Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1907-05-24
Intere sting COME sslon of Whisky
Thief?

Mr. III. B. Chapman received q
letter from James S. Walters, last
week in which he proclaimed his
innocence of stealing the whiskey
from the depot, for which he was
convicted and fined, several weeks
AGO. In the letter he enclosed a
confession from "H. T. Hall" alias
"Friday," which is as follows:
"a CONFESSION.
To AN Whom This Nay Concern:
l have just arrived here from one
of my trips through the Shenandoah
Valley, in the northern portion OF
the state of Virginia. and as | have
determined to sail today for un
known shores, I'm the Old World,
from whence | came about ten years
ago. I now hereby make the fol-
lowing statement, voluntarily, and
of my owu free will, with the sole,
and only, purpose, and object OF
freeing from dishoEor the name OF
my friend, James Walters, Of whose
! friendship, however, l have been SO
| ,,,t o,I,, ,,trnrt hv.
a few days ago, (25th April, 1900
there fell into my bands while at
IIarrlsonburp, Virginia, a copy OF
the "Shenandoah Herald''; seeing 1t
was a country newspaper, and nOtic-
ing that 1t was published in the town
where my friend Walters was work
inc, | at once became interested a"d
began to peruse its contents. Soon
my attention was riveted on an
article, "Flned $40 For Stealing
Booze wherin l learned, for the
first time, OF my friends trouble, In
being convicted for my crime. Hav-
ing already made up my mind to re-
turn to Europe, my HE having been
almost complete failure here, now
determined 10 return at once, and
leave behind me a tull confession, to
be written the sama day OF my sail
inc that would free from dlshonor
the name of my friend, ani lc've
behind forever this city, and America
/ 1t was /, II. T. Hall, alone and un'
! aided, who stole quantity OF
Mellrose Whiskey from a barrel
consigned and marked to Joseph
HOFFMAN, on the uight OF 18th Feb =
ruary, 1907, from the freight station
of fne Southern Railroad Company,
at Woodstock. Virginia, and not
James Walters. was badly in reed
of money at that time, ard fortune
seemed to favor me, for in a curious
way happened to lesrn that there
was barrel of \, hiskey on the road
toward Woods ok to arIive that
day, and also that the train would
likely be late, bo h Of which proved
to be correct. TIE details are as tol'
lows: | stall alb )dt the railroad, but
some distance from the station a i
afternoon, as well as part OF TIE
foo, enoon, and in the evening whei
9 | heard what | was sure was the
local coming in from the direction
!, OF Strasburg jurcllon. very quietl.
: approached nearer to the depot. un
: seen by any bodv, and succeeded IL
: hiding under the platform on .th
: | orth-w vest side, almost directly un-
: der The middle doorway 10 the ware
y room on that side of the building
t. while located myself shortly beior
| the train which proved TO be tb
local freight train, came in on tn
! side track. was so situated
> could see the train crew unloadin
freight, anil finally saw the blrrel
felt sure>wss the one | wanted TO g
to, aud as | saw no more barrels un
loaded was confident that thl, W;
' the barrel of wh,skey and determi'
ed 10 set at il after the station clos
el. / emerged from my hiding an
4 walked up t ie track beyond the ol
foundry at the north eDd OF the tow
a and patiently hIded my time. ATT
ls more than an. hour, it may have be-
. two hours, | made my way slow
md cautiously dowD the track on
more the road that leads in from q
vest and crosses the railroad at zig
angles, between a warehouse and d
stock yards, which / followed brln:
~ ING me around iaclng the fri.
r depot from the southeast, tcpposl
F. from tie tracks,) apd as / saw
= lights or other signs of life on I
u premises, ! mounted the sep ju
Of elrth and mounted the plrfcr
4 at the east corner, and salktd qul,
ly along the platform on The ii
from which l had made ny a
proacb, viz, from tie south q
side, thinking ! could reach the doc
way on tie other side more s'i.Iy