Year: 1869

creek below Council Bluff. Indians dissatisfied; say
they don't understand like quakers. Indian out
RACES resumed at Grand river they having provis-
ions and having been repeatedly deceived, are firing
into steam mboats driving off stock and threatening
death all whites. Fearful storm passed Clinton
county, Iowa Several lives lost.


Kansas papers say colony of Swedes encamped on
Kaw river, route for back settlements, enguled,
and 23 drowned.


New York, July 3.-George Peabody has given
another million of bonds for Southern education.
Among the bonds are $4,000 Louisiana skies, $1O,-
600 New Orleans city sixes S35, 900 Mobile city FIVE
per cent, $4,000 Alabama fves, $69 900 Louisiana
consolidated bank fves. All securities first Glass; and
dividends certain to be paid. In addition, he gives
Florida six per cent bonds which, with due cou-
pons, amount to about s3S4,O00 These last like the
Mississippi bonds will require many years for payment


ATTENTION CUBAN VOLUNTEERS Before sailing
for the ever faithful isle" be certain to call j. B.
Lewis, No Texas street, and supply yourselves with
boots, shoes and hats, warranted to fit and do good
service in any climate.


Confessions of Poe and Robinson, the Murder


ERs OF COILS WARD AND ELY.


Poe and Robinson were hung at Henderson, Texas,
Friday the 11th day of june 1869. The following
letter was written by Poe to Mai. A. G. Turney, day





MARSHALL, Texas, June 6, 1869.
Maj. Turney


You being relative of the deceased Col. Ward, I
deem it my duty to reveal everything that know.


Ny brother was to see me this morning for the last
time, and do not feel that can leave this world
with everything locked within my own breast. l
should have stated the facts when the crime first
committed, but have heart different from any
else. always thoug hit that would rather sacrifice my
dear life than to implicate friend, but since
have rehearsed and studied this matter cannot think
any one my friend that would wish to engage in
act of that kind, nor do I wish them to be.


| will now, well as l can recollect endeavor to
reveal the facts. | sitting in my grocery house.
about ten o'clock, when Dock Nems entered and af
ter some time commenced the subject of killing Yam
KEGS, knowing that much against them at the
time as could possibly be, but had never, as some
had engaged in killing rowing with them since the
close of the war came home from the determined
to settle myself and try and render my mother happy
and did up to the time that decoyed into this
sad affair, this being my first and only repentng act
I am willing to lay my own sweet life down for it
to leave the character of my family and past uncouded


never knew anything about this affair until few
moments before it was done; if had it would never
have been done if losing my life would have saved
them. Had even been conscious / would not have
engaged in it, no matter who the parties were and had
but known who the deceased were l would have
spent my last blood in their defense. But CON-
menced telling you about Dock Nelms coming into
my grocery, l cannot think that he had such vain
idea about him in regard to my engaging in such an
awful crime but it seems if fate against and
fell entirely into his power He was hunting for two
other men at the time Bob Dyer and Harris Robinson.
He told that Johnston had come over for the pur
pose of killing and robbing the two supposed Yankees.
Johnston was at the time out at James Nems, and had
sent him to gather the crowd to do the awful act.


After engaged in it, Johnston told me that he had
followed them from Marshall and they had twenty
thousand dollars and he was determined to have it.
Johnston, Dock Nelms and Bob Dyer was to have met
me as we got out of town. but failed to.


After it occurred that evening, Dock and myself
went to James Robinson there to meet Harris, bet
ter known Pad. There we remained for some time,
but he never came. We went back to town and on
our way went by where Johnston Dock got
down and talked for some time with him.


The next morning early, Johnston was in town, while
Dock was gone down where the deed was done, re-
questing not to leave until be got back, so as to
leave with me. Bud coming back before Dock did,
johnson and myself went out to RObinsons there for
to divide the spoils On our way there he told me
where to meet him the prairies his route to CAL
ifornia as him and Bud were going to start in few
he saw them start from Marshall and that of the
wasa distant relative of his but deserved death.


Up to this time still had not seen any money nor
knew positively there any, but he said there
was and he was deserving the greater share.


On our arrival at Robinson's we found Pad and he
carried us down into the woods short distance from
the house and there got vase. Johnston cutting
it open and counting the money said that there was not
ALL was still on my horse Pad then went out and
got another sack which they counted and divided,
Johnston carrying portion to Bud and Dock Nehs
but Buds was for his horse and this is all that reco
lect at present If Maj Turney wishes to me and
ask any questions I will be glad to meet him and
answer all know On learning that Mrs. Turney has
forgiven me has afforded me exceeding comfort in my
last hours this earth. Hoping that the families Of
both the deceased will forgive my poor detected soul
is my last request. will assure them and every one
else that am too hghminded noble, and worthy a
boy to die the death set for me. dislike to die the
ignominious death awaiting me just to see in one
moment that was led to engage in an act while un-
conscious, that have to lay my own dear life down
for. Trusting that the connections of the deceased
Coils. Ward and Ely have forgiven me, knowing that
done what | did while insane aud unconscious, and
everything being misrepresented to me, Imust close.


WILLIS POE.


I certify that the foregoing statement is true and
correct copy of the original as delivered to me by
Willis Poe. J. NICHOLS,


June %, 1869. Sheriff of Harrison county.


STATEMENT OF PAD ROBINSON


made before j. S. Cary district attorney, in the pres
ence of witnesses the last of April 1885, Immediately
the trial in which he found guilty of
murder in the first degree.


The State of Texas VS.. Harris Robinson-In this
Mr.. Cary, the district attorney, in my presence,
told the defendant, first stating that be came the
representative of the State for the prosecution that he
came simply to know whether he had any communica-
ton to make with him in reference to the killing of
Ward and Ely with which he stood charged, and that
if he had it proper for him the prosecuting Off
to say that his statements must he made freely and
voluntarily, that the State did seek to know any
thing about the transaction unless he fit to tell.
The District Attorney cautioned him and informed
him that any statement he might make could be used
testimony for or against him, and that he not
authorised to hold out to him any hope of mercy what
if he fit to confess but that the prisoner fore
warned must submit to all the legal consequences that
might result from bis confessions. think the Distric,
three four times before he wonld allow him to
answer and asked him particularly to repeat and say
whether he understood him fully. He said g Yes
certainly, understand you, Mr. Cary, and want te
make clean breast of it.'


He said That ON the morning of the I'd of April
1868, about 10 o'clock Willis Fl. Poe came out tt
my brothers, Jim Robinsons and found me at ths
horse lot or somewhere close to the house and tolt
me he (Poe) had good thing. | asked him what j
was. He said there were cotton buyers in town witt
about 900 and that they could rob them and ge
the money, and if it was necessary to kill them thei
it must be done to get the money. | asked him VIII
had informed him. He told me that was all right
thora uac mon from Marshall who Ernu tba