Book Description

INTRODUCTION ------------------------ The following "Confession" was dictated to me by Mr. HENRY L. VALANCE, who had, for some time previous to making it, resided in this place. Called in to attend him in my medical capacity, and having early felt it my duty to warn him of the fatal nature of the disease under which he was suffering; I won his confidence, and the result was the following narrative, which will go far toward clearing up a great mystery in the criminal history of this country. The "Confession" is given in Mr. Valance's own words, I having acted only as his amanuensis; and I am of opinion that the statements contained in it can be implicitly relied upon, from a multitude of circumstances of a minor character that attracted my attention, but which would have been entirely unimportant by themselves. My first intention, after I had made up my mind to give the "Confession" to the public, was to re-cast it; but on consideration, it struck me that such a proceeding would scarcely be a compliance with the author's intention, and I have therefore printed the book from the original manuscript, as the "Confession" was taken down and read to the unfortunate man who made it. Such as it is, I give it to a discerning public, which will find it a narrative of much interest. JOHN L. EMERY, M.D. Wisconsin, September 11, 1848