Introduction | Testimony of Alexander McLeod

McLeod kept up an outward appearance of calmness and unconcern, but any one could see that it was only bravado, assumed for the purpose of making believe he was innocent of the crime imputed to him, while his every act and all his talk on the subject were implied, if not direct admissions of his guilt. On Sunday night, at the close of his preliminary examination, when he was taken back to the jail, he broke down completely, saying if the others had kept their mouths as close as I did mine, no one would have known anything about it, and asking for paper, pen and ink, said he would write out a full confession of the whole transaction. Paper, &c. were given him, but the next morning he said he had no confession to make, that he was innocent, and denied that he had asked for writing material or the he had said he would make a confession. At different times, after this, he seemed to be terribly impressed and bowed down by the weight that was resting upon his mind. At such times he would commence and make an effort to tell his story, but he would invariably check himself and say: "My mother taught me to do better, and it would break her heart if she knew I was guilty. The last words that shall pass my lips, to be carried home to my mother, shall be, that I am innocent." Some person had given him a Testament, shortly after he was incarcerated, and he spent a large portion of the time in hunting up and reading and pondering over such passages as referred to the crime of murder, and the terrible punishment to be meted to the murderer. On the evening of the 7th of July, he took the Sheriff by the hand and said to him: "I never meant to say that you or any one else testified falsely against me. I know I said so, but it was only from the lips out and did not work from the bottom of my heart," and at the same time he said he had a confession to make. The Sheriff was busy and could not hear his confession then, and a short time afterwards when the Sheriff signified a willingness to hear him, he said, "I have made all the confession I am going to make, as there is no forgiveness for a murderer."

July 8: REMARKS OF ALEXANDER MCLEOD

"I am asked to make a confession. I cannot condemn my conscience. I know nothing of the transaction--never saw the girl in my life to my knowledge, and never touched her. I did not commit the murder. I am innocent of that crime and know nothing whatever about it. Kimmels know I went to bed and slept until they called me to dinner--I went down stairs and eat a hearty dinner. I can say with a clear conscience that I am not guilty. I have a good mother who always taught me better, which you will find out in due time. Let the law take its course and the guilty will have to suffer. God will not let the innocent die, and I pray God to save me for I am innocent. If it was the last word that passed my lips, I would say I know nothing about it. I know nothing against Kimmel folks. And I were partners --(A voice in the crowd, 'why did you say bloody spot?') I did say, bloody spot, it's my way of speaking. My clothes have been sent Cincinnati to be analyzed--I admit that I had blood on them--I have blood on me now from nose, it is in the habit of bleeding, and has bled since I started from town--I swear to you sincerely that I am innocent of that crime. If you want to put me to death for that crime I will have to die; but innocent blood will flow. I tell you the truth. I swear before God and man I'm innocent.--Johnson and Spriggs induced the boys to say what they did. Innocent blood will flow if I have to die. As I said before, I'm innocent, and know nothing whatever about it. I'm ready to die. O, God, comfort my poor mother and sisters, and forgive you all. I'm innocent, I'm innocent of that crime.'

Copyright 2000. David Kimmel. Heidelberg College. Tiffin, Ohio. All rights reserved.