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A NATURAL CRIMINAL.8t:ion tension of Clark Evans, the Mur- . derer of John W. Halbert. j NClark Evans, now in the countyjil for the murder of John W. Halbert, an old citizen whoresided five miles west of Carrolton, which most horrible deed was committed on the night of April 30, and who was arrested on the merely circumstantial evidence that he was seen in the neighberhood of the morder on the evening before, row makes full confession, as follows: I was born in Pike county, and am about 21 years old. I left my parents at the age of 16. Had been guilty of many crimes in the way of robbing and stealing, but never committed but this one murder. In company withone James Mclutire aud a negro man,I broke into the Catholic church at Carliuville In 1871. and was caught, tried, and sent to the State’s prison for two years. Mclntire was never arrested, but the negro was overhauled at Bloomington, and Released, as the otti-cers did not go for him in time. I was discharged from prison in February last, and have been stealing ever since.I have been a much worse man since than I was before imprisonment.* I had been home but a short time, and left my father’s house at Montezuma on the morning of April 29; came down the river in a skiff, intend* ingtovisit Valentine Tolztli’s,whoisa raftsman,aud lives in Macoupin Bend.I struck for the bluffs in the direction of Carrollton. After reaching the bluffs I concluded to come out to theGeorge Evans place, where I cutcord-wood about four years ago. I did not know John Halbert, nor where he lived ; but when niuht came on I stopped at the house just north of it, and asked to stay all night. They told me that they were too full, but 1 could go down to Halbert's, as he lived alone, and had plenty of room. At once I thought it was a splendid chance for me to get some money. [ went down near by, and waited on the roadside until dark. The moon was shining brightly as I went up to the house, still thinking, as there was but one person in it, how easy I could make a raise. I listened on the outside and could hear the old man snoring. I went around to the kitchen door, and went in with my revolver in one hand, and a maul which I had picked up in the yard in the other. I passed from the kitchen into the front room, and thence into the hed-room, both doors being open. I called to the old man and awakened him. I told him I wanted some money, having my revolver pointed at him. He said: “I have got no money, and if I hadJou would not get it. Get out of the ouse.”I said to him, “ I am going to have some money or I will take your life.” He replied, “ You will have to lake my life then, for I have no money. I tell you to get out of this house. I know you,” but I did not think he did. He was then sitting up In bed, and said, “ If I get up to you you will get out of here,” and made some motions as If he was going to get up. I fired, and supposed that I had shothim in the face. He exclaimed, “Oh, my God ! You have killed me!”The pistol made a tenlble report and deafened me; but I saw I had not killed him, and struck him two or three blows with the maul. He mumbled something while I was striking him, but I could not understand it, if he said anything.The dogs barked so after the report of the pistol that I became frightened and ran out of the doors, thinking that I would hurry off; but I listened and could hear nothing except a terrible roaring in my ears caused by the noise of the pistol. In a little while I went hack Into the house, stepped to the bed-room door aud looked at Halbert.It was a terrible sight, and I could not stand it, as he was still gurgling and struggling. I could see him plainly, because the moon shone in at the window and across the bed where he lay. I turned away, and took a candle off the mantel, lighted it, aud placed it in the fire-place to keep it from giving too much light. I then searched the clock, bureau, and other places down stairs, but found nothing that I wanted except an old pocket-knife. The stair door was locked,and,could not open it. I went out and around the front of the house, pulled off my boots and climbed upon the porch, from which I raised a window aud went into the upstairs rooms, and found nothing I thought worth taking. 1 then came down stairs on the inside.but could not get the door open below, and had to go back and corue down the way I went up. I put on my boots and went back again into the house aud examined the kitchen. I saw where some one had eaten supper,as I supposed on the kitchen table.After washing the blood off of my hands and face I got me a clean plate and ate some meat, bread and molasses aud drank some cold colfee which 1 found on the table aud in the room. 1 then took my depature,thinking I would go to the next house east, and ask to stay all night; but when I came iu sight of the house .about a dozen dogs got after me, and I jumped over the hedge and ran across tiie fieldnorthward.After traveling most of the night, I concluded to go to my uncle’s, who lived two miles east of Manchester, near where I was arrested.The blood which Lorance teatilled he saw on my face when he met me inthe road south of Whitehall, the next morning, was from the murdered man. I thought I had washed it off until I felt it dried there, and scraped some of It off with my finger nails. I took nothing away from Halbert’s except the old knife, which I threw into Apple creek the next morning, when I crossed over the railroad bridge at Beardau, where I also washed my face the second time.I arrived at my uncie’s on Friday evening. He a*ked me what was the matter with my face, and I told him I had been fighting. He wondered at it, as he could see no scratches.As to the suit of clothes which are said to be missing from Halbert’s, I know nothing about them. I did not see any clothing worth taking. If I had I should have taken them.I know I have been guilty of a terrible crime, aud I have no doubt tbat I will be hung. If so, I do not waut to be huug In jail, but in public, where everybody can witness it, especially the ’little boys, I have a little brother at home that I waut to see mo hung,| and I waut my father to bring him. I j think it would be an advantage to boys to see such a sight.The prisoner is now vigorously cn-| gaged in reading the Bible,and is anxious about his future.
Newspaper Details
Bloomington Weekly Leader
Bloomington, Illinois, US
Wed, May 27, 1874
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WA, USA 13 Mar 2022
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