CONFESSION OF MARY RUNKLE, WHO WAS HUNG FOR MURDER.

Mrs. Mary Runkle was born in the town of Root, Montgomery Co. N. Y., and at the time of her execution was about fifty years of age. She was married to her late husband in her native town, and says she become jealous of him about a year after marriage, since which time a continual series of difficulties have occurred between them.

She acknowledges that she obtained goods upon a forged order, about ten years after her marriage, and says that it was her first crime.

Not long afterward a pedlar passed through the section where she resided, and sold goods on a credit of four or five weeks. Not appearing at the expiration of that time to make his collection, suspicions were aroused, and as the result of enquiry, the pedlar was traced as far as the house of Mr. Runkle, but no further trace of him could be obtained.

Her children, when spoken to about new dresses, said that their mother had plenty of such cloth, and having repeated the remark in their mother’s presence, were soon after found drowned in a tub of water—the depth being but a few inches. It is generally believed that she murdered the pedlar, and afterwards her own children, to prevent detection. This she denies.

One of the offences she acknowledges, is the robbing of a church in Fulton, of its cushions, &c. She was arrested, but evaded the law by a settlement. She has also been charged with poisoning her son, who, she says, died of the measles.

The circumstances of her husband’s death are yet fresh in the memory of our readers. He was found dead in the morning, when the neighbors were called, with bruises upon him, which afforded sufficient evidence of her guilt in the mind of the Court. She acknowledges a quarrel between them, but charges the blame upon him, and avers that she did not intend to murder him, but did so in defending herself from his assault. She gives the following version of the affair.

“The general health of my husband was not good; on or about the 20 of August, he procured four vials of medicine, and one fourth gallon of brandy; a portion of the brandy he applied externally. At tea time, he became furiously mad, venting his feelings upon me. I tried to quiet him, but all to no purpose; after tea, in his continued rage, he caught hold of my hair and pulled me over on the floor, continuing to kick and strike me, until I thought he would kill me. At length I got free from him, suggesting that I would call for assistance, he declaring that if I did so he would break my neck. At the proper hour he prepared to retire for the night, calling for some milk which was promptly furnished.

Within a very short time he took twice of the medicine, complaining that the milk was sour, he then took a large drink of brandy, and lay down, soon calling for the wash, which he applied to his neck. I found myself in much distress from the bruises inflicted upon me. While engaged in bathing my bruises he frequently called upon me to come to bed.

Near eleven or twelve o’clock, he called me up to get some drink. At his request I lay down with him; the first thing I was sensible of, I found him on my stomach, clinching me by my throat. A desperate fight ensued between us; I made every effort in my power to defend myself; while the struggle lasted, I struck him with such force that he fell over a chair. He beat me with such violence that I bled profusely at the nose.

After the fight was over, I helped him up and he sat down, calling for a dry shirt. There was a dry shirt hanging near him, which he procured himself, and partly put on. I then helped him to put on the other sleeve, after which he expressed a wish to lay down, as he was tired; he accordingly did so. I then lay down with him, soon after which I heard him make a strange noise. I immediately arose and procured a light, when, discovering froth on his lips, I directed my daughter to call in the neighbors, it being then about daylight.

I did not for one moment suppose that I should be suspected of the crime of murder, as I had no intention of terminating his existence. The representation that I made at the time, though not in strict consonance with my present statement, was prompted by no other motive, then that of suppressing his conduct from public gaze.”

A relation of the criminal, was present, to take charge of her body for her friends, who are said to be respectable.

THE EXECUTION.

Mrs. Mary Runkle was executed at the Jail in Whitesboro; The gallows was erected in the room over the Jailor’s office and consisted of a strong lever about fourteen feet in length the long arm of which eight feet in length, was held by a cord, and loaded with weights.

To the short arm was attached the hanging, which was extended down through the floor into the jailor’s office, the noose being attached to it.

During the day, up to the time of her execution, she lay almost motionless on her bed, her eyes half closed, and her right hand resting upon the bed-clothes on her bosom. Her fingers only moved slowly as if she was engaged in deep and unhappy thought. She spoke only whispers, and assisted some in dressing herself for the event.

She said she was prepared for death, having made peace with her Maker.

At two minutes past twelve o’clock she was carried down to the room assigned for the execution, and placed in the chair under the spot where the cord passed down.

Having been placed in this position, the jailor seated beside her, she rested her head upon his shoulder, while a feeling and appropriate prayer was made.

The sheriff then asked her,

“Mary Runkle, have you any word to say to this jury, to these people.”

To which she gave no answer.

The bell rang the cord was cut, and she was launched into eternity! Not a word, not a motion, but a very little heaving of the chest.

After hanging twenty minutes, her body was cut down, put in the coffin, and delivered to her friends.

Thus closed the earthly fate of Mary Runkle.

THE END.