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On Monday morning, May 7, 1866, Reverend Gutner, pastor of the St. Alphonse's Church at Fourth and Reed Street's Philadelphia,

informed Mayor McMichael that Antoine Probst, recently convicted of the murder of Christopher

Deering, and now under the sentence of death at Moyaminsing Prison, had communicated to him

as a spiritual advisor on Sunday afternoon a full confession of being the

sole murderer of the eight members of the Deering family and had confirmed it that morning

before others with liberty to publish the same to the world.

At one o'clock yesterday afternoon, repertorial representatives of the leading newspapers of this city were gathered in the apartments of Mr. Perkins, the efficient keeper of Moyaminsing prison, endeavoring with the kind and able assistance of Chief Detective Benjamin Franklin, to obtain the fullest and most reliable details of the confession to gratify the

deep anxiety of the public upon the subject. The narrow window lighted up the small vaulted cell,

bringing out vividly the bare walls and floor, and the mattress upon which sat Antoine

Probst. He looked the same as during the long days of his trial.

He was dressed in pantaloons, shirt, and blue woolen stockings.

Around his left ankle passed an iron chain several feet in length,

which was fastened to an iron ring in the floor.

In his hand he held a small rosary, and his fingers often played among the black beads, and his eyes occasionally drooped to the crucifix.

Chief Franklin at once received the full and free statement of the prisoner

that he was most willing and ready to give an immediate

confession to the representatives of the press. Antoine Proppes threw off all the impassibility

of feature that had always characterized him before the public and showed more of his inner thoughts

and motives than one could have dared to hope. He spoke in a low tone with a German accent and idiom,

generally understanding what was said to him.

Occasionally he paused for a little time.

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