_Who was convicted of the murder of Solomon Hoffman, and executed at
Williamsport, Lycoming county, Penn., on the 27th of July, 1838; made in
the presence of the sheriff and attending ministers, June 7, 1838._
I was born in York county, in the state of Pennsylvania, A. D. 1815. My
mother died when I was eleven years of age. My _natural disposition_,
from my _earliest infancy, was grossly depraved. I seemed fatally bent
on mischief_, and had a _relish_ for _dark and secret crime_; and
never having received any religious education or instruction, (except
from occasionally hearing the gospel preached,) my _evil passions_
and _malice_ of my nature grew with my growth, and strengthened with
my years. Before my imprisonment, I had not learned any principles of
religion or precepts of morality, by which I could discover the full
deformity of my character, or the deep wickedness of my conduct. The
after survey of my acts and conduct, and the _review of my crimes,
were scarcely ever attended, with a feeling of regret. I seemed too
spell bound, in my evil to relent_; and _my conduct so accorded with
my evil passions that reflection was without remorse._ I was greatly
addicted to _theft_. But I stole not through want so much as through the
_gratification of my wicked disposition_. _This disposition_ was carried
into action first when I was _nine years_ of age. I then stole an half
dollar from my father, and gave it to my mother. I told her I had found
it. She believed me, and bought a handkerchief for me with it.
Some time after the death of my mother, my father and family removed
from York county to Lycoming county, and resided in the Block-house
settlement. I lived with the family there till I attained the age of
nineteen years.
During my stay at the Block-house settlement, previously to learning a
trade, I _stole a pocket knife_ while at a religious meeting, held at the
house of Mr. Knodle. I then became more bold, and having discovered where
Samuel Hartman kept his money, I _attempted to rob_ him, by breaking into
his drawer; but in that I did not succeed. Soon after this, I was living
a short time in the family of Mrs. Bastian, who then, and always, treated
me with great kindness. I _stole_ from her twenty-five cents.
I next went to the borough of York, for the purpose of acquiring a trade,
and became an apprentice to Joseph Spangler, a cabinet maker of that
place, with whom I continued two years. At York I fell into very bad
company. I found there were others in the world, nearly, if not quite
as bad as myself; and wickedness is greatly encouraged with countenance
and company. _We were frequently engaged in robbing orchards, stealing
apples, peaches_, &c.
The first winter I lived at York, I _stole_ between four and five dollars
from Mr. Spangler. I took it out of a small chest I found in his bed
room. One of my shop-mates was blamed for it, but I now declare him
innocent of the crime.
I _frequently stole segars and tobacco_ from the store of George Small,
in York, and gave them to my associates, who had previously requested me
to do so.
After my apprenticeship was ended, I was employed as cabinet maker for
a short time, by John Beck, in York. I _stole_ from him, at different
times, such articles as I needed to finish some furniture I was making
for myself, such as paints, varnish, &c. I was strongly suspected for
this; _but I lied them out of it_, and contended most strenuously that I
had _bought_ all the articles I used.
Shortly after this, I lived a short time with Jacob Lehr, in Freystown,
near York. While there, a harvest frolic was held at Mrs. Smithmoyer’s.
I knew that all of Daniel Louck’s family would be at the frolic;
consequently, I went to his house, broke in through one of the windows,
opened a desk with a key of my own, and _took out a pocket book_, as I
then supposed, full of money. I then left the house as I entered it; and
on my way home through the fields, I examined the pocket book, and found
that it contained nothing but papers which I could not read. I threw the
pocket book and papers into some bushes that grew in a field belonging to
Mr. Diehl. All the money I got on that occasion was about one dollar and
fifty cents in silver. I never heard that I was suspected of this theft.
About the same time of the above occurrence, I was working in harvest at
Mr. Diehl’s, and I then _stole two five dollar bank notes_, which I saw
lying on the porch of their house; I was never suspected for this, and
never heard any enquiry made about it.
Shortly after this happened, I went again to Daniel Louck’s, and found
that all the family were from home except three of the women. After
staying a short time, I lay down in the hall of the house, as it were,
for the purpose of resting. After lying a short time, I discovered
that the ladies had all gone out to take a walk in the garden. I then
arose, and went to the same desk I had opened before. I also applied
the key I had formerly used, opened the desk, and _took out a pocket
book containing fifty dollars in bank notes_. Even this created no
suspicion against me, that I know of. I also frequented the house of
Mrs. Smithmoyer, in that neighbourhood, and _stole from her cakes,
confectionaries_, and occasionally some _small sums of money_.
I returned in 183- to the Block-house settlement; _my evil propensities_
increasing by former successful indulgence, and by being able to avoid
suspicion, I commenced the cabinet making business for myself, at the
house of Mrs. Bastian, with whom I had lived a short time before I went
to York to acquire a trade. Mrs. Bastian’s residence is situated in the
northern part of Lycoming county, at the foot of Laurel Hill, on the post
road from Williamsport to Wellsborough. The country immediately around
is composed of high and broken mountains, covered with thick and dark
forests. The road often for great lengths without a house, and not very
frequently traveled—generally as lonely as the pathway of a wilderness. I
did not at first settle there for the purposes for which I afterwards saw
it possessed so many advantages. But it very soon occurred to me, that I
had chosen an excellent situation for _robbery_, _theft_, and _murder_,
_on which my mind was now fully bent_.
I re-commenced my unfortunate career at the Block-house, by _first
stealing_ from Mrs. Bastian fifteen dollars, and frequently afterwards,
such sums as I needed, to the amount of about five dollars more. I had
the confidence of the family, and free access to every part of the house,
which greatly facilitated my thefts. I was not suspected of these crimes
until just before my last arrest, when some money was accidentally found
in my pocket which was identified as a part of the money that had been
taken. This induced them to suspect me strongly, but _I denied it with
great firmness and constancy to the last_.
Some time in the fall of 1837, a drover (whose name I do not know)
passing through the settlement, stopped for a short time at Mrs.
Bastian’s house. At first sight, I supposed him to have _a large amount
of money, and immediately determined to murder him_. For this purpose,
before he could have time to pursue his journey, I hastened to the woods
with an axe, and cut a large club, which I thought more suitable for the
purpose, it being longer and more easily handled than the axe, and yet
sufficiently large for the fatal execution. I then concealed myself close
by the road he would pass, and not far from the scene of my last dread
crime. I then waited, planning the manner of my attack. I expected he
would be riding slowly and listlessly along, that I could spring upon him
by surprise, knock him from his horse, and despatch him before he could
make resistance. The drover was a large man and had an excellent horse.
When I saw him coming, contrary to my expectation, he was riding rapidly,
and consequently I could not have a good opportunity to aim a fatal blow.
I then reflected that if I should miss him, or wound him slightly, he
would be too strong for me, and I should be detected, and so I let him
pass. But _I felt disappointed, and wished very much to kill him_, and
if I thought I could have succeeded, would certainly have murdered him.
I saw him afterwards pass through the settlement again, but I made no
further attempt upon his life.
Not long after the failure of my design against the drover, Michael
Knipe, a blacksmith, was traveling from the Block-house towards Lycoming
creek, and called at Mrs. Bastian’s. He had previously _incurred my
ill-will_, and I felt some _revengeful feelings towards him_. I learned
also that he had _some money_. I then _determined to murder him, with
the double motive of wreaking my vengeance and getting his money_. For
this purpose I proposed accompanying him on his way. We traveled amicably
together until we came to the Six Mile Spring. There _pretending_ that
I was tired, and needed a staff to walk with, I went into the woods
and cut a club, with which, at a proper place, I intended to despatch
my fellow-traveler. But as we traveled on, still conversing amicably
together, my murderous feelings began to subside a little, and I became
more irresolute, until having passed the most appropriate places for so
dark a deed, I finally gave over murdering him; and so we traveled, as
far as I went with him, without any thing actually occurring to show that
we were not the best friends.
The awful murder for which I am shortly to suffer the just penalty of
the law, occurred on Thursday, the first day of February, 1838. Solomon
Hoffman, a foot pedler, called at Mrs. Bastian’s the day previous to the
murder, on his way to Lycoming creek. At that time I was particularly
ill-tempered, on account of spoiling some furniture I was making. My shop
stood near Mrs. Bastian’s house. The same afternoon that Hoffman arrived,
I had occasion to go into the house, and saw him with his pack open,
offering his goods for sale to the family. He asked me if I would buy any
thing. I told him I could not. I then returned to my shop, and continued
to work till supper time. I took my supper in company with Hoffman; and
during supper it occurred to me _to rob him_, and I resolved to do so the
next day. After supper we conversed a while in the bar-room, and then he
accompanied me to my shop.
Hoffman continued at my shop for some time, and we conversed principally
about my trade; I told him I could make sales enough, but could get no
cash. He returned to the house again; I continued to work till late,
and then went to the house also. We then soon retired; Hoffman and I
slept in the same room. As I lay in bed, I thought of the difficulty of
highway robbery escaping detection, and came to the conclusion that I
had better attempt _to kill him_, although I had failed in two previous
attempts. I did not sleep well, thinking about it; _I felt no fear or
horror of the crime_, but I did not know how I could accomplish it. _I
woke up frequently during the night and thought on the subject, and my
disposition to murder him still grew stronger_, and in the morning I
was fully resolved, if I could get an opportunity at all, I would kill
him. I got up early in the morning, and Hoffman rose shortly after. I
then got my axe and whet it. He asked me what I would do with the axe.
I told him I was going to the woods to chop. He then asked me again if
I would not buy some goods from him. On asking me this question, a plan
instantly occurred to me of luring him into the woods and executing my
fell purpose. So I told him I would not buy any goods at Bastian’s house,
and gave him as a reason for not buying there, that I had borrowed some
money from Bastian’s, that I had not repaid, and therefore did not wish
them to know that I had any; but I told him, if it was not too cold for
him to come to me in the woods where I would be chopping, I would buy
from him there. Hoffman replied to this, that he would go on in the
stage that day. I answered he might if he pleased. He then changed his
determination, and he was only going to Blooming-grove, and would walk
and stop with me where I was chopping.
Upon his saying this, I designated where on the road he would find me,
and told him he could hear me chopping from that place, and so find
precisely where I was; and having said this, I went off immediately
towards the woods. After proceeding a short distance, I overtook
William Folkerson, of the Block-house settlement, driving a sled. He had
started from Bastian’s a short time before I did. He asked me what I was
going to do. I told him I was going to cut back-logs. We had no other
conversation. This was the man whom I at first blamed with the murder,
but who, I now solemnly declare, as I shall answer to God, is entirely
innocent of it. And I sincerely hope he will forgive me for making this
most false and dreadful charge. After Mr. Folkerson passed on, I went
into the woods at the appointed place, and hunted round, but could find
no trees to suit me. I then went down into the road expecting Hoffman.
Then went back into the woods again, and found trees to suit. I cut one
down, and was going to the second, when Hoffman came to me. He first
addressed me, saying it is cold. I replied, tolerable. He then placed his
pack on the log I had cut, opened his goods and handed them out. I walked
up to him with my axe in my hand, and placed it down by the stump of the
tree. I then selected from his goods a pair of gloves and a handkerchief,
and told him I would take these. Then I suddenly became a little
irresolute, and had almost told him I had no money; but in an instant _I
again resolved_ “_kill him I will_.” He then stood bending down looking
at his goods. I stood partly behind him, and taking up the axe, gave him
a hard blow with the pole on the back part of the head. He fell dead on
his side the first blow. _I stood and looked at him for a moment, and
then gave him three or four more blows on the back and side of the head._
Then for a moment I looked up to heaven, and cried three times tolerably
loud, Lord Jesus! what have I done!! I then took up Hoffman, and carried
him a short distance and threw him behind a hemlock log. I was not
satisfied with this, and took him up again and carried him further, and
then removed him, and covered him in the place at which he was found.
I tried to bury him, but could not succeed well, the ground was too
hard. I intended, as soon as I could, to remove him from that and bury
him securely. On the same day I hid his pack, only taking out a few
articles for the present. I found on his person about one hundred dollars
in money, and some other small articles, which I took then. The week
after the murder, I went to Williamsport and bought some goods from Mr.
Updegraff, which I paid for, or nearly all, with Hoffman’s money. I also,
at the same time, bought some articles from Dr. Power, and paid him in
the same way, and at the same time _stole from him one dollar in money,
and several chisels of different kinds_. When I returned, Bastians asked
me where I got the goods. _I told them my father had given me money, and
I also had bought goods on trust. In short, I stole and robbed every
chance I could get, from my cradle to the day of my imprisonment._
I wish now further to declare, that no false evidence was delivered
against me at my trial.
I am sincerely thankful to the officers of justice, ministers, and
counsel, for their uniform kindness to me.
I now pray the world to forgive me the many injuries I have done, as I
hope I will freely forgive all who have injured me.