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566 X, AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

known, but to say that I found him in the street, which I did to
other people. In company with the sexton I carried Stiles home.
His wife asked mo if I had killed him? I said, no. She said ahe
was glad that I had not killed him, that she had rather that he
should be brought home so than brought home drunk.

The next morning came into the barn. I asked him how
be killed Stiles? He said that he put bis hand into his handker-
chief on the back side of his neck and drew it so tight that he
could make no noize. He asked me when I was going to pay him?
T told him 23 soon as I could get the money. He said that I must
say nothing about his killing Stiles. I told him that there was a
mark about his neck (Stiles). proposed our seeing Stiles.
We went to Stiles’ house, saw the mark. After we came out of
the house said that he thought the mark would not be no-
tieed. Mrs, Stiles, when I boarded in her family, said that she
had married for her husband’s property, and in spite against her
family and wished she could get rid of him, 1 might then have the
property, if I would take her with it, and I refused to have any-
thing to do about it. I commenced boarding with Stiles about the
middle of April last and within a few weeks I had illicit inter-
course with Stiles’ wife, and this continued until Stiles’ death,

Orrin De Wolf.

Woreester, Feb’y 20, 1845.

Some time after, the jury that convicted him recommended
that his sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment on the
ground that he was but 18 years of age, weak-minded and ignorant,
and easily influenced by others. A number of petitions, signed by
prominent citizens of Worcester County, requesting eommntation,
were filed in the executive department, and the Committee on Par-
dons, after having granted a hearing and considered elt the cireum-
stances in connection with the case, advised and recommended that
the Governor should comuiute the sentence of Orrin De Wolf to
imprisonment for life in the State Prison, and a formal commnta-
tion of sentence was issued August 20, 1845,

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