~rHE

AND

MARTIN RICHARD KEHOE,

(,\S WRITTEX BY IIDI:~t:LF,) . .

WIU :,UFFI;I:ED TilE EXTl::';~[;; I'L.\.\LTY 0,'" TIn: LAW, 1;1 Il.\:\(;J:\G

AT TORllX'f<) JAn, :I!u:\II.\ Y. DiiCE~lBER 4rn. 1~5!, FOR TilE

ALLEGED MURDER OF HIS WIFE ELLEN KEHOE

I' L()nl .. not OW'~ IIP,)lI!;,( UliflC when it ilS "'cd, in (h.-cup; (,f t,'t, last if bi.ld', ti', a !1'I"jJ.'Il',

tI)}/I ... :/',,-gt·tlt lac an adder."

Printctl from the Original ~Ia)ju'Clil't. (in p08~cssion of the PlllJli~her8) hun,jed to them by K,·hoe.

PRICE 7Zd.

TOROXTO: PHINTJ::D F JR TilE PX:O:'ltIEl'ORS BY )!ACLL~!:, 1'1I')~L\S k c.Jm'.I:> Y.

1854.

INTRODUCTION.

In placing befure the pulJlic the leadinp; inl'idellts in the life of the unhappy man, who has so lately paid the penalty of his crimes, we are influenced l,y a deep and earnest wish to set before the readers, in the clearest manner, the inevitable consequences of an abandonment of that legacy of faith left to erring sinners by an expiring Saviour. The career of Kehoe furnishes a most melancholy in8tance of the consequence~ which surely fullow a devi~tion from the right path, and we earnestly trust that his fate may prove a warning to all, and prompt them to pray, even as Kehoe did before the last awful scene, "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, 0 God."

Born of respectable parents, it will 1.e seen rJY Kehoe's life that, while uuder the purifying influence of a Christian mother's exam­ple, and faithful in the 'ohservance of his religious duties, he prospered in his worldly affairs, and, still greater hlessing, was even made the hum hIe instrument of leading lJack to the fuM a stray sheep. It will be further seen that the holy maxims of rdigion once lost sight (Jf. no solid fuuudation of virtue rcmain<d, and that he speedily forfeited that llame by \\'hich J. j, Father in Heaven could recognise him as his heir.

Well then will it Le for all ye who read this Lrief sketch to ponder well on your Lesetting sins, and to lIra), earnestly to Him from whom no secrets are hid, that sin gain not in your souls the mastery over principle, and lead you finally to destruction.

;)Ionifo,ld, ],,,IH·yer. [IS were Keh(l("~ trnnsgrl'~sions it is truly

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consoling to know that the purifying influences of religion softened his heart, awl restoreu him to the Church before his execution. Wonderful indee(l are the \):ly~ of Providence. And although, on Kehoe's first admission til the .Jail, it might almost have been considered, from his conduct, that he was the God-fursaken crimi­nal who had eml1l11itted the "sin unto death," ,Yet it pleaseu the Almighty in his l,(luntllc,.~ mercy to redeem the sinner, enlighten his Roul, and rr. t,'l"~ him to the inheritance of grace which he had forfeited.

Kehoe giye~ a plain unvarnished ~t~tement of the principal acts of his lifl', and tJ.,~ ~ketch is interesting from the lesson which must l,e gleaned from it, that eyen he "ho has raised the standard of rebellini: :l,~:linst nod's holy kingdom, may still, through God's graef', have Ilis :"ml restoreu to the Ion' and friendship of its ::'IIaker, and beel)me an eternal heir of his lIe[u'cnly Father, "ho prepares fur his l'hil,1 rf'n a mansiun "not maue with hands, eternal in the hea\'ens."

THE I.JIFE AND DYING DEC1AIL\TION OF

MARTIN RICHARD KEHOE

WllO W.IS r;XECUn;D I" TIIIW"Tn. II" TIle 4th I>.IY OF lil('J;~JBEl:, 1854,

FOR THE ALLEGED MURDER OF HIS WIFE, ELLEN KEHOE,

Trriltcn by IIilll.<c'f in the Gaol of Toronto, in .1"01'0111,'".,-, 1854.

I was born at Hull, Yorkshire, ElIglancl. July 18tll. 181:2. :\ly parents were from the l'royiuce of Ll·ill~tcr, Ireland. )Iy j'lther, bcing a non-commissioned officer in His .'.bjl'Ety'S ser­vice, was stationed at Hull, which was the cause ot' my birth there. After some time. his regiment wa~ ordered to Ireland, and in the )'ear 1:-:~1, which time is the geare~t I can remem­ber, I find my father appointed a staff-sergeant stationed at Carlow, and keepill2' taH:rn, as men attached to the staff are not obliged to rc,ille in barracks. I was then uine years old, and going to school; as llly father, beinf! a ~OI;d and pious Ulan, was determined that all his children should have a regular share of education. I "'a~ a wild boy in my juvenile days, but much bri6htel' with )'(':!anl to intellect than the youn~er mem­bers of our family. When I was considered inclined to take a trade, I was sent to the mctropolitan city. Dublin, where I was apprcnticed. in the year 1830, to learn the art of a boot and shoe maker, as in Dublin there are in all branches of trade good mechanics in general. This was my parent's idea of sending me there. Having had a good taste for my trade, I made won­derful progress at it; and although Dublin is a place where boys have on opportunity of mis-spending; their ti.ne, I must admit that, even at the age of twellty, 1 was of a retired dis­position. Wisbing to mix with little society, my mind appeared to be much upon my work.

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Haying serYcd the years, and my time leing up, I received my indeuture; and with ouly une exc:eption, I never fell out with my llla~tcr Jurin~ myapprentieeship. The day I was out of my time, I cailell fur J .. iyeql\)()1. Being- a young tray eller, I fuund the pa~"age a Ycry severe one. I thought, had I been on ~hore a;2'aill I wuuld nut mind tralllpill).!' acrn~.' the deep walers of the :"C<l, at Ica~t until the lJeautiful summer's sun would set in; althou~h bein.~ a pel·fect stranger, and it raining torrents from the Ilea I'en,;, I sO(ln fuund a friend when I landed, althou~h I \1";1" n()t lankin;! at the time l;)l" Oile; hut our blessed Lord always sends :"()rne ;.;:()ud p\.'r~lln to direct the stmnger on the right rO:ld, particularly when applied for in a proper way.

I got along wnllderfully well, ",as· a yery temperate mall. Durill:! the time I remaine,l in Lin'rp()lII, I wa~ neyer the ~lightl'"t intoxicated froll liriuor. I :-:ayed some money; and aile thillg in me from a boy, I always kept good hours, and always eondelllne,l th(l~e who did not COITC' pond ,Vith their pa­rent", which I did regularly, and which I think all children arc bound to do.

I find that in October, 1835, my father y;as to be superan­nuated and retire on his pension, after a service in the British army of thirty-nine years and eight months, being then the oldest sergeant in the ~en·iee. He wisheclme to come and see him, as he hac! some busillc;';s to settle with me. Having had my book cleared up, I sailed again for the Emerald Isle. I stopped in Dublin merely to sec some shopmates, and proceeded on to Carlow, which is only forty miles distant from Dublin. On my arri val there, I Illet with the usual hospitality displayed in such cases by fond and good parents. After remaining here some timc, and arranging family matters, it was the wish of my father that I would live with his family in Dublin, knowini!; that I and my yuunger brother, who had been just out of his time at the same trallc I worked at myselt, that we would be likely to reside in the city, as wages was best there, he having two yuun~'('r boys whom he wished us to teach. At the close of the Jear 1835 I prueeeded to Dublin, with a view of making arrangements fur the comfurt of my aged parents, and for the benefit "f my younger brothers. On my arrival in the city, which I knew well, I met with two shopmates whom I knew.

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1 invited them to drink, as I was going t) have some myself. ". e had more than was necessary of that cursed and soul-de­stroying draught. Having laid my purse on the table, while speaking on a subject, I forgot it was not in its proper place; and I, on missing it, looked for and found it, in my act of doing 1"), IlIJ two companions decamped with its contents. Here I found the deception of mall; but could only make the be~t uf it. I was like a bini sitting on a branch then, with'JUt money, as all I had the purse contained. Ho,yeycr, I soon found a friend who made all rif!ht. I went to work, and in one week had the t,'mily settled in Dublin. We were very happy indeed, and li.ed so until t!w fullowill!,! year. It pleased Al­migbty God to call my good father to Himself. His loss was both felt and regretted, :I'; he was a lIIan beloved by all creeds and sects. I was then left ill charge ,)f an aged mother and a young family. Knowing the great temptations ,yhieh prevail in a city, I was determined to keep my charge as much as pos­sible under my own pye, and as itllclll'sS is always a sure snare for Satan, I hatl thelll all to work at lilY own trade. I IlOW

drank little, workell hard and kept late hours; and, I hope in my good ::'IIaster, done Illy duty :,s a son and brother to those intrusted to my charge. III the year IIl3!), my two younger brothers took an idea of the army; and, to usc a common phrase-persuade a boy against his will, he is of the same opi­nion still-having remonstrated with those boys, I found they were determined for to join the army. They made application to General Blakeny, ICC.B., and were immediately urdercd to join thc bund of the !):!d Highlanders, then stationcd at ::'Ilalta, Mediterranean Sea.

Those lads were a material loss to mc, as they were promis­ing ;.(ood hoys at their tradc; but I still had with mc a good and dutiful brother, next to me in age, and superior in abilities. We worked togethcr, and Jivcd in the richest contentment. ~Iy sister, a young woman of rare ahilities, was my chief object, knowing the intrigues and wily snares which are often put into operation, particularly in a city. However, in 1840, this care had been taken from me, as she married a good meehanic uf my trade. Previous to her marriage, and aftcr it, I could have got handsomely l1I;1rried. On onc occasion the young woman

had )"c.nly woney left her. She wished to corne to Allleric3, and sell out her property, but she only wanted to take me from my dear mother, as, when I propused to bring my mother with me, she was not satisfied, v,llith ended any future correspond­ence UpOll this suhject.

In 1:-:-n, we were obli;:'cll to C'hal!gf~ m1r residence to the wi~h of my empl"yel'. 'fhe locality "':IS lonesome; ~.nd my being then a telllperate man, I fi!lt rather lon(,~oll1e. In my leisure hours, hayill~ a ~'00d ta~te fill' music, I tllUught I could not emplo)' my time better than learn tf) perfurm on an instru­ment. 1 ptli'th~~f'll Ulle, and in <lue time became perfect :na~­ter uf it. l had IlI'W "'('n the ~l'C'at comfurt of bein~ a temper­ate ll\all; Jlllt though I ll~ed UJ1(:"· ill a tillle to take a day or two 011 what i" c-allc(l a "~prel'," ~till I ne,er g'ut intI) that ;,,,,1'111 p,,,;itiull from (]rink whic:h I did in this cuuntry and jll

the ~tatc~. Hew'e it is that the Iyea};: lllan is frail as the ;'parb that fly llpwards. 'WIlen in Illy ~d)er retired momcllh. IIU Illan could see lllore clf'arly into ilw awful dangers of ili­tt'llll'erance; but J always cam!! to this conclusion, that man has a weak re~('r\,(Jil'; if 1Iot, ,vhy i~ he so easily led on tu take that bitter ('up whic:h he knlll .... s i, his own destruCtion and that of his fami] v! 1 do firmly believe that more th:m two-thirds of the ri"in~ ~eneration ar~ more or ll'~~ addicted to drink. Look, for i;~t:lllce, to the c::.Jcndar of the prisolls, or ask the unfortunate pri,nner~ what C-Hw'l'fl them to do one crime with another ~ :l!ld 1 well knnw the :ll1SWer the in(inirer will get.

All through lli)' life I Hewr remember ~ctting iutc) anyone trouble; unless while lal)('urill~ ullIier the· illt:uence of the ac­cursed drau;ht. Henee, Illy ~o\>d pC'lIj1le, whoeyer may read this pamphlet, and weigh in their minds well the true words of a condemned criminal, they llWV find in it a le~,,,n of instruc­tion. ;\ child llIay be ,wll bl'u\;ght up, get 1-!'IH)t1llloral bl'eed­in~ or edncatillll, ha\'e ,~'nuJ and piu\!" p:ll'ents, and still this child Illay stray away i'rulll the paths laid down to him, and from his intemperate and pa:;~iOIl3te nature Illay prucure £(:1' himself an untimely end.

In the ~.'·:1r l~-.W my brother and I liyed happily iL.gether, my mothfC!r keeping hou~c fur us. I was not deteflflincd to get

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married ulltil ufter mother's dt'::th, hOWt'H'r mattel'~ appt'ur utherwi,e; but man Very oft"n ellt,'l" into this uniun withuut perllaps giving it due Ct;lI,i,leratiun, whil'h t,'m]'; in genl'ral for a man's happiness or destruetion. "'hen <:ither sex intend to join the huly uniun of matrimony, I would a(IYi,c them to remain sing-Ie all their life, if they are not sure that their intended partner was not of temperate habit" intemperanc.: b,.ing the leadiu!r artery to all other crimes and Ti('('s; it is to tlH'Ul a matter ot' dcrp cunsideration. .J une 10, 1 i-(~H, I was introduced tn my de",'a"l,,1 wife; she '1)(,lIt tIle ('''('lIing in the huw.;(· where I lived. Having a wish to hrar m,' Ill'rform 'lilli" airs 011 my IIlUsical ill,trullll'nt. I did ,(I. ~Jy lIIother i'('eIlled to like' her lIew aC(luailltancc much, ns lily wftc' had a vrry en,l!aginp: man­lier, and hall Fllme tillle after intrudul'(,d to IlIC Illy wife's "l'nti­lUent,,; I paid no particular att('lItioll til thi" a~ I fclt quite eOlllfortable in Illy pre,ellt ,ituatiun. .\ little tillle elapsed, and as mother and my wife seemed to be much attached to one another-the old womnn n.lvi,illl! me in matters as sll!' thought beneficial to my welfan.~I beca~e much attached ttl my wife; but not so much befort' marriage as I wa, aft(·r. \Ye were llIarried on the ,th day of _\11 ,!rU:';t, l~t:;, in (;cnrgc'~ Church, Dublin. ~Iy wife was a Proh·,tant. In f~I(·t I wa~ not much of any thing' in respect to reli;!ion. \r e were married in the Chureh of England: this marriage I newr changt'd, although it is usual where the parties differ in reli,!.!itlll to haye the ceremony pClformed by their rc~pecti\'e c1eI!rY. Some time elapsed, and my wife proposed herself to me tl) I,ecome It Homan Catholic. After asking her some quc,tions, she stat(·,1 her parents were Roman Catholics; that her real name was Ellen Keyle),; that her parents died when she wa, young; n lady had her put into the Orphan ;'-:('hool at Dublin, and h('r namc there was ehanO'cd to Ellen Bnss. ;'-:he lived with this lady fourteen years. She was twenty-ei;!ht years of ngc when' we were married: this is her own ~tatement. ;'-:tlf' had £;)11 in the Bank of Ireland, left as a small fortune by her deceascd mis­tress. She had many things suitable for housE"!{c('l'in:.,o:. We lived happy indeed, each loving one another.

In Janv<try, 184!, having made up a stock of good work my~elf, r ~omI¥()nccd my tra~~ on~3 large a scalo as my mean ~

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wouid allow me, and opcuetJ shop fur lll):;eif in lloultoil Street. Here 1 soon was noticed, having had a good knowledge of llly businc:'s, and was able to cmploy some good hands to work ~Iy busine2s seemed to fOct along- well; but when folks are eloin/!, well thl'Y do not appreciate it. It was here I first found my wife was really fund of drink, although seeing slight in­stances from first 1 knew her, I thought it might not be of any gl'C:lt matter. I haye not the glightest doubt had I restained the woman from drink, and that I myself was a sober man, that she ::t least would not be anything: like what she was, a" in this case I ~hall shew proof when I did not take drink I never kne',',' her to take it, but as SOOIl as I commenced she c0ll1111enced also. I llC\"l'r drank at taY('rlB unless a y\:ry odd time, and them only' moderate; always whell uriukiug kept it in lJly own house, which ;.:;aye her an opportunity of helping herself whcll she y,dlCd. '" c ah.ays took an equality of drink, and ~ingular to :-;ay seldom indeed that any contention would arise between us, us Satan has good ground-work to play on, where tq,e husband and wife are both mtemperate.

On the itll of June, 1~.J:-l:, ,he had her first child, a girl, which I allowed to be named after the lady she had lived with. Mother then saw to our affairs in the way of domestic matters, and never allowed my wife to w:1~h or do anything she was not accustomed to do, althou~h she did not at this time reside with us. When a mall is gettin~ alon~ well in this life, so far as he seems comfortable, he will have many visitors, but when on the reverse side, he is down, down with him (so much for this world), as it was the case with me. A young man should not only value his money, but his precious time; and he who does not do so will find his mistake perhaps when it is too late.

In 18-16 I changed my residence to Great Britain Street, this being a better locality for the sale of work. My brother got married, and proceeded to Boston, e nited States, Amcrica. Mother then lived with me, and in reality they were much noticed by lllallY, for each of those persons were so united and agreeable together. We were then styled the bappy family. In this year it pleased my God to increase my family by send­ing me a son. We were going on well; I was temperate now and industrious, but it pleased the Lord to visit the land with

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a failure of the crops; the workillg da!'~e~. had nut means of purchasinO" new boots or ~hoes, they were In a ;.:reat measure oblio'ed to'''bU\' of second haud Hnrc~. This garl' me of course "J I 1 .. ' • h a concern, having a young fillnily tll 100 ~ tu; .anu !'l'CI!I,!! \l1 t e

newspapers every day bankrupt llJcn With lllgh capItal, and trade f~liling, I considered it high time for tl) I"uk out. ~fow­ever huvinu- acquainted my wife, I determilll,d II) gl' and Jtvc at

, " .. I I Liverpool, as I knew it well. She was l'l'I'fectly slll,tiet ; !' Ie

never would obstruct a man in doing what he cl)lJ~idered for his benefit. Having sold some of illy furnitur(', and ma];in~ arrangements for mother's comfort, as her dau:.:hll'r, who was in good circumstances, was only happy to ha\e Iwr, and her husband too. After spending onl' week with thelll, as mother would not cross the deep waters any more, althuu;.:h it was our wish, we sailed for Liverpool J une ~!)th, l:-;.f "i. After remain­ing here three weeks in a boardinf!' huu"l' under heav}' expen~es I endeavoured to g'et a place to carryon my tr~lde ; but yuu cannot get a house unless you give JUlllll'Y in hand, which is termed good-will money. I knew if business would Ilut do wcll with me here I had no alternative only to put up with the luss. Having had my stock of trade, boots, shoes, b,ts and trees, I determined to sell thelll and go tf) Ameril'a. }Iy wife was well satisfied at the decision I came to. Having' di'l'osed of all to the Boss whom I worked for tweh'e years :t.~u ill Liverpool, I brought my wife down and the Dl'~s paid her, ;1, I never dlew my wages from any BOE~, but let my wife do the bc"t ~he could with it.

On the 2ht of July, IR-! i, we ~ailed from Liverpool, in the ship Virgilia, commanded by Capt. Barr. We had :;110 I'~I>_ sengers oll.board. I took my berth fur Illy little family in the second cabID. I made sure not to stint myself in proyi~ions, kno~i?g the great uncertainty of time on a passa:.:·c. I had provlsl.ons to sell when many ereaturcR were obli)!'ed tl) lJUY at any pnce, and many of them with little means. What I suld they had for what I paid for them myself, and some I ~ave without pay. We had a good, but long passa~e. All wc~t on ~ell withon~exception. On the 4th September, at fh'c o'clock In the morDlng, we were all aroused from our belths with a tremendous crash. The second mate who had charge of the

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wouid allow IDe, and opclled shop Iur ID,Yi:ielf ill HoultOll Street. I-lere I soon was noticed, having had a good knowledge of my businc~s, and was able to employ some good hands to work . . H y business seemed to feet along well; but when folks are doill/! well they do 1Iot npprcciate it. It was here I first found my wife was really fond of drink, although seeing slight in­stances from first I knew her, I thought it might not be of any p:reat matter. I have not the !>lightest doubt had I restained the woman from drink, and that I myself was a sober man, that she ::t least would not be anything like what she was, aR in this case I shall shew proof when I did not take drink I never knew her to take it, but as soon as I commenced she commenced also. I never drank at taVl'rlB unle~s a Yery odd time, aud then only moderate; always when drinking kept it in JJ1y own house, which gave her an opportunity of helping herself whell she ,,·idled. ,Yc always took an equality of drink, and singular to say seldolll indeed that any contention would arise between us, as Satan has g-oull .!.!Tolllld-work to play on, where t1).e husband and wife are both mtemperate.

On the 7th of June, 1~4A, she had her first child, a girl, which I allowed to be named after the lady she had lived with. Mother then saw to our affairs in the way of domestic matters, and never allowed my wife to wa~h or do anything she was not accustomed to do, althou[!h she did not at this time reside with us. When a mall is getting along well in this life, so far as he seems comfortable, he will hayc many visitors, but when on the reverse side, he is down, down with him (so much for this world), as it was the case with me. A young man should not only value his money, but his precious time; and he who does not do so will find his mistake perhaps when it is too late.

In 18-16 I changed my residence to Great Britain Street, this being a better locality for the sale of work. My brother got married, and proceeded to Boston, United States, Amcrica. :;Uother then li,ed with me, and in reality they were much noticed by many, for each of those persons were so united and agreeable together. We were then styled the happy family. In this year it pleased my God to increase my family by send­ing me a SOD. We were going on well; I was temperate now and industrious, but it pleased the Lord to visit the land with

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a failure of' the crops; the workillg da~ses had not lIleallS of purchasing new boots or shocs, they were in a great mcasure obliged to buy of second haud stores. This gave me of course a concern, haying a youn!! fiunily to look tl); and seeing in the newspapers every day bankrupt !lien with hi~h capital, and trade f:liling, I considereu it high time fur tl) luuk out. How­ever, having acquainted my wife, I dctermilled to go and livc at Liverpool, as I knew it well. ~he was perfectly satisfied; she never would ubstruct a man in uoin~' what he eonsiuered for his benefit. Haying suld some of ;'uJ furnitllJ"(', and making arrangements for mother's cumfort, as her dauc:htl"l", who wus in good circumstances, was only lwppy to have h(:r, and her husband too. After spending one week with them, as mother would not cross the deep waters allY more, althuugh it was our wish, we sailed for Liyerpool J une ~9th, 1847. After remain­ing here three weeks in a boarding hou~(: under heavy expenses I endeavoured to get a place to carryon Illy trade; but you cannot get a house unless JOU give monl'Y in halld, which is termed good-will money. I knew if business would 110t do well with me here I had no alternative only to put up ,,·ith the loss. Having had my stock of trade, boots, shoes, lasts and trees, I determined to sell them and ~o to America. ,:\1 j" wife was well satisfied at the decision I carne to. Haying disposed of all to the Boss whom I worked for twelvc years ago in Liverpool, I brought my wife down and the Dl'~s l)aid her, as I never dlew my w~p;cs from any Ho:,~, but let my wife do the bl'~t she could with it.

On the 21st of July, 1:':47, we ~ailed from Livcrpool, in the ship Virgilia, commanded by Capt. Barr. We had 300 pas­sengers on board. I took my berth for my littlc family in the second cabin. I made sure not to stint llIFelf in proyisions, knowing the grcat uncertainty of time on a passagc. I had provisions to sell when many creatures wcrc oblig-ed to buy at any price, and many of them with little means. "'hat I sold they had for what I paid for them myself, and some I gave without pay. We had a good, but long passage. All went 011

well with one exception. On the 4th September, at fiye o'clock in the morning, we were all aroused fi'om our berths with a tremendous crash. The second mate who had charge of the

12

watch 011 deck nut duing his duty in orderiug the canva::; to be taken in the 8hip was cla~hed on her side, and remained so for l'Iix minutes. Jj,'r,' tll1're was dreadful confusion, the stron)!cst JUan was seen tl} trl'mble and run "11 del.:k. I tuuk \lly girl in Illy arIllS; the muther, the boy. Said I, without nwving fi'om Illy berth, if ~he ;.:' IC~ duwn we will ffu duwn tugether; but the ]~urd soon calmt"d tht, great angry ~t"a, and the ship was made ri;.:ht. .\ rl'~pl'l'lable 'YUman in the ()pp(l~ite berth to me was imlllediately confilled ant! dclivered (If a ~on; they both died, allll I saw them thrown down int" the' deep sea the following morning "'c had nine JUore who shared the sallie fate. It was indeed a 1lll'I:tIlCh"ly sight to f;('('; but they were principally children. "r e ,:':IIt Oil Wt,1I thcn, and arrived at (luarantine or • ;}'t",s(, bIt". .'h b,,\', fiftecn lllontb old, had declined nry much during th,: VII)";;,:.::!!; Ill)" girl, three year~ and three lllonth:~ old, was well until a ii.'w .lays previous tu landing. The Captain appointed me as ""er~C'('r "f the second cabin, to sec it kept in cll'an and ,:.:'ood order, for which he sent hi~ own I:'ig or boat on 8hore with my f;l1l1ily when landing at (;ros~e 1"lc. When we landed "n thi:" barrell and pestilential i"land both my child­ren w\'re sid;:. J looked around me, and as there was only sheds for the t'miirrants and <Ille ,tllre. I went to the latter, purchased what I thou~ht lll(l"t essential, and made ourselyes as happy as 'we could under such tryin,l! circumstances. There was great Bum bers dyinf!; indeed eyery one had sorrow depict­ed in their countenance fur the loss of their rciati,es.

,Ye werl' fi\'e days (IIi this solitary island, and here was misery to be seen in' the' extrell!e; whole families carried be­fore their just (;ud in the space of three days, til render an account of the deeds done in this miserable life. On the 25th September orders eame fur all passengers who belonged to the "Yiq:?:illa," which wa,.; the ship we came in, to proceed on their pass:I:':'C' to }IIIlItr('al. Here was the heart-rending scene! Parent,.; "hli,:.:ed to kaye their offsprillg behind them, and chil­dren ubli)!,'(l to leaye their dear parents. As this was the case with me, I wcJl remember the feelings I had in beillg obliged to leayc behind IIle my little fayorite p:irl, who had been in ~ospital three days with little hopes of her recovcry; on hear­lUg of the sudden route I went direct to Doctor Douglas, who

was head physician 011 the Island, f/"I'ecting Illy ehild; he gave me liberty to sce her, and sait! if ~-111' r('I'"Ycred ,he would b~ taken good care of and sent to lIle ill any part "f the 1'ro­nnce I ,yould be in, when thc Xavi.~ali"l1 would open in the Spring, I shall newr for~('t how I I;--It to leaye this child; she was my first, amI wa~ my EIY"ritl'; althouF-h my ~I)n re­semlJled me much mon" this little one 1 ,vas lIluch atta('hed tn, and the loss of her oft-:n eau~ed n!,' til drink ;,j't,'r l'omin!! to Canada. }Iy wife having the lJo,Y ill "n her breast could do nothin!!, ,I} 1 did what I could to re,lrain IHY fee\int!:s from her, as she felt of course bad ell"llc:h. (In the ~I;lh we'landed in }Iontreal; after duin~ what w~s ri~ht, 1 Wl'nt to I""k I"r work, the winter seasun 1)L'in,!:; ab"ut to ~l't in, :'.lontreal is one of the worst places in ('anada I;,r a I"",t maker, either to F-'d work or W!It!:<'S. I was ,,!f('n,d w",.k, but finding my elll­ployment wuuld not be permanl'nt through the "IV ill tel', alld wages not so good as I had in Dublin; yuu may suppose I found a great disappointment-it wlJuld 1)(' SII if all the Cana­das was like it. HaYin~' 'leen 'lIllle ,hoplllates, thcy advised me to go up higher in the ('"ulltry as 'l'at!:('S Wl're 1:11' better, which is the ca,.e; haying accluainted my wife, she thou~ht I was right in doint!: so; the leaving of the little c:il'l, tu me was a matter of deep regret, but findillg on inquiry that all ehilcircn recovering was sent up therc amI I'ut intI) HcllOlIl" ", .. 11 cared until their parents would claim them-thi, ,oothcd me a EttIe, and I prepared tl) go to Kingston. "\t this tilIlc the channel was repairin!!" and the Steamboats came no ni~her than L,('hine, a poor French village, situate eight miles from ]\Jontreal; ",hen we g"t here it was dark ni~ht, the wind bl"\l'ilig ~. E. I made application to get a place to ,top in-no! was the answer; for loye or money they would iliA let inside their dlllm; an Emigrant. In one ca,;e they were not blameaJ,I,', th,,), had suffered Yery lIluch from sickness that year; the ~heds were all crowded, so that we were obliged til m::ke our bed and lie down in an open one exposed to the chilly blast of the night air; on the following morning my wife found her h,"y .lead by her side. I went tl) the joiner'S to get a coffin and have him interred, but this man was on a drinking "pree; there was only one in the village who made coffins; having found him and knowing me to be a tradesman he made mo one, and at

14

two o'clock we mustered a funeral party, principally from the 3hip we came in, and had the child interred.

'Ye sailee1 for I\in,:!·~ton-m.v wife WriS vcry ill-the 108s of her child from her 1m·;[.,t c:msed hcr much pain. It was Sab­bath Day when Vie landed in Kingston, and all Stores closed. I applied til Ill' accommodated, but findin~ her ill they were much afraid of feycr, and we were obliged to do the best we could; numbers was taken to the hospital from our ship; I did the he.-;t I could for her, and thinking she might be better lIext eby would not let her lIP to the hospital, until she was obliged to do so by onlcr~ of the Board of Health. After she wellt I IJec:lme alllloot delirious, in a strange country, far from tllO~C who would give me kind consolation. Having put my bed under her going, as the roads was very rough-which bed I Ilcycr saw after-I was obliged to seck a lodging, which I obtained after havin~ to state that I had come oyer from th~ ~tates; next day I ;cnt to see her, she was poorly indeed. I took a little drink, and carried some to her and her nurse; having stopped some time in the hospital, I became over· excited, not from the quantity of liquor I took, more from fret of' mind than anything else. Doctor Robison, a good man, who was pre:<ent, sent me for protection with his orderly to the Station House, hut ordered me not to be locked up, but kept warm at the stove; this good man being also the magis­trate ordered me early in the morning to be discharged. I went to work immediately, hut Roon found I was a fit patient for the hospital myself. I worked until Saturday, when I was obliged to give up and go to my bed; on Sunday found very bad, went to Church and frol11 thence to the hospital, taking what I thought with me that my wife required. I found her improvin.i2', hut I was badly ill j the Doctor met me on my ~ay to the tity, and told me I was very ill, to return and go mto X o. 1 'Vard with his directions. I did so; for fOl1r days a.nd nights I had a bad opinion of myself; a friend from Dub­lin ~ho then was steward in the hospital rendered me every pOSSIble care and attention, he being one of my own trade; from good care and two glasses of wine in the day allowed me, I was able to walk round in ten days' my wife was now able to come and sce mc. The Government ~nd the Board of Health

of Kingstoll tle~erYc:; (he highe::;t prai:<c ull,j reward fur the Hr,\' kind and humane comfort and attendance provided in this huspital for the relid of the illlll::tc'" "f tIl i." Iloble Imtitu­tion by them. At thiR time there ,va' \;\8 a lby <]yint!: on an averai .. ; before I was very strl)n~ I gut a .~')(Ill j'ub :,f ~\"ork­allowed a furnished room, good ratiun" and a (\uart of the best grog in the day, besides .~'Jo<l W:1;':"'S, _\.ftl'r I ~:I)t thruugh with the long winter hoots, I went to llIabter on a "lif!ht scale for lll)self. I could have had plenty of "ork and .~(,,"1 pay from Stores, but my way wa~ more profit:,ble. Ilivell in Kingston eii!ht months, :1nd could do well there if "'c only let grog be still.

.b :;n()1l as the Xavigation opcl",d I ",roto! nfter my child to Dodor Douglas, had III) letters ,iglled by Hoctor Barny. I received answers, but not to my satisfactillll, as it unly _-tated that any child who lind, was sent to :\Iontreal and placed in a school; a friend on one of the boats trading tIl ere made all possible inquiry about her-no trace "'hatever, only she died at Grosse Isle. Xo statement being kept here apparently, I was determined to go and see after her lllJself. Patrick's Day I got ,ery high, and was sent by the samt lloctor Robison again to the Station House, but he soon liberated me in the morning. )olen oftentimes, and women too, take drink to kill ~riLf, but I really believe it adds more to it than it dilllini,llCs it. :My wife at this time was ,cry much in the habit of usin~ 10, excess this deadly draught. :\' friend and shopmate of mi~e informed me to keep a el",e eye Oil h('r, as he knew a lllnn who had a bad character and where she was acctlc(<>ll1ell to Yi~it; the man told me no more, but left for myself to judge; ,orne time after I watched her moyelllents and asked her (Juietly on thi~ matter, she confessed her guilt; I proposed to her a diyorcelllent then, and on two other occasions since, but ~he neyer would admit of this at all.

June the 1st, 18-!~, we sailed on lJl1ard the " ('aledonian," Capt. Kelly, for 1I10ntreal, to seek after my child, which I thought there was no fear but I should find some trace of her. It was dark and raining when we got to Montreal. I left my wife aboard and went direct to see after the children, as the mat€ of the Caledonia told me I might remain

on board that Hight, it being dark and milling. _\ttl'r makill;"; influiry fir~t at th,· C;I'<')' nunllery, :;~ th"~e ladies n~(·d to take char(:l' of th ... "'· childn'lI, I Waf) illfimllecl I W:I." t,,,, late there, but wuuld ;c.·ct evcry infiJl'lllation ill the llwrning. 1\ l'xt morn­ing I went to threc different nunncrit'~, looked :It all the little children, hut no tra,'(' of the child in any way that I was ~cekin,!!, I perused the' nalll('," and deaths OWl' and uYer, had a long elJlllel',-atioll with the h,'ad Iadv, I went to two l'ro­testa~t schools where (·hildrell wa~ a("" provided for in the sallle way. ~u trace left fiJI' llle, Illy last and only recourse was a lady, a <:Icr~yman's wife, who looked to such children'~ welfare, sl;(' PI"';'<<'lIlc,l mc wit Ii a prill ted li"t, the nUlllbf'1' of ('hildren recl'in") that y,·;,r and the l>hips they bclullf!cd to. This 1..1'( l11e with a truubled heart. amI walking through the scorching sun all day, I ;c.'l)t we:,k, \\','lIt t" a lwuse, had only a drink of water, althou!.!h Iwyillg 1'1"lIty of money. I neyer ta~ted strong drink until I returned with the news to my wife; we now gave up all hopes, and sailed in the morning fur (jhamplain. ". e took the cars for St. Johns, after arriyillg. (1...; miles) torrents of rain fallillg, we were obliged tt) remain in the station four hours, for when it rains there, it puur~. "'hen it ('eased we went and got re­freshment ana boardin!! hou~l'. I ~"t work, but it was of inferior quality tl) what I was ac('ustOllll'il to make: I would have gone then tl) the ~t:\te~ only I wi~hl',J t" write a~ain about the child, which I dia, but reeeiyed no answer. 'Yhere we boarded was a tavern, a great resort of sollIiers, whieh did not answer me. One day while drinkill;.!', and ;c.uing into my bed-room, found two ""Idi('rs of the i'bt Hf'!!illlent there; my wife was in brd drunk, here a scuffle ensued, hut they were soon away, knowillg I would have them punished; huwever I corrected her.

"."IIy Boss, an Englishman, finding me to suit him for the offieer~ work, whieh by thi,'i time he had given lilt', fitted up a room in his IIwn house, knowin~, while WI' were, there was temptation. For him I worked twdye months, we drank con­~iderable, but still was able to save money. 1\1y brother being 1Il Boston, I made up my mind to go to him, and in June, 1849, sailed for that city. After having had a good share of trying circumsta.nccs in British .\mcrica, in landin'" in Boston . , " p "

17

I was luuch disappointed, in findiB~ Illy only brother thell liv­ing returned t,) the city of Dublin, and ht! died six months after his return. A )"tlUllg man who had 6ni~hed his time with me in Dublin was the 0111\· one I knell' there. .\t any time a friend in ~ny of the ~tate~, of the ruin!! i~ I,e!ter to a '~tran!::('r than money, a.'-' they won't see .'"IJU ill;po,ed on 1):,- Yankee trickery, which is llIHch practi:'l,d. partie'Hlady in ::'IIas:'achHsetts. Il<lYin~ got plenty of good wurk alld I':',\"_,,·e Il"l)rked tll;.::l'lher, dtl'l" having a gl)l)d Lrewell ;.::Ia:,s-w,' ":lIrked steady both, and no drinkill~ until the month of fl.-tuber, we hall c:um·ider­~.ble money ""YCa, :)s I knew I woul,l \"t"luire it SOOIl. 31y wife "'a<; (,:Jnfinecl, but rather ~uddellh'; "I", went tl) the yard to put elutlll'.-: out til dry, accurd;n~ til' b.'r statcllIl'llt, alld 'hay­illg slippl'll from what she ~tlJ(ld I'B. l~'il dllll'lI; ,he tuld me nothin,~ of this at the time, but thl' f;)l!t.wing 1Il0rnill~ J found it necessary tu call in the ,1oct:>f. He remailled all clay with her, and at 10 o'clock at lIi~ht cldi\'ered her lIf t'ol"/I fill'~ babies, buy and girl. 1-1' to thi~ l had ,~t)oLl hopc~, that by lun'ing my children it would ~cttle us duwu in ~ollle pial"'. but it pleased Almighty God otherwi"l'. It appcarccl to ll1e there was somc' mislllanagement either with I :r. O'! I,mndl or herself or e1Sl'

the children would be li\'in<[, as she t/JILl l1Ie thev w,~re aliv!' two hours after I brou~ht him to ~ .. e her. I had'buth brandy and wine in my worksh(lp, in the Iwu"c I liyed in, to giye those persons about hc\" what i.-: usual in ~uch eases. I t(lok them bottles up three times the day T interred TIl.\' childrell fur the purpose of urinking:, aud :.dthouuh bcin~ much put about I eOilsidered my own weakness, and I laid them back without ta,tiil,(!. If I did this throu!!:h life I woule! be a ,cry different man to-day. She was confined to her I"<)(lm tlll"l'C weeks, after this being' yery illl procured e,erytllinu lIl'C'C"':ll'Y f;)r her comfort; as snUB as she was able tu attend tu her dOlnestit: duties she did so, I was still temperate, but not lon~' after, coming from shop wet all oYcr and under with snow, J fiJUnd a person in my roolll. a female, ,dw I ,,·dl knew would shu", her no good pattern. I went to the taYern, drank some that night, 11!id no words, I remained drinkin!!: in llJY room fur a consi­derable time accompanied by her. 'I j,(,("3'nIC ~"ill from the effects of drink that it was found nc('cs:,ar,v ~u bring the Doctor and Clerg'y, From this F.pree I got into delirium tremens, of

18

the wry wur~t description, as having had them twiee since, I could judge them to be so; those who han.' had the misfortune to have them only knows of the awful horrurs of' delirium. I should be very ~OITy tf) sec eyen an auimal in such a dangerous positiun. }ly wife at this time drank heavy t,"); and to make matters worSe with 1IH', :'-t"pped 'mt f,'om her home and came in at unusual hours drunk; on one or t",o (Jl'casinns stopped out allni.!,!·ht. I was IJllt wry ball in my insallity then, until Rome time after. Un :-tatiJ]~ she "';IS at a friends house, I made enrluiry but found it to be a t:d~,-,h"ud. On one occasion, some time aner. my desire wa.- to ~o to the bench to work, .... ·hich I did, after ~pending-, 1)(,(",,,(,11 tWI) of' us, (j;J dollars. I had purchased all a tradeSlllall furniture; he Y,as going to ('alitornia, and I ,!.(<It a bargain of thelll.

}Iy head C'ontinued 1)all, and daily ~·')t y;Un-L'; 011 olle occa­sion, when bad, two mell came tu see 111e, 1 always con­sidered them ~ood f'rien,k but in those horrors you will think ,Your best friend yuur grcate~t l'lIemy; s" frightened was I thaL those men came to kill me, 1 leaped uut of bed, put on one hoot, one :,tuckin~, no hat nor coat, and ran for considerable distance; when 1 f;JUllll the llw~t conspicuous place, some folks put a hat and boot on we. I went home, had money, cared little for drink at fir~t. ~ \. few days after she gave me money and a bottle, it was on ~abbath day, to ,Q<J for drink; I thought ~ll<' was ~'Jill~ to pois"n me then, and I ran to the church, left the bottle outside, and entered it during divine service. That day in the evening, as I used generally to get better at the close of the day, I went Lo a constable tuld him my wife had men tl) kill me, and :;he was ~oil1~ to poison rue, to take ('arc of me and not let me be killed. lIe kept me all night. She call1l' to me with refrc·~hlllent, and amongst the rest some gin. I rcfllsed all a:" I C'onsidered there were poison in them. The next day he hrou,!.!ht me honle, instead of keep­ing me, knowillg I wa" really out of my mind and real insane. I ,vas eight days bad this timc. }Iy wife took me out in the evening to walk, thillkin~' it ",,,nl(l do me good, but everyone I mct I thought was ~oing to kill me; sOllie appeared with deadly weapons; sume coloured men I met, all seemed to be after 111e with intention to killmc. It was now dark and as

Ul

we hau a bridge tu cross tu tlouth Buston where our residence was, I would not go oyer the bridge fur fear those mc:n on it would throw me in the water; two watdllll:ln eame up, finding­my wife pressin~ me home, and I det<:l'Ulined Ilot tu eru:.;, the brid,~e. They were taking me to the ~tatilJlI-hlJu';l'-~I, thillk­ing those were the men ~C'nt to kill me-lay down, ~I) as tlwy were obliged to drag me; I !'ci'ealllcd, and one of thcm raiscd his crook, struck me a severe blow "Ycr the ri,l.!ht tcmple, cut­ting' Illy cap and ~kull throui-!h; 1 bled prolu",ly; llly wife ,ya~ looking at all this, and cried (Iut werc they l.!"ing to kill him. She remailledwithmeallni~ht.andat-!u.cl .. ck in the mO\!l­ing they discharged us, knowillg ifthl' c;:,,· had been fully ~tall'd before the authorities those IllOlI"!,']', in human "hape would be punished. .\. lar;:e holluw remains in thc ri,l.!ht "ide "f Illy skull since, mv hcad from this bl"w has neyer bl'cn L',)(ltl "incl', as my memory is very had, and when I t""k but little drink, L found cver ,.,ince that this blow affl'ctl',l the hmin; of this 1 had prolJf; enough myself, and my ,,·ili.' t,,,,. .\.ftl'r tllis affair l became much wor:-,', and in four day" aftl'r I raa to a neigh­bour's house.-I thoUL'ht she had !2:01l~ fur ~o'lie one to kill ~1I(, -I remained an hour; and drank :1 littk lJr,uHh, ~"iH'n by lilY friend. On my retul'll I fuund her out, tLe 1;'Il\~c left ZlPP';. and taking a rest, if so I could eall it, i Ii Ill}' bl'd-rooL!, until evening; when she returned she had a "OIllan with her \"I'ho l considered to be an improper person, :-ollle words fell frum both, althou~h she was not a ''IOlilan to L'i\'c a man :-auee, she ,,·~s quite the reverse; in that ~ay. h~we\'er, I :,s:-aulted hl'l', it was but slight, the person present interfered, and I was arrested, and got a short confinement, althouf!h ~he ~tated to thc mai!is­trate that I was insane and out of Illy mind. ,r(' correspond­ed, she came to "ec me, and when I call1C' out we lived hll.!"cther, never having the slightest antipathy :I,!:!aiw-t her. ~hl' Lad every right to have me put undcr restrictiun before, knowing that I was in a very bad way. I met this woman with :lS much feeling of good nature when I saw her as if there was never anything between us; she received me the ~ame.

I had now got a lesson not easy to be forgotten-all by in­temperance-for no man could hare 10"ed a woman better nul' kindel' than I did her, and even to this day I do confess, eyen

20

umler III)' I)re~ent trying amI atllicting circumstances, 1 do nuw revel'o her \'ery Lone:; in the gral e. for tLe remainder of my time in the States. until the day I left BORton, I did nut tasle :\I1y kind of drink. vV e ~aY4,d a deal of muney-although I haH! SCl'1l her many times the W01!'C l,f lilIU!)f, it was the only tinle she hall taken it w hen I did not since I knew her. As I had my mind made· up from fir~t that Briti!>h law was better by far than that of Yallkee law, \\'Ilich many a time, by sLating so publicly in Buston, I gained their c1i;:;plea~l;n', as they don't want a 13ritii.h sullject to side with the British goYernment, as I found I could get along well in Canada if we on Iy kept from drink. I determined to rC'turn and lil'e comfortable in the Upper Pro­yillcl', With this intention I prepared for my departure, paying our far('s through in Boston for Toronto, in btopring at Albany I found they wei~hed our bag:i!;age there, and after paying their demand in l'('~tiJn all through I was charge<l 2 dollars 87 ccnt.> extra. As they found me pretty ~mart for them they sent my b:"lgg::~e ,,'rang ia the I3uthlo train which should have been in the Rochester one. 11erl' I ,~'as uetained four clap, but being acclIstomed to sec so much Yankee petty tricks I soon found "'ay to ha"e me made right allll my b:lggHge too. Wllen a man i" going into tl:e :-:it:1les he is treated as kind as ylll1 ,,,ould treat a friend in the drawing.room, but as soon as they find you are .l':,)ing, as they term it, under the lash of the Brili~h govern­Jl1l'nt, they wiiI use their utmost skill to delay you, ancl take the last dollar from you if they can. If a man wants to li,'e quiet there he will have to condemn Dritish law and gow~rnment and Ride with theirs. I could not do it, nor did not. Having made all things right, we arrived in Toronto un the 9th Septembel', 1 t:l,5~. We stopped at Flanigan's hotel, Col borne-street, until snch times as we were able to ~'et a furnished room. I worked in two days after coming in to'Toronto. From my first arrival in this city them appeared to me sometbin~ ll1pterious o\'er wl1ich I appeared to l!m'e no contron!. My wife, \"ith me, workcd and Ji\'~d together without quarre!in~!', although we used to take a qmmtlty of drink, we used in a great measure to attend to om work, as she :lEsisted me, l.eino· 11 boot-binder. BeinO' in furnished lodgings, I bought furnitur~ and took a place for ~ur­selves. 'We got along well until in Marco, 1854, when we got on n drinking tnck, and lillding that she was much given to

:21

company of not sober habits, I determineu to go back lo the States, seeing we were making no good progrbs here. She brought in a friend of her own, I sold out my things, and gave her directions to employ a carter \\'ho she knew to take our bagsage down the fullowillg morning and put them on boaru the Rochester boat, having slopped lo take leavc of some friends, and of course a gl.tss parting. 1 went on board h"rc, not minding to see I was in the buat I intended to go by. When we got as far a5 Niagara the purser came fur his fare; I fuund either th~ough my wife or that of her friend the carter that I was going to Lewiston, and on board that boat she stated, when asked by me, she gave the man orllers to put them on board the Rochester boat. However, like man!' other things, I took it well, and when \\'1' landed at Lewiston it \,as snolVlng har,l, and I seeing it to appear such a miscrable luoking plact>, that I would not look fur work in It. Ha\'ing g"t my baggage put intu store, we got a place to stop in, I sellt 11('r to buy some beefsteak for dinner, but she remaining long beyond t1: .. time she should be, I went in search (Jf htc''' After some looking round a respectable man addressed me to knolV was I woking for my wife,-ite had seen us togetbt'r in the mornill2,·. lIe brought me upon a hayloft, the stabie joining the hotel, I here fuund my wife lying drunk, her bonnet off, &c. &c. Thl're were two or three persons underneath ,rhere the h.,rses was kept, being assisted by this man who infurmed me of 111'1', to rai,c her up sh~ was able to recognize me; there was no use of asking LeI'

questions exactly then, as she \\'as under the influence of strong liquor. I brought. her to her quarters, where we remained until the next day, when we again went on board the same boat and ,eturned to 'roronto. Having asked her re;,prctin:.; her conduct the former day, she told me, I \.diel"e the truth, but it is not fit for inserting. HaNing arrived in Toronto-~fter spending' bett"r than six dollars on a wild goose cbase, be"ides it kept snowing on us still-we went to a boarding house, where we remained 11

week. We then took furnished lodgings a~ain, I went to work for my former Boss; the bclging5 we got into \vas one which I not like, as the folks waR drinking, clll',;ing, and fighting all the time. :-lot being working to home, as I worked in the shop I did not see so much of this bad example carried on as Illy wife, howe\'cl' she took the aparlments, awl we were obliged to put.

up with it until I would be able to eRrn more money to get fur­niture.

From illarch until the miJJle of July I drank no grog; neither did Illy wife to my knowledge. Haying the means of getting furniture I bought f"Jme, and took part of a small h"use. ·With what thin~·" I now had we would I thought get alon~ well for a time, until we would come into the City for the Winter, as the locality which I now moved to was too far from my work, heill~ situated in Simcoe Street, which house I moyed to on the 11th July. .\s I was working; hard I gene­rally took a gla!'s of heel'; but as soon as I got into my new npartnlents I drank porter, my wife taking the same. From being sick from an overplus of porter, and having no appetite for eatin!!, she prevailed on me to try some brandy; after some time I consented, and then I only worked in my shop one week out (If the three which I linrl in my new ahode. She of course partook of the deadly beverage I would say even oftener than I did. As finding";my head bad, I was rather cautious at first to dip too deep. I was retired as usual, keeping in my own house; I think for two weeks I had been only out of it three times; the two latter times I found my head was getting bad. The last time she was out with me, although we generally went together, I thought those men v;hom I met seemed to be watch­ing me, and I was ycry anxious to get home. When I for­merly drank she always attclldcdll](', yery cordially getting and preparing anythinc: I would fallcy, but on this occasion it was the reverse, as she has been out tlf her own house both day and night on two or three occasions, and when asked by me why she did 1'0, she did not wi~h me to :-ec her ~o high with liquor. This of course had an etrect upon my mind, and made me feel mueh worse. ". e quarrelled none, [IS it is evident from the testimony gi \'ell by l\IItchell and his wife, who lived on the one floor, and under the same roof' with us; the fact is I always endeavoured to conceal tbis woman's funlts as much as I possi­bly could, haying within me a proud spirit; and as folks now­a-days will try to take eyery advantaae for their own benefit if they are allowed to pry into familyO matters. The week pre­vious to her death I am informed that a }Ir. Young waited on a clergyman tf) (orne and see me; :~" the rholera WU>1 now bad

in the City, his time being much oceupieu "ith his penitent~. he deferred it for a time.

A week previous to this sad OCl'urrenee I had pretty much an idea of not going to work until Ill)' month would be up, and then move into the City, as I would then be ncar my work. And I then considered that whcre I liyed did not seem to me to be a very lucky nor fortunate house for me.

With respect tu the great main object of my havillg to write this small history of my life, and of course which one day will go before the eye of the public, what I have stated to you you lllay rest assured to be founded on fact. A man placed in my situation, and condemned by the law of the land to the awful and miserable death to be hanged on the 4th day of December, 1854. You, my reader of this small work, may very easily see and know that a being made to the image and likeness of Almighty God, having nothing to expect in this miserable and deceitful world, he will not put his pen to paper, nor express from those lips which will shortly be closed by death, a lie in any shape or form; for my part, my friends, I am perfectly re­conciled to my just God, and fate; and if I can only save my poor affiicted soul by a sincere repentance, it is no matter what becomes of the reservoir or body. I request of all who may read this that they pray for my soul.

lVIy confession of the crime which I am sentenced to die fur. I call on that just God, by whom 1 will shortly be judged, and to whom I must render a ~triet account for the sins com­mitted by me durin.~ my life; I call on that bles~ed Lord to witness the truth of my confession, as far as 1 am able to bring to my memory, concerning the death of Illy wife.

CONF·Essrox.-The week previous tu hN ucath, as far as I can remember, she looked a kind of wild, and did 1I0t keep her­self as clean or tidy as she used to do. Her absence from her home on two or three occasions gave me reason fe,r thinking that she seemed a kind of careless in her person. On one occasion she had returned to her house, being out all day-I satreadingj missing her from home from the morning, I asked

her where she had been, she told me she had been at the Hos­pital, that she fuund herself feel bad, that she Illade application at the Hospital to get in; that the Doctor tolll her the Hospital was full, as the cholera was pretty bad; he told her she micrht "'0 into the sheus if ~he wished; but, said she, I would soo~ler be to home; she appeared to me perfectly sober; she went for some drink, which we partook of. The greatest part of this week I cannot in any way bring to mind how we spent it, although I am aware I had often taken a deal more drink in less space of time than on thi, occasion; but I tinJ the brain had in a great degree lost its usual faculties, as I never rmnem­ber bcill~ so ~tupid with I''-',~,ml tl) my memory when I had delerium tremens befure, when they were ~l)lJe from me I could nearly account t~Jl' everything while in them, but on this melan­choly occasion all my elillean)l\!";'; have been in yain in trying t,) brin~ tl) mind the C:lUse of my wilt::;; death, On Saturday, J uly ;~u, in the evenin,!..!; ()f that day, ~he and I went out in the evenin~; she Imlnght llle to a tavern where she got some drink in a JUI', and carried IF) III C with her. It ',,'as dark on our return, and as 1 had seen some lllen on my way 1 thought they were watching me, I wished to be at home quick, she took my arm, and we got to our unfortunate horne, 'Yhen we came in I poured a glass out, tonk it, anJ c:he Jid the same. I sat on :l chair near the bule, I think, but um not sure. She filled out after a short time more chiuk, this portion I do not rl'membel' taking. 'Vhethel'she ('(Joked :tlly supper or no, I know not; at what time I went t,) beu 1 know not; wlH~thcr I drank :my more of what she bruught in ll:now not; but one thing appears from the testimony of ;.\Iitchell and hi:l wire there were no angry worc:~. It Y,as alway,; cu"tonwry v,ith me when in liquor to waken up SOUle timo in the night to Il)ok for more drink, hut on this solellin occasion I did not, nor did I awake from my ~leep until close to two 0' eluck on the day of her death. 'rhe next tby when I awoke I luoked round the room; I had my clothe,,; on, even my buuts; I saw no signs of her bein a in bed, I ,:ent then ill~o the kitch.en, and here VI found my ~fe lying a httle tt) th0 lI~ht hand Side of the kitchen door, and the door half open. You may well suppose how I felt; I can scarcely t~llillyself now h?w I felt. I ran to her, raised her in my arms either once or tWlC',~, J f"unu :;h,~ was de~rl, whether fihe 'I'.'M'

: 1

25

cold or not I don't know; where she had the wuunds, unless what I heard, I don't know; how the razor lay, or in what position, I don't know; whether she had a cap on, or not I don't know; what dress she had on I <I"Il't kno,",; one thin'" I ob­served she lay in a crooked positi"n. I rl'll~' ,uber '('cinp:bblood but don't know how much. I am p",itivc of nen'r ~l'l'inp: he:' moye a muscle, leg or arm, nor eh;\nge a word ,,,ith 1111' 'from taking the first glass of' ~TU.~· the ni).!ht 1,L"fore. 1 ran after laying her out of my arll1~, that is when 1 raisl',l her til sec if she was dead, I had only to turn "nt "I' Illy <I",or and in to ~Iitchell's living on the one floor. I t"hl him tIl ,'IIII1C ill with me, that my wife was after cutting her thr";lt.; I,;, wif;' a,"-'''III­panied him. I ran to the opp",ilL' fl'Il(T and eall.',l :\11'. r oung, who 81';0 came; a number ut' per""I1~ ,'l",n l'"lIed",l. }ly hands it appears had blood on, and ~"IIll' "ntdl tral'",s d·l)l"".! vII my clothes. It appears, whell a"kt',l, I tuld thCll1 1 )..!·"t tIl, 1,I'I(,d on when raising her up. Another ash',l h"w ,lid it 'W"ur to her, that I stated she had done a ba,l j>,1J or dec,l fur herself. After sometime tIlt' f::er,~'l'::lJt of Pt,];':c t';l'.]!,' amI ;:lTt',tt ,1 Ill".

There appears to me a somethill~ ill th .. death vf' llJy wile most singular-most lIIystl'riuu . .; tIl me. In tht' lir,t place, had I been the person who actually ClIlJllllitt<'<.l th,' 11:1\1'0.,1', I think there would be some, even slight, rellll'lllbr,IJIl'" ,,!, lily ,""ing to the table drawer where I always kept my r;t~"I'; this razor I always kept in a case. Had there been any premeditation on my mind to take her life, thell I would l!I,t 1;1]' a moment suppose, but while labouring under insanity of lIlind I might commit the foul deed, but such was not the ca~l'. I thank my God. In the next place, it was Habbath day, at the hour of two o'clock, when everyone about and cvery thing was quiet, and still living on the same floor and under the sallie roof with another family, how this woman could be murdered without no noise, no word, no moving of hcr person to the door of the kitehen; this all has been given in testimony by Mitchell and his wife, who was my landlord and lived in the adjoining two apartments of our house. It appeared, according to the Doc­tor's evidence, that the body was removcd from the bedroom to that of the kitehen, where I fir~t founel her. Now, how, in 'he name of common sense, could all this 1)L' carried into effcct

26

without the knowledge of Jlitchell or his wife, where then \Va~ only a single partition dividing the two famil~es, besid~1 the Dress which is in the kitchen had not been fimshed, as 11 wanted side boards, which always gave me an opportunity oj hearing any words pass in my neighbour's apartmen~s. I shall Ieaye the reader to judge for themselves. God IS the bes1 juu\!'I: The next day I was brought to the Inquest, full oj ilOr~ors, thcy seemed t" increase within me when I found ShE wac interred. I :-:hould have "wished in my heart to have seel1 her. After all had been over, Dr. King states I said I thanked him alill the jury for rdurnin,~" a just verdict. If the learned Pod"r had 11(1t considered mc Iahorill~ under delirium tremens, why diel he unler me br:llldy twice? If this statement had bee~ mack, it appears to llIe that it was highly wrong to take cogni. zancl' of what any lllall flaid labouring under my great aftlictioll of min.l, f-:u<:h words I had IlU intention of stating, nor could [ have d'Jlle :-:0 with justice to myself. Having b~en removed frcllU whence I c;mlC', that is the Jail, although being put -ill the ~allle p:nt "f the pri;-;oll as I was in 1Jl'iure I went out tc tIle IllfluC'!'t. I thou!!ht I was then in an hospital, that ru~ wi!~ was !lot dead, that the dOli I" of my h(lu:'C' was opened and a wOlllan :-;hoyc(l in from the lwspital with l)lood on her, ane1 my not seei!l~ her at the CorullL'r·:-. InC[uC'~t, which appeared ~i!lgular t" me, ::lS all per~Olls elwrc,::ctl as I was p:enerally i! ],rllu:-:;ht to view the victim. Th"se ideas b~ted with me fOl about four days or l)etter, but I soon found it to be the reverse, 1 remained of C"C'un'C' until the IGth of OddJe·r. I was thell "rraigned. As 1!1} ('Ollll~el had ~Ollle ilHluiry t, I make ill) trial did !lot cOllie on until the ~Oth. Having been info~illed thcl"~ wa;: a religi.ou~ o~· hi~lJted feeling against me for my wifE turmng Roman ( atlwlic With 111e, I was reeolllmended to chal­len!!c my jury, but a:-; I left her to her own free will I lefl them also tn theirs, .>1ithout a challenge.

ep to th~ time of .seeing the jury empanellcd, I had everJ hq.c of beIng aC(lUltted, after that I knew I would b( ~und f'uilty. I w,'s not disappointed in the least, althougl :'Ill'. Dempsey addressed the Jury in a wl"y able and talentec ll1_anner (In the part .<If the prisoner. I received the verdie: With as 111ueh good Will of h'_'urt to 11:y fellow man as I did m) e;: te~:ce.

27

I would have been obliged to stand my trial without a law­yer, only for the fatherly kindness of :Mr. Allen, the Go,ernor of the Prison; as my things and furniture remained under the control of Dr. King and Constable :McCaffrey; hlJ'I"in)! nJ

relatives to see to them they could not be disposed of. I nlade application to Dr. King about them. I sent for some thing!! which would be very essential to me; a small portion wa~ sent, and the rest I wae informed by Mitchell I could not get until after my trial, that Dr. King gave orders to that effect. Xow there was only one month's rent due; I had the Illoney to P;IY that. I had a person to buy and pay for my effect" but up tl) the last those good people Mitchells' ddained eY('n my cloth,'~. which I needed much.

On the 4th of No,ember I reeei,-ed lily scntcncc. I wa~ removed from whence I came and of cour~e placed within the precincts of a lonely cell. Here, my fricllll", yon are shut out from the busy world and left to commune with yom God. When a condemned criminal has his mind and heart fixed steadily and puts his confidence in his Diyine }b:·ter. he care" little for the light-winged joys of a wit'ked world. In thi" solitary position I find great happin,'''' of mind-first, bC(,~H\ 'l' of my innocence of the crime Charged with, so :filf :1, I call recollect; secondly, the fatherly and humane kindnc.';, of the Governor of the Prison, Mr. Allen; and thirdly, the gratitude' ~nd civility of the officers of the prison towards me: the Governor, 1\1r. Allan, is indeed kind and good to me.

Having called my God to witne.'s the t111th of the furegoin:.:. statement in the commencement of my confession, I call Him to witness the same now, as far as I can remember it.

I am daily attended by my Rev. friend, T. Fitzhenry, 1':1,t,)r St. Paul's Church. This meek and humble servant of hi" Divine Master has given me much consolation; so much so, that all my human efforts and energies shall be to try and make my soul reconciled to its good Mastcr from whom I recciycd it, and who will I hope receive it again.

Farewell, farewell! American land, No more shall I thee behold; My bosom friends-all, all I leave­My sunny heart '8 near cold.

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Far frl)lll thc !;cene" of infancy Tho' ,1i.;tant I dill roam, Fund mcmory loycs to linger still On my God':; Celestial home.

'Ti . .; ~y\ccc to think on days gOilC 1,.", Alth,/ tl,ey lenye to IllC ~e~rct,. . ""hen I }l:m:'c Uj:Ull thc hght-wmged JOY" I r,-, er can forget. Tho' ,Ii ·tant in this fertile l:w,l, .lnd far frcll~1 11011)(' di,l roam, ~,r V Leart .-till f, ',1111\' cliu:,:;s tn the",. '\I~' t;vd'b ('ele-tid L"l11e.

I sto.)d IIll YI I;),lr·i' slippery trap . . \ ktr-·lrop iillC',lmine eye-I (d,)k a farc'.yc~ll .~~Ltn('e of frien"b. Aml ~tl·.lll.';"!·'; standin~ Ly ; I ~l,)(.cl q"Jll (hi" l1<.':ully tr::p­I ~:n\ tl,C \,.':1[ers ii)am-[the';l lit oi H(,thing on this EarLlI nut ~;i')~ (;i'll's ~ It le.-·.'tial horne.

A:-: it is my illt(,:,C";l (I) a,h1r('."~ the 1"':01,10 cungTc:g'.l((;'.l :'olhl'l' to \l'itBe";s Cl,' ::\\ f,,1 ~(;Clle of lll'',' C'xecution, th:,t is. ( ;~illin~. aml tllai. lU) '<r~·i::.::th ,1" nlll fail JIll'. IIo~,e,er, Is here :~,lc1rc,;:,. ;-. few' \n,nl,,' h) hoth my ,,!cle'!' :11111 yuung"'!' thrcll. You, \,,110 bY<' rcall the :-:h,ll't history of my life, D

admit that in(c'lllj;cral'C'e kl>i j'l'ell the !callill!! artery to all unhappilll';:"; and llliiOr.dun('~; to aeld to this calamity, I joi in marria'2'(~ with a W01l1an :ul'lictcd to the same. You 1 here befo~c you an example, not to be followed, but to be I

ously l,,(tke,l into; anel had I the opportunity now afrol you of ;.;ceing a m~n or reading of him, bringing himself d to the lowest ~;tate of degradatioll, I firll1ly believe it woul, a great means of doing much good iowards me. It is for reason, and for thi.; reason only, that I write this short volt hoping and trusting in Ill}' God that some poor soul will be by it; if it be so, my reward will be paid mc, for perhaps future period, when my body will be consigned to the ( and when there will be no tomb-stone to mark my grave, may remember some of my words-that is, obscrye above all,'

29

perate habits, and never marry out of your OWIl religion. To thc young classes of persons, I would strongly advise thcm to be kind, mannerly, affectionate, and good to their parcH(,; [.11

remember, you will never know what those people have done ... r suffered for you, until you have children of your own; you will then see your deficiency towards them; and remember, my friends, the words of our blessed Lord, that i~, Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be llin~ in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

To my elder friends I would address a few wonk ~c'cing this world is so changeable, so dcC'eitful, ~o IJigu(cd, ullC mall standing up against another for worshippillg hi~ (;",1 :I('('onling to the dictates of his own mind and conseiel](,". Then' i, no­thing in the hUlUall race so absurd a~ this. Lun' your Ilei.~h­bour, no IlIatter what his religion may Ill', :,nd direct yoUI' children to do so; for the IlIan who i~ bi;.:"ttc(l in hi, lll'ar( against his fellow IlIan for differin.~ in opillion "f I'l·ligion, i., " bad man, and the truth is not in him. It i, no wonder, indol'd. that the Lord has oftentimes 5ent pc-tilelll'<.' and famill<' wher.· such work is carried on. From my chil .. lhood to the PI'c·,;(·nt J was alw:lYs cOllsidered a libeml man, an,l J would -advi-,' every one to be so, amI to act so. ~(:lld your c-hildrl'lI t ... the place of worship to which you IJdon!!" and to ~i\'C them no bad example; for, rest assured of it, thl'Y will find uui thi:; time enough, and see thftt tht'Y arc lcarncci :lnd in"tnl<:t,·,J b(,th in leal'1ling and religion.

I am very sorry to find in the United :-:tates "f <\meri.'il ~Il,l here in Canada, that the risini!: !!,cneratioll arc bl'C' 'llIiI1~ more wicked, more intemperate, aUll le~s inclined to he reli:,;ioll.,. H you do not imprint or try to instil int" thos<.' yUUlI.':!· mind., something of morality or religious feelin.:s, what will they be when they grow up? They will ))'2, as I haye often seen boy." ah yes! and even girls, to stand in the street, dare their par.ent:; to correct or even check thcm; but the fault lay hl're, lU. a great measure the rod waR not bent when the real sap was 111

it. In the City of Toronto you wiII find just the same thin:-, Many times have I stood in amazement, and many a lone!; COI1-

sideration have I given it-what was to become of the parents

30

when they f!U before their God for their ill exa~lple, bad advic~, llDd for not (,"lTecting them when they were 1Il a proper POSl­

tion to l'cr:'_'iye it.

I he'" my lkar frienlt, you will weigh thi,., fiimple subject well a~~l put it into oper~tion without delay, and it may be the 'means of savin:,:; ),our child from a death such as your humble friend who addre".':,,;; you has got.

I rOll1ain, my gooll people of all cululu::, cl'('cr:b, and ~L'X, ),our nhedient friend,

A lllall 1)1ll'11 uf a woman lin'lh but a ~h,)1t time, and hi:­troul)lc~ arc mall)'. In yic,ring life, as I ha,e in Ill)' reti~ed cell, I han' t;r)1l18 to this conclu~ion, that thero cxist, a destmy fur man in ill:l.l'ria,~·.~, anu I proposed divorcements on three or fern!' Ilccacir)JlS t" my wife; but sho would never con­sent t,-o it. There :;C'CIll~ to llle to oe a elwin to which we were both linked, not tu l)l' easily separated. Harl she accepted my kind propn":lls, which she well knew, and others too, that I had ~,ood ~-r"ulJfl,; to work on by compelling her to cconsent to it. Hence this ~trr:rll.:C; chain of affection, ,w ~(>I1Jething else over which I ~eellled to haH: llO contrul, linked us on step by step, until the ullh::ppy en'nt occurred; but hence it is, my friends, thC'y are well kept w110m .\.lmighty God keeps. Had this 1YOiit:lll been u sober, Yii'tu"n~ person, ~he would then pos­sess all the qualifications and ~'" Idll(,~S "which ndorn the femule sex. ;\." ~he was a woman well indinetl, when 11(,t drinking, to aC'sist in eyery way to the interest and comfort of domes­tic happine:;s; but when Satan appcared with the essence of grog, all those p:oorl (iualities disappeared not only in her but in myself. There is one thing for which I attach much blame to myself, that is, in not leQving her long 8incc. This plnn being put into operation would haye been lJc"t for both partie!>, ~s sh~ wuul~l likely huy~ been livin~ to-d~y, and I at my liberty. The hnk bell1g kept lllOistened by ~atan, was lIOt likely to be separated until death had done so. Now seo how often from time to time, have we left off intoxicating liquors, saveu' eons:-

31

derably both in purse, health, body, mind, and ~trl'u~lh. and, after seeing the great benefit derived from ~()bri<'ly, returned back again to our former habits. So it is to me as clear as the sun shining at noon-day, that man is destined to ,!!O through a certain portion cf trials, crosses, and afilictiolls in thi,; miserable world, and that he cannot escape them but with difficulty. Be watchful, therefore, my friends, an,l keep yuur ej'c and heart fixed on your Almighty God, and y.)a lUay )!c( • 1':"1" R! II11C

of them.

Ku. I.

In my prison hours I fclt death':; ~tiD:'. I thou~ht I heard sweet anp;els ,ill:; Their lovely praises to their Kin)!:, To bring my poor soul on their willf!:. Oh happy are they indee'l. 'Vho in this world SIlW ~I)(\!l "~I'I]. When they come iii reap it, They wia find that God Was merciful to them anll kind.

How far from lIis holy ,,:ay" 1 fleu. I am now ncar numbered with the dead. My sins [oj me al"e g;reat ;:>;ril.f, Hence I find in lio.1 some !!l"I'at }'.,1ief. I will seek fllr pardon whil.', 1 can, And become a new and inward man. And when I am dead and g'JllI" I pray you In God to trust and seck hi., ,my""

• KEDOL

No. II.

And if you d.), you're 'nrc to find -A God both merciful and kind. I find His sweetness in my heart, And from Him now I would not part. Look up to Him, you'll find him g;ood ; But first look for His heavenly food. In my lonely cell and lonely hours, I find on me His blessing pours.

32

·0 sinful man, 0 chastening rod, How long have I offended God? My hours ncar come I have to die. I hope my soul to God will fiy. I beg your prayers, my dear, my friends, I hope you will yourselyes amend, 'Vho you are or from whence you come. L',ok up to God and Hi~ only Son.

Ko. III. Beware of intemperance, fur it's a curse. It destroys the soul and empties the purse. It fills the prisun~. fills the heart with woe,

KEHOE.

It defaces lJeauty, and will be your overthrow. Should you practice taking this soul-destroying draught, You will remember my words, or the words of a craft. I feel an interest in lllan because he has to die; Look up, then, to your Just God, fur to Him you'll have to fly.

Keep Satan far behind y0U, for he will make you think There iR no very great harm in taking a little drink. Lcd on by this great monster, You may un me depend, if you will take his tempting, He will lead you to an untimely end. So now, my friends I leave you; I can no longer stay; I ,,·ish you all tv look to God. And fur my soul to pray.

IY. Of all deells I've done 1 muat repent; For the one I have to die I am innocent. ~\.s far as I remember I do not know Of taking the life of Ellen Kehoe.

REIlOE.

}Iy wife to me was guod and kind. Although she was endu'd with a very weak mind, lienee in return to her I was much attached.

Although from this world she was snatched. No man nor woman could more contented be, But once in a while we'd go on the sprefl, ·We spent our own good money free Which leaves us now in eternity. ' My good frienus, I wish you on this to dwell And think of Heaven, Judgment, Death, and Hell.

KEHOE.

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ADDRESS TO THE SPECTATORS, FROM TIlE

SCAFFOLD.

AIY FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CREATURES-

I have been born in England, of Christian and Catholic parents. My father's first care was to havc me instruckd in the principles of the Catholic religioll, and in the sciences suit;-lble to their position and mine of life. Th,·;\ Imi~hty ,'n, 1,)\\"(" 1 me in my youth with good dispositions all,l fair talenls, th,ert .. fore I made great strides in the paths of virtue and thc' :lr'l}llil'l'lllcnt of ordinary education; ,vas admirco(l by my "ompani"l1s, and belm-ed by my parents, who consuled thems0h'cs ,,"ith the ;. ;~:l of future happiness on my account, in their "LI :160.', Times changing, and other circum;;t:11lc"", led them l'> tbe conclusion that it was the surest way fur me aul the best for them trJ give me a trade, for which purpose they sent me to Dublin, to, 1":1111 Boot and Shoe making. I sen'ed my time faithfully, and be­came a great proficient in a i'lwj t time. I (].,.n cOlI~m .. nced bus~ness tor myself and got married, with my l;.nther's appro­bation, for my father was then dead. -:'fy ,,,ife ",:cs then Protes­tant, although bOI11 of Catholic parents and thus b:'pti,,(,d. As soon as she became acquainted with my motl:cr's virtu<cs and my orderly habits she conformed to the Catholic rite, and a~ a child of imitation. While I 'YaS t':mperate and religiou~, she was e.qually so; but when I became indifferent in my religious du­ties. and intemperate, she outstripped me in these vices. We earned on extensive busines8 in Dublin before emigrating to Canada. I was much attached to and loved my ,,-ife. I never left her nor forsook her. I brought ber from shore to shore, and from city to city, without wishing to replace bel' by any ther woman. Having lost my children in America, their death

was a great cause of my intemperance, and :.tlthough we drank considerable we very seldom had any difference or quarrel. \Ve went always together and generally acquainted each other about what we were going to do. When we came to Toronto from the States I meant to settle down here for the remainder of my life, but there seemed to be a something always from first I

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came here to keep me unsettled; as no :!ooner I would Le going on well, than something or other over which I seemed to havE no control woul, I upset me. At last, taking a place for ourselves being generally in furnished lodging", I thought we would 1 more comfortable, Lut it was the reverse. A fortnight before her death [ did not go to work. In the death of this womall there appears a something most mysterious to me, more than ever I will he able to comprehend. I rememl,cr but very little of anything for a week before her death. I had been only out of my house three times during the time of my drinking and having delirium tremens. My wife was with me twice. The last time I was out with her was on the Saturday before her death. It was in the evening; she brought home some liquor with her. On OUl" way home I met some men whom I thought was watch­ing me for no goo(l purpose. After we got home to our unlucky house, I think I took a half a tumbler of spirits; she took the same. If I had taken ~o much laudanum I could not have been more stupified nor senseless as I W;I~ then. All my memory seems from this time to have left me. I never remember seeing her coming in alire after, nor speakin~, nor moring. Whether we drank any more or not that time 1 cannot remember. What time I went' t,} l'cel I know not, nur do I remember waking 01'

seeing her in the l,edroom, (,r any,yhere nntil Sunday. It appears it was near two o'clock when 1 awoke. I had my clothes on even my boots. I came into the kitchen, and there found her lying to the right of the kitchen door, the door half open. You may easier suppose than I can remember how I then felt. I raised her in my arms to sec if she was dead. ; I found ,.,he was. Laying her down again I ran to Mitchell's, who 1ired in the house with m,'; told him my wife had cut her throat, to come in; he ,lid so. I went to the opposite side, called another pc·r­son. In a sh ~rt time some people gathered roun,I, and the police c:-tme and I was taken to jail. I was Lad in insanity six or seven days in the jail after her death. If I had thought in any way of takin o' her life when in my senseE, and then took drink to take thos~ senses from me, so as that I would commi; such a cowardly deed, then I would consider myself just as guilty in the sight of my God and man as if I had done the foul deed in my perfect senseI'.; but such was not the case I thank my God. It has {,'\'(,I' since her heath appeared most

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mysterious to me how this woman could either be murdered or take her own life in the middle of the noon and Sabbath day, when every thing and everyone was quiet and still, under the same roof and on the same floor with another family, with only a thin partition between us. Here, according to their testimony, there was no words, no noise; and I think there would be some J'eeollection with me left. I cannot say even how she lay, only she was in a crooked position. I don't know the razor lay neal' her, nor any remembrance of taking the razor from the drawer, nor whether she had a cap on, or what dress she had on. I Imow not all these things. I have often summoned in my mind, but never could find any trace left me to judge of the sa,l atfair. The

') inques~ trial, sentence and ail seems to have gOlle against me. I feel happy in my mind. I have spoken tho truth from first to last as far as I was able to bring to n'y c()Il'<·icn ... ~ and mind touching her death.

1.

Here the unfortunate man handed thc~c Illalluscripts to Father Fitzhenry, and, mounting the fatal trap, wa~ in a li·w mO.ments hurried before his Maker, who alone kl](Jw.- hi~ :c:nilt or mnocence.

"Rather should ninety-nine guilty llICl1 ("ta Ill' , than line innocent man perish."