Confession of James McMONAGLE related by him a few hours before his execution in presence of Rev. W.E. SCOVIL and H.D. O'HALLORAN, Capt., 69th Regt.: 'My wife and I having agreed to join some friends in an excursion of pleasure as far as NAPIER's, Gondola Point, she set out with John SWEENEY, Matthew McGARVEY (my cousin), Charles McMONAGLE and two other women in a waggon. As it would not conveniently carry more, I hired a horse and followed on horseback, but did not overtake them. On my way I called at ROBINSON's to see him on business, and while I was there the prisoners LEONARD and HALEY with their wives and COYLE drove up in a waggon and stopped. This was the first I knew of their intending to leave St. John that day. They left Robinson's before me, but I overtook them before they got to FERGUSON's. There they persuaded me to go in and drink with them and afterwards we all went together to Napier's where I found my wife and friends. While we were there a quarrel arose between Charles McMonagle (a namesake but no relation of mine) and Haley about a game of nine pins, in which quarrel I took no part whatever, but lent, at the request of my cousin, 6d or 5s to settle the dispute. Sweeney with two men and three women who came in his waggon were the first to leave Napier's to return home. I shortly followed and endeavoured to overtake them, but Leonard and Haley with their party, though they set out after me, drove so fast that they overtook and passed me; and on going ahead got into a quarrel with some men they met. As I was not present I know nothing of how the quarrel began, but when I came up the men were complaining of being so much abused. As I came up Haley said that he would take satisfaction out of me for the quarrel he had at the ferry with McMonagle (my namesake). I said I had no concern with that quarrel and knew nothing about it. He said he would soon let me know something about it and catching hold of the skirt of my coat, he tore off a piece of it, upon which I turned my horse and rode back, while Haley followed beating me with his fists on my thigh and legs and knocked off my hat which he kicked along the road till he was satisfied. He said my best plan was to keep out of his way and not come near him that night. He wished to fight me. I said I was not content to fight with him that night but I would fight him in St. John next morn. if he liked. I asked him to let me pass him and go home. He said I should not pass. One of the two men who happened to be present cut and gave me a stick advising me that as soon as Leonard and Haley got into their waggon, to cut up my horse and pass them. Intending to do so I kept pretty close to them till I thought I saw a favorable opportunity when I made an attempt, but one holding the reins, the other beating the horse with a whip turned the waggon across the road and brought it against me and my horse. I cried out my leg is broken and begged them to stop. I made no further attempt to pass but rode on behind till we were near Fergusons. Here Haley insisted on my stopping to drink with friends again. It was not my wish but I thought it best to stop. I first took my horse to the shed and put Ferguson's boy on him promising him three pence if he would sit there till I returned. I went into the house and drank half a glass of brandy, not more and went almost immediately to my horse and was employed in cleaning him and looking at the hair which had been rubbed by the waggon running against him, when Haley came running out exclaiming who said anything about a Connaught man? referring I suppose to some previous dispute. Upon this I left my horse and ran into the house and there saw Coyle (the acquitted prisoner) and Haley striking the deceased. From some impulse, heated as I was with liquor I had taken there and at Napier's, I took hold of Haley's skirts and shoulders and made a kick through his legs at the deceased who was then standing up, but I am not sure whether I struck him with my foot or not. Leonard came behind me with his whip, aimed a blow over my shoulder at the head of the deceased. I ran out of the house and had my foot in the stirrup, when Haley and Leonard came out and said I must not go, for they would immediately go along with me. I remained waiting by my horse and the first thing I heard was Haley's wife crying out, 'McMonagle, you villain, you have murdered the man.' I ran out of the shed and said 'Lord bless me, how could I murder the man and me not there.' At this time I saw the deceased lying on the ground with his head towards the door and his feet towards St. John. I went immediately back for the horse determined to be off, but Haley came out again and said he would go with me in two or three minutes. I was for going on at once, but Leonard's wife begged me to stay for she feared Terrence (her husband) and Haley would murder one another before they got home. Hearing a great noise inside I went in, when one of them told me to get a stick. I ran out and happening upon a dung fork, I returned with it in my hand but found the door shut and Haley and Leonard on the outside. Coyle (the acquiited prisoner) was then in the house. Haley and Leonard asked me to get another treat, Mrs. Ferguson replied 'There should be no more got.' Leonard made answer that he would soon find a way to get more, and so saying broke the window with the butt end of his whip. Just then Haley struck the door, I know not with what, and Leonard kicked out the lower panels. I said to Leonard 'You have knocked your foot through the door' and then raising the fork with both my hands I struck the window myself, but I don't know whether the stroke did much or little damage. Haley's wife immediately got the fork from me and I again ran off to get my horse but he was gone. I searched for him on both sides of the road and in a potato patch. I was still looking for him when I heard the women cry out as before. 'McMonagle, you villain. You have struck the man with the fork'. I was soon after arrested. That is all I know of the matter, and I say before God, as I am about to die, that I was never in the house after striking the window with the fork in my hands. After it was taken from me by Haley's wife and thrown over the fence where it was afterwards found. I cannot charge myself with the crime of murder any further than the acts I have mentioned make me guilty, for these acts of violence I am justly punished, but here in my dying confession declare that I never intended, nor do I recollect doing any serious injury to the deceased. I am now to suffer for the part I took. Had I prayed that morn. to the Lord, as I was in the habit of doing once a day and not indulged in drink, I should have been kept free from temptation and never have come to this end. I heartily forgive the world, and in particular those witnesses who at my trial swore other things against me which I doubt not they believe to be true, but of which I believe myself to be innocent. I am not without hope that my God for Jesus sake will pardon me a miserable but penitent sinner and with his forgiveness I am content to die.'