Year: 1869




Editor Advertiser II will now state
what it was that compelled me to
commit that crime I did on the 9th
of last August. We all have our fail
ings and weaknesses, and my great
one was passion for gambling.


At the time / left Brownville I was
over So, 800 behind in my accounts
with the Express and r. r. Co. s.
This may seem almost incredible, but
is nevertheless true. At one time
when was down at st. Joe, not long
before leaving Brownville, during one
night, I lost over $500; the remainder
[ lost at different times in Phelps and
BrOwnville. No one except those
who have acquired a passion for it
know the uncomfortable desire man
has for play, especially when he is
asked by others to do so.


But the blame rests on no one but
myself, and l am already fearfully
punished for it. Well do l remember
one morning that lady friend of
mine came to my office and said she
heard how l spent the previous night,
(which was in gambling), and with
tears in her eyes, entreated me never
to do so again. / promised her l
would not, and at the time I sincerely
thought could adher to my promise,
but in less than a week was asked TO
play again. and l done so. And right
here will say a word in reference to
those L played with: they are not to be
oensured for asking me to do so, be-
cause knew it was wrong, and II L
had not control enough over my pas
sion to keep from doing so, it was
right that l should suffer the cOnse-
quences and great God hOtO I have
suffered.


You who knew me Intimately from
the time first came to BrOwnville,
are aware that had, by my strict at
gention to the business of the different
companies was employed by, gained
the confidence and esteem of the en-
tire community; and am aware that
the Telegraph and Express companies
were satisfied with me in all respects.
And YOU who thought that l had alb
seconded with what l did merely for
the sake of the money without any
other incentive, are indeed sadly mis-
taken.


AS previously stated, was 2,5OO
in arrears, with my accounts. This
amount / could by no possible means
raise or borrow, and / had not the
courage to go to my friends and ask
them to raise it for me, because in or
der to do so I must state what 1 wan
ted it for and why, and I did not
think that they would try to assist me
if they knew what / had done.


This was my situation, when one
morning Mr.. Carson brought in a
package of $500 to ship to Omaha.
| then made up my mind that [ would
hold that few days, and also what
ever other packages that came into
the office, and abscOnd with it, and
after had got beyond the reach of
those who l knew would try to arrest
me, / would return that package of
$8, ,600w q letter stating why / com
mitted this crime, and that I was
using my utmost endeavOrs to honest
Iy earn the remainder l owed them
and return it. I knew that nothing
less than this would convince you that
L really intended to repay all that l
had lost gambling. HadsI been arrested,
/ intended to commit suicide by
shooting myself, so my wife could get
the insurance on my life, which was
81, 600; and had a letter on my per-
son telling her why I had done so,
and that / wanted her to pay every
dollar / had defrauded the company
out of.


But the best matured plans often
fail; and now comes the most incredi-
BILE part of my statement The pack
age of SS, ,600,0 was sOldered up in
zinc box the exact size of the package,
and I also had about one Thousand
dollars besides that It is natural to
suppose that was very much excited
when leaving, which was true, fOras /
was getting into askiffniy foot slipped
and I dropped the boz cOHt05Rillg the
s., coo az Ele Missouri river.


In conclusion / viii say this: am
where [ am making money fast, and
before theeXpiration Of ten years every
dollar Of that money will be returned