you would write to Mr.
Cudahy and Mrs. O6dahy and pray
fur mercy. Remember this: Ano
Mr.. Cudahy knows, as do hundreds Of
others in this city, that I fed the
hungry and I myself was poor anc
that I showed mercy to the rich anc
mighty when they were in my pow.
er, and that If I cared to surround
myself with stolen gold I could have
ten millions inside Of thirty days. Blu,
1 have found no happiness in evil, ant
am going to return to the teaching.
uf my childhood. II I must suffer
will not repine. Write to Mr.. and
Mrs Cudahy and ask them to show
some mercy. This Is all, and I will
say goo6-by. PAT CBoWE."