Year: 1869

SiOns in the breast OF man, who an
peared so cool and self-controlled.
There were various suggestions. but
nothing seemed to meet the case.
Only the facts, that horrible murder
had been committed, and the muir
derer had given himself up. were
clear. Powers said that he went to
the priest, with heavy load on his
mind to make a confession, and that
the remarks of the priest highly in
suited him, and started the blood
through his veins, and he shot him
that if one load had not killed him.
he would have fired the other five.
And that if he had not killed him
then, he would have done it some
other time. Also that he went with
the intention of killing the priest. if
he did not do as he wanted him to.
On the Sunday previous, he made an
inquiry, on the street, as to whether
they kept a good fire in the jail-say-
ing he intended to stay there this
winter.


Tuesday morning, in company with
Mr.. Hubbard of the Gazette, and the
TAILOR, Mr.. Beatty, we went into the
Jail 10 see Powers. After talking for
a few moments about his former resi-
dence here, he introduced the subject
Of the murder by remarking that "the
killing of the priest last night was a
bad affair, wasn't tT' And on some
one asserting, he added, "but il can't
be helped nOw-it's dOne!" The re-
mark was made in manner as de-
void of emotion or feeling, as if he
had been speaking of the killing of n
dOg-and as if he was not himself,
personally concerned. In answer to
the question, why he killed the priest,
he related an ineoherent, rambling,
wild story, about his being born in
the Catholic Church-going to Texas,
where lac felt, being a strong man
with a good constitution, that God
had called him to do something for
Him, for the flag and old Ireland-The
carried a flag some two feet long about
his body, which he frequently show
ed, when about town Saturday and
Sunday that God throwed tempta-
ton in his way from Heaven by put
ting him in love with a young lady,
whom he followed one day to the
Catholic ChuTch-that just before he
reached the Church he 'struck a
statute" assuming the position as he
realized it, and began to tremble, and
was fixed to the spot. and his head
turned to the East where the sun was
rising and followed it to the West
where it set-and that he then began
to shake and he knew he was called
to be n warrior-that a priest there
published him after he went to Chica-
go, and joined the Baptist Church,
nd hnnnr1nn a in
the papers-abOut loving through
thick and thin-6c., &c; that he wrote
to the priest, to stop it. but he didn't
do it-he came to Bellefountaine and
thought he would confess to the priest,
and make it all right, as ''they claim
you know, and there is forgiveness in
the crossi-that ne went to the priest
on Sunday, to confess, but the priest
put him Off-and that he went on
Monday evening, and the result was
as related above. He said that his
brOther-in-law's trouble had nothing
10 do in the matter-that he never had
anything to do with other peoples
quarTels.


The story ne told, and his earnest,
sOul-absOrbed manner, with the pecu-
lier lurking expression of his eyes,
all left upon US, and those who were
with US, the impression that the man
was maniac-crazy doubtless on the
subject of religion or love-or both.
We knew it was common to play the
crazy game, but in this case We felt
there was nothing assumed and no
attempt at if.


Several physicians have since been
in To -Sae- -PaWeFS, and they one and al
pronounce him insane.


Father Convey was about fifty years
old and has been priest of the church
here about seven years. His death is
deplOred by our people of all relig-
ions.


Powers will doubtless be indicted
by the Grand Jury, now in session,
and be tried at the present term of
Court. If he is insane, he will be
sent to the asylum. If not insane, he
ought to have speedy justice meted
out to him on the gallOws.


The bOdy of Father Convey was
kept till Wednesday forenoon, when
it was buried according to the rites of
his church-a large concourse of our
citizens attendingt the funeral services,
which were conducted by six priests
from other DlapeS