The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-18 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF A HIRED ASSASSIN.

A New York "rough," named John Ward, was re-
cently hanged at Windsor, Vermont, for the murder
of an old lady, Mrs. Griswold, near Burlington. in
the month of August, 18tki, The general incidents of
the murder are, that a young man of a character by no
means reputable, named Potter, married the daughter
of old Farmer ( risw4old. The mot her (Mrs. Griswold)
was worth shout 20,000 dollars in her own name, and
when it was known that she had in her will bequeathed
it to her daughter, her eon-in-law, Potter, was active
in conceiving how he could get early possession of
the property. It was shown at the trial that the
services of this John Ward, one of that numerous
class of roughs wlm, for a hundred or two 44 dollars
would undertake to furnish the decapitated bead 44
any man within twenty-four hours, were secured. The
following facts were developed in the case :

Potter came to Vermont, ant was followed in a day or two
by Ward. The two met in the neighbourhood of Williston,
and proceeded to the residence of Mr. Griswold. Ward then
went to Witmoski, a few miles distant, it having been agreed
upon that the murder of the old woman should take place
the bight following. In order to establish his innocence of
participation in the crime, Potter in company with his wile
aid Mr. Griswold, drove over into Canada to spend the day
and night with some acquaintances, leaving only Mrs.
Griswold and a boy at home. This was on a Sunday, and
on Sunday night Ward perf,rmed his terrible part in the
tragedy. Ile visited the house early in the evening, and
knocked the old woman seneelese. Ile then seized the boy,
and a ter tying him hand and foot, locked hits in one of the
chambers. Turning his attention amin to Mrs. Griswold,
he gave her two or three blows neon the head, and thee with
sonic sharp instrument very skilfully laticed thejugular vein,
and in a few inomeets her like blood had flowed lie then
dragged the Inatiimate form to a barn near the house, and
very coolly dumped it into a hog pen and covered it up
with straw. tic then went back to Winooski, and ou Monday
left for New York. There was, of course, the wildest ex,:ite.
meet when the murder was diecovered. Tile aheenee of
Potter with his wife and Mrs. Griswold diverted all sus-
picion (rem that quarter, and there had bees nothing
about the movements of the stranger at Winooski to In-
dicate that lie bad any knowledge of the tragedy. After
an absence of a month or au in New York, during which
time the officers engaged in working up the case worn all
the while on the wrong track, Word became sufliclehtly
emboldened to return to Vermont V, receive the amount
which Potter had promised him. tefortunately for the
assassin, an express messenger on one of the Vermont rail-
roads, who saw him on him return to New York alter the
' murder, saw him on his return to Burlington or Winooski,
and something seemed to indicate to his mind that he was
the murderer. lit announced his suspicions to 011icer
Flanagan, of Burlington, who followed the suspected
party only a few days until he had found himself On the
right track, mid in possession of evidence similar to the
above statemeuts, which at length secured his conviction.
titter was tried for the murder at the same time as Ward,
but in tits case the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
After c lemnation Ward became penitent, end confessed
his guilt. lila behaviour on the scaffold was in etrange con-
treat with hie past life. As the rime was being adpisted,
his eyes eeemeit to li l with tears, WO a. lie bade the officers
of the prison good-bye, one by one, he gave utterance to the
most ,gonising greens, in which were tunneled snores; fel
exclamatione of "oh, dear," "Oh, el," Ac. The black
cup was then drawn ever his face, and the light et Heaven
shut out for ever. The prisoner was all the while giving
uttetatice to the most sorrowful and touching cries. The
officers then stepped mum the fatal spring, the trap gave
way, and the body of 'Ward dropped some four feet and his
soul was ushered into eternity, lie gave a few twitches an
Instant otter the fall, but evidently suffered no rani, as it was
ascertaiued that hie neck was broken.

A CAPTAIN GOING DOWN WITH
HIS VESSEL.
M Saturday the Prnssian barque HereFors arrived at
Hartlepool, with part of the crew of the galliot
Nyssitus, of Wimclumhen, aboard. The crew went to
the othce of Mr. .1. Groves, the vice-consul, and made
a singular statement. They said they left Gothen-
burg on the 3rd imt. for West Hartlepool, and after
they had been at sea two or three days the vessel
sprang a leak. The crew were all set to the pumps.
The ballast of the ship waa moved about, and it so
choked the pumps that they would work no longer.
It was evident that the amp would founder, and flags of
distress were therefore hoisted. At dayli,ht um the 7th
a ship was sighted, and every means was employed to
attract the attention of those aboard. Captain P. P.
Pack told his crew that it was foolish on their
part to leave the ship, so it would never go down
while he was aboard, al he was a "religious man, and
Providence would never let his vessel sink." The ship
in the distance (the Herelqrs) bore down to, the sinking
vessel, and launched a boat. The captain tried to
prevent the men leaving the ship, but they embraced
the opportunity afforded them and got into the boat.
The mate implored the captain to follow their example,
but he would not. He said he had "faith in his God,
and he knew He would not let him be drowned." The
mate then coneeiveil the idea of placing a rope around
the wiptain's waist, and dragging him off the vessel
into the boat. He tried several times to effect this
object, I iut was unsuccessful, and the captain at last
rushed down into his cabin. For the safety of them.
selves the creticwere obliged to leave the ship with the
captain aboard. The vessel gave a lurch aml went
down head foremost, and the captrtin disappeared with
her. Captain Pack leaves a wife and fauoiy.

ALEXANDRA'S OFFERING TO ERIN.
AIR—" The, Four-leered Shamrock." •
I've fonnd this four-leave I shamrock, besides fairy well,
Take, Erin, tale the ebarmil I growth, and let it work it.
spell ''
To giver and receiver It brings Mew-hies from above :
The letters on its leaflets make the legend, Tiit-rlt and Lock.
And that's it spell dig uses a magic all around,
And clothes with bud and lU...sem the hardest hungriest
ground.
- • • -

-
To the fairy-well It grew by twn streams rim side by side,
One from flumes bitter fountain, nee from I,,VCS sweet
spring supplied,
But round about the margin sharp shards and flints were

• --.
piled;
And thistles thorns and nettles grew stinging rank and will.
And if any water struggled through those stones and weeds
to-day
'Twits now the bitter, now the sweet, that forced Its separate
way
-

And ever and anon came they who fillet their plpkillS full
From the bitter stream for Erin, who thereat wry mouths
would pull,
Aml tutu away to them that drew of Love's stream warm
tool sweet.
Though if quaffed by truth nntempered It un-nerved head,
hands, and feet.
While if one stooped to clear the stones and pluck the weeds
away
Thouta.,ds of eager hands opposed, of clamorous tongues
slo ieked t• Nay !"
Until at last there came the hour, and with the hour, the
moo
Who set at naught opposing hands, nor heeded shriek nor
But !Must the hard and heaped-up stones and stinging
growths aside.
And made way for those parted rills henceforth in one to
glide :
So lettieg warns attemper cold, mot it tter Selooll sweet,
That the waters mixed were cordial, whereof each was poison,
neat.
- - - -

And where these streams first mingle for blessing and for

--Nem
And ripple golden to the sun, anti silver to the moon
This four leaved shamrock hangs its head the sister founts
shove—
And proclaims upfat its leaflets its nurses TRUTH and Log
And who should bind on Erin's brow and In Erhis pathway
strew
Those leaves, but ALEXAMMA, the Loving and the True?
—Punch.