Year: 1861

Will md In the mess chest bread, slap-jacks,
and cold meat. If you want some coffee and
warm meat, will build fire and make some
for you." ! said, "No, dom: do it. can
get along very well with what there is here"
At this arose to my knees, turned to the
mess chest, which stood beside my bed, threw
open its lid and commenced eating. My sit
uation was then with my back towards the
door of the tent. When went to the chest,
De Witt started up and left the tent. Whilst
engaged in partaking of some food, and with
in two minutes of the time commenced eat
ing, | was suddenly knocked down by receiv-
ing severe blow on my head by billet of
wood fell over on my back, but was still
conscious. Not knowing where the blow
came from, and anticipating that it woald
be followed up by others, threw up my
hands and feet to ward them from my head
and body. lay thus about one minute, my
head bleeding profusely from the wound
had received. Finding that second blow
was not given, raised myself up, and saw
De Witt standing in the door of the tent,
holding in his hand an old pick belve, which
had long lain about the tent. / said to him,
I" De Witt, what made you strike me? What
have | done to youg" He answered.


' Nothing; but am going to Kill! you any
how" g What for?" Iasked. Listen, and
will tell you, and after get through, will
kill you to prevent yoa from giving evidence
against me. Think not to escape, for your
doom is sealed" He continued, ''After you
left this morning for Fosters, John and got
our breakfast, ate it all in our usual good
humor, and whilst we were engaged in wash
ing up our dishes, we got into a discussion
upon the subject of the manufacture of long
candy, or stick candy, as it is called John
insisted that -four was used in its manufac-
ture. | denied. John said he knew better
than did, as he had followed that business
at one time for living. | became vexed at
his obstinncy in insisting upon his point, and
retorted severely by saying that the making
Of candy was the only business he was fit for.
John became angry, and called me liar. AS
quick as thought, after this epithet was ap-
piled to me, grabbed up this pick helve,
which lay near me at the time and struck
John blow across the left temple, with all
the force in my power. He wilted down
along the side of the tent, quivering like an
aspen leaf, aud when his body reached the
ground he had breathed his last. | went up
to him, spoke to him, felt for pulse and ex-
amined his wounds. l found the whole left
side of his head beaten in, though l had
struck him but one blow. sat down and
wept like child. Everything that John
had done for me, all his acts of kindness,
came wildly before me. Iwould have given
worlds could l have been able to have
restored him to life. My first impression
was" said he, 4" to 60 to Winslow's and give
myself up. l deliberated long over this
proposition, and finally rejected it, because
had no witnesses by which l could prove the
facts, and I was afraid | might be lynched
| was expecting you back didn't know
how soon you would come. l felt that
something must be done before you arrived,
that the body must be secreted. I rolled
the body up in blanket, and buried it,
then to kill time till your arrival picked to
pieces the chains of our scales, separating
each link Of every chain, as you can see for
yourself. This took hours, and enabled me
to get rid partially of the horrid thoughts
that fitted across my brain. This work
done, fell to something else. l concocted
the tale which told you accounting for his
absence after which commenced trimming
the main and fet ocks of the mule, the work
was engaged in when you arrived. l have
three hundred and fifty dollars Of Johns
money. Now" said he, " have told you
my story. 1t is the Gods truth. I have"
said he, "another murder to add to the one
have already committed. | must kill you
too, Henry, to prevent an exposure. don't
like to do it, but as self-preservation is the
| first law of nature / am forced to the crime"
begged for my life on my knees, and with


my hands and eyes uplifted towards Heaven,
swore that If he would permit me to live,
| would forever retain his secret in my own


bosom. recalled to his mind every little
| incident connected with our sociabilty; how
| had watched over him during his sickness,
nursed him, loaned him money, and bcne-
| fitted him in thousand ways. He wept
bitterly, but replied that he feared to trust
me, that his only safety lay in disposing of
me as Dascher had been disposed OF, etc.
wept aud begged pteously for my life, and


finally, upon making to him solemn oath


upon the Bible that never would disclose


to man or mortal the secret had been in


trusted with, and that never would leave


him, he granted my boon.


| The next day afterwards, we removed to
Fosters Bar, where | remained about u


month. During our stay at Fosters, he


watched me like hawk; he never would


permit me to be a moment out of bis sight.
He followed me everywhere. / endeayored


to get away on one occasion, but be detected


me in the effort. de then bought large


Bowie knife, and told me that if ever made
another movement of the kind he would cut


me to pieces, that he would make Eince


meat of me. | promised that if he would


forgive me, never would again attempt an
escape. He swoTe me again TO secresy. He


hurried me away from Fosters, because, as


he told me afterwards, he was afraid would


fnd an opportunity to expose his secret. He


feared the Justice at Fosters, and frequently
said that he believed the Justice had received


some information relative to the matter.
endeavored to quiet his apprehensions by


telling him that it was impossible for any
one to know the facts, as he and myself


were the only possessors of the secret All


would not do, and back to the canon he


would go, and did go. There we occupied


our old quarters. Ilived every moment in


bodily fear; sleep was out of the question !;


if happened to fall into doze, dreamed
| of nothing but the murder of john and q