Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1865-07-27 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

POISONER'S CONFESSION.—The following is the mahe portion of the confession of Lindbach, the Swedish clergyman, who was recently condemned to death for murdering several of his parishioners by putting Arsenio into the communion wine:—"l corn prebend 'the pastor's' duty as a father's. I ordered notice to be given me every Sunday by appointed persons of where any poor sick persons was to be found, After such inquiries I went round with food and medicine, and became witness of much misery and hopelessness. When one stands beside an incurably sick and dreadfully-pained fellow. creature, one wishes, with all his heart, that he might be released from his heartrending misery. By those hungry, cold incurables in Silbodahl I have often stood moved by the deepest pity, and thought; 'Were I In such a miserable plight I would bless him who hastened the end of coy pain, and God would forgive that merciful one.' With every renewed visit to these poor people I was strengthened in this idea. I prepared separate wine as help in trouble, when this, my misdirected charity. should urge me to it. I thought also, what none can deny,that very few human beings pass to the other world in the course of nature—i.e., when the powers of soul and body are worn out by age. Some external cause occurs which God, though He does not advance it, yet does not prevent, in virtue of the freedom He granted, the understanding He gave. How many in the prime of life, in there full vigour, are there own murderers, involuntarily,yet through misuse of there understanding? How many have fallen out of the hands of the most skilful physicians into the grave? The patient's statement is not always properly comprehended (yet the statement determines the prescription, and the prescription determines life or death), without God's either helping or hindering, and neither doctor nor patient is thought to have any share in the death. - How many an illness, which in the beginning might easily have been cured, has, through delay in seeking help, precipitated its victim into the grave? From these incontrovertible facts, and the many such examples which I have partly heard described, partly witnessed myself, I have come to the conclusion and belief that science, as well as ignorance. ofter bears the most decisive part, and that pious faith is often wrong in saying the hour had come.' I therefore believed that the merciful God would not condemn me if I shortened the sufferings of a miserable fellow-creature. This action is certainly in outward appearance against all law, but in reality it rests upon grounds of compassion. My God, before whom I shall finally answer, knows this, and with deep contrition I feel myself worthy of the sore punishment of the civil law, for the sinful compassion I exercised towards the dead persons in the case. Respecting Lysen, mon will likely reject my assertion of mercy and call it selfishness in its grossest form, but those who knew his dreadful sufferings and our written agreements will admit my motives of pity. My guilt is great; my enemies acted right in their earnest investigations. To their consciences, however, I put the question, 'Was it zeal in service, or zeal in persecution, which directed your course?' Hate the world's demon, is a murderer, and wants even the poor comfort of having meant well by its crime. Who is most responsible—he who against the law frees one from misery, or he who under proteotion of the law, precipitates one into misery? God alone will judge! How I have sinned is confessed before God and man ; and now my persecutor, I pray you be merciful as our Heavenly Father is I Let your false imputations now cease, and spare my blameless relatives the heartrending scream of that hate. You have now enough—my crime confessed, my house des. troyed, my grave opened. Farewell,farewell, Carlstadt That day I was oidained your pastor I was ordained to death. 0 God have mercy on me! _ _ _