Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-18
MIDGErs' CONFESSION.

confession said to have b. en- made By
the colored man, George midge's'
hanged for murder in this city thtt day.
The murder was committed Dear Norris
town. Pa, early on ihs morning Of
October Is, 1906 although Midget'
seems to have thought it occurred In
September of that year. Rev. Altxar'
der Truatt, pastor Of the Alfred street
Baptist Church, at Midgels' request
sent the following letter, written by the
condemned man to tie Oh eff OF Police
of NorfistOwu, together With the details
described by Nidge's:
AIexand,is, Va, Jan. Is, 1908.
To the puoiic: l, George Miigets, re-
suests Rev. Alexander Trustt, my
spiritual adviser, to get certain infor-
nation for me, ne l am not certain
whsther committed the crime to which
| refer, as did not see the party shot.
/ want to know for cure, 30 l could
confess it TO him and repent of 1t before
I die. az some one else may be made TO
suffer for what | have done, as / am to
suffer for what some one else has done.
I have related the details OF the matter
to him, and give him permission to
make it known thirty days after my
death. have enough on me for the
present. am innocent Of the crime In
Alexandria, but guilty OF the Norris
town crime. GEORGE MIDGEr'.
Rev. Alex. Trustt communicated
with the Chief of Police Of Norristown
aud received the following reply:
Norristown, Pa jan. IL, 1908.
Mr.. Alexander Truatt, no Princess 81. ;,
Alexandra, Va.
Dear Sir: His Honor the Mayor has
just handed me your letter dated Janu-
airy Sd. He has been away from home
since the first of the year, and has just
returned, and the letter was lying on bis
desk; hence the delay. will say that
there was murder committed here In q
gypsy camp on the morning OF October
I6, 1906, instead of September 10Th. 1t
was In the morning about o'clock. The
man murdered was member OF the
Stanley band of gypsies. The murdered
mans name IVES Frank Smith. He was
shot in the neck by two colored men.
Doe was of copper color, weight l75 10
1870 pounds; wall-eyed or a defect In his
eyes. The other was OF lighter color,
weight $50 pounds, height 8 feet inches.
These men have never been captured. l
would be glad to hear from you again.
Than king you for an early reply, l re-
main yours truly,
WIN. II. RoDENBAUdH,
Chief of Police.
Midgets' spiritual adviser subsequently,
received another letter from the Chiei
OF Police which was IS follows.
Norri,towp, Pa, jan. II, 1908
Mr.. Alexander Trustt, Alexandria, Va.
Dear 5ir-Aboat a week ago his honor
the Mayor banded me letter from you
making inquiry about a murder COM
mitted here about september 18Th, 1906,
in gypsy camp near here. l answered
your letter at once, statiDg that there
was murder committed near here at
gypsy camp, bat instead oft being Sep
TENDER 18th it was October Is, or rather
on the morning of Ostober 18th about 2
a. N. A member OF the gypsies named
Frank Smith was shot and killed, also
robbed of about 300 by q colored man.
In fact two colored men entered the
comp. One wSs a copper coIored man,
weight 175 pounds, height s feet 8 or 8
inches, wall eyed or showing the whites
of his eyes; he wore at that time light
souch hat pulled down over his eyes.
The other was of lighter color, weight
$50 pounds, height about feet or .
inches. This party has never been APP
pretended, aud the county commission
ers here offer a reward of $3.50 for the
party. | would be very much pleased to
here from you in relation to this matter
at your earliest convenience. The re-
ward still holds good. Hoping for an
early reply / remain,
WIN. II. RoDENBAUdH,
Chief of Police.
A number OF chapters Of Midgeis' lille
we're published in tbs Gazette about q
month ago when Governor Swanson res
pited him until last Friday. Those,
with the above, it is believed, embrace
about all he wrote or related during his
confinement In Alexandris.