578 Sheet – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

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546

X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

He appeared to be slewed and cold; I asked if he knew where he had been that evening—he said no—if he knew where he got his liquor—he said he did not. He said he was acquainted with him and had boarded in his family. When he found him, he was the worse for liquor, and he got the hostler to help carry him up and laid him on the bunk. He then took a newspaper and sat down and read until he fell asleep. When he woke up, he went to the bed and found Stiles almost dead. He then went to the tavern and called two men, and then went for Dr. Heywood. Dr. Heywood came, examined the body, and told him he had better send for the coroner. I told him I did not think it necessary to summon a jury and told Mr. Gates he had better take the body home and lay it out.

Towards night the next day, I was induced by reports to have De Wolf arrested. The next morning the body was examined; noticed a stripe around the neck and a large mark back at the left ear that looked as if the blood had settled. I have two letters with me that De Wolf has written since he has been in jail. One he directed to Chatqwan Warren was brought out by my turnkey; the other was taken from a man who was discharged on the 24th of February—both are dated Feb. 23. [The letters were both produced and read by the District Attorney.*] I told De Wolf I had taken the letter away—he said he was very sorry. Previous to these letters, De Wolf had frequently said that it was a hard case for him to be shut up there—that he was as innocent as I was. I told him,

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Worcester, Feb. 23, 1845,

*Mr. Tucker,*

I take it at this time to tell you that I have got myself in great trouble and I don’t know how I shall get out of it, but I don’t know that they will hang me. I think that I shall have to go to State prison, and if I do, I shall stand a chance to get pardoned out, but there ain’t anything that will save me but one thing.

I want you to tell Mrs. Stiles that I write this as a friend to her. Mr. Matthews came and told me that they were going to take her and put her in here, and they had put a guardian over Mr. Edward and were going to take him from it. He said that they could prove that she had said that she should be glad if she could get anybody to kill him, and they could prove that she and I had been contriving to kill him for five months back by the neighbors. He said that she and I had been seen together for when William went down onto the street that was around the house and heard what we said, and he told me some things as it was. I don’t expect that I can get rid of it for some have told things that I never knew of about me, and there are many against me that I can’t escape. Now I want her to go clear, but if she can’t, I think she better get some man to see to her things and go where they can’t find her. But she had better not take Edward with her for they won’t be so apt to find her. Now I do this so as to give her warning.

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*Note: The text within square brackets was retained as it appeared in the original document.