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548

X, AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

then said that there were others
conesrned in it, and others did
it, but he was perfectly inno-
cent,—said he hired another man
to do it, [The prisoner's counsel
objected. Tho Count decided
that it might be received unless it
eould be shown that the prisoner
was influenced by hope or fear,
to make the statemont he did.]
Have frequently been into De
Wolt’s cell for the purpose of
having conversation with him, at
his request; never told him that
the best thing he could do would
be to make a confession,—the
most I ever said, to encourage
him to confess, was that if he
was perfestly innocent, ap he
aid he was, and if he knew who
waa gnilty, he hed better tell;
may have said that I thought
there was another person more
to blame than he was,—eaid I
thought there was another man
knew mora abont it than had
come out, De Wolf asked me
what I thought would be the re-
sult-—if I thought the District
Attorney would come up and let
him ont; told bim no, I didn’t
think what he had disclosed
would amonnt to any thing. De
Wolf first asked me into his eell
about Ist of February, He said
Mr. Stone was in the room with
him, and Stiles was swearing
and telling him he had cheated
him out of $50, He told Stone
he wished the d——d rascal had
liquor enough down his throat to
Kill him,—Stone said it wouldn't
be much of @ job to kill him,—
he told Stone he owed Stiles $50,
and if he would kill him, he
would give him that—Stone
said, for the $50 he would kill
him, He said he then went
down, and Stone put hia hand in
Stiles’ handkerchief, behind his

neck and ¢hoked him, and then
came down and said he was dead
enough, he guessed. He then
went up and saw Stiles dead—
then went to the tavern and
ealled two men,—and went for
the doctor. Stiles’ wife knew
nothing abouf it; told him I
didn’t believe his story, but I
had thought of @ way to test the
truth of it, if he would consent
to it, He wanted to know what
it was; told him I would have
Stone arrested that evening as
accossary to the marder, and put
in the cell adjoining, and after
all waa still in the house, he
should commence a ¢onversation
with Stone, which I eould over-
hear, He said he eouldn’t do
that, because things would come
out against him that would make
his ease a great deal worse than
it now was. I asked him how
that could be, if he had told the
truth,—he said, “a man in my
situation would tell most any
thing, to save bia own life.”
After De Wolf knew I had the
letter to Mr, Tucker, he said he
had bought poison ones or twice
for Mrs. Stiles to use, but he
didn’t know whether she had
used it or not;—he bonght some
to carry with him, the night that
Stilea died. Mrs. Stiles told him to
get some and put it in hot sling,
and that would send it all over
him, so he eonldn’t throw it off,-—
said he did not use the poison,
beeause he didn’t see any hot
water about, and he was afraid
of being discovered.

John W. Lincoln, Sinea De
‘Wolf has been confined, have
deen to the jail about once a weck.
T went once with Mr. Lonis
Dwight, and De Wolf
talking to him, but he said “if
you have any confession to make,

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