The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-21

affection. He desired shirt Of his to be given to
cousin in Willismsburgh and gave money to colorsd
girl who attended him He took anectionsts leave
.fChailey, Dr. Corillss man, and Of some others to
whom he appeared much attached. He ate no break
fast yesterday morning, and wept like child He fre-
qu nty said while in prison. that his wife poisoned her
self there had been poison in the house for rats
The following letter can leave very little doubt upon
ihe mind of any who reads it, that Matthew Wood
did not as he said die innocent OF the murder Of his
wife -
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
ALBANY, July Is, lS49. (
JOHN " WEsIERvELr, Sheriff Of the City and County
s,R The sentence of death against Matthew Wood
has been respited until goth inst Applications have
again been made for further ntsrposton Of the Execu
tive power cannot, however, grant it. II any depen-
dsnce can be placed human testimony aud unless
reject the established rules of evidence which have
been perfected into system for the careful protection
Of personal rights entertain particle of doubt
OF the guilt Of this unfortunate man.
shortly after his conviction, Judge Edmonds, who
presided the trial furnished to me the official report
OF the trial, which the statute requires. have
ined it with the most painful interest and attention
has produced perfect conviction my mind of the
correctness Of the verdict
tappears from the testimony in the case that Wood
was some fourteen years younger than his wife They
resided in Ireland He abducted and secreted her, she
being supposed TO have property which, however
was dependent on the pleasure OF her mother After
Keeping her concealed for some time, he induced
to marry her in May 1916. But he did live with
her after his marriage in ireland They came to this
country IN the spring OF 1871; here he neglected to
provide for her aud entirely abandoned her. that in
the summer Of ls4S complaint was made by her family
to the police and he required to give security for
her maintenance; failing to obtain the security he was
constrained provide room but he threatened and
raid he would be reveuged on one of the family.
On the evening previous to her DEATH he told her
not mix any cakes until he home he returned
late In the morning she arose and mixed some
batter and cooked two cakes he then arose and bid
her go some molasses She procured it, but he did
not taste OF it. During her absence, he baked cakes
for her breakfast Upon her return, he had in his
hands a piece OF white paper; she inquired what it
was, he replied snuf and thrust it into the stove.
She prepared the table for breakfast and while doing
trhh Ir'a han t,hf in. hrgt UnnAa
this girl ate Of the cakes Wood beckoned to his wife
not to give the child any of the cakes he himself
refused TO eat Of them, alleging that he had break
tasted during her absence but requested cup of tea
or coffee
1t was remarked by the child that the cakes had a
bad taste. Wood said his wife might have put too
much saleratus in them. Mrs. Wood complained that
they were turning her stomach. Eat your fill Of
them" said Wood, they'll do you goodn 1t was
remarked that they lad peculiar color. Wood again
was ready with an excuse, and replied that it was ow
ing to the molasses which he had mixed in the batern
Mrs Wood well before eating the cakes; but
after doing So she soon sickened, and became susp-
cious of cause She hid away the vessel contain
ing the batter and placed what remained of the cakes
in cupboard. She mentioned this, in Woods pre-
sence to Mrs Reed who saw the cake in the cupboard
About hour after, Mrs. Reed looked for it, and it
was gone Wood had thrown il out; it was found in
the priyy, where he had been going carrying
He hunted up the vessel containing the remains Of
the batter from the place where his wife had concealed
it, and he'd it. he also did the other articles used
at breakfast (although before known to SOY
and emIted the contents in the privy When the doc
tor asked for them, Wood exhibited them, perfectly
clean.
When requested to 60 for physician, he refused.
Being asked why be would not, he said because he
would not-could not get one. Being again directed
to GO and certain house being named he tarried and
a neighbor went after him, and found him talking to
in the street. he said he could not find the place.
But II appears that there difficulty in finding it,
The ply stefan directed that what Mrs. Wood vomit
When his Wife sus the
Of the breakfast Wood said he had eaten
the cakes she had left This is shown to be utterly
falls hart ha thrnvr ipto
the privy He hestated and was datory about going
for a clergyman.
quenty expressed in his hearing, and he remained ST.
lent. His wife, after she was convinced Of her APP
that she thought she was done" Wood replied that
she would soon be well enough She said she had
long been expecting something OF tho kind and ask
this to me' He was silent under the reproef Again,
when reproached for the act his only reply was, that
che had had money since Sunday
All the material circumstances attending the break
fast and the removal by Wood Of the evidences of the
poison from the room narrated by Mrs Wood in her
dying moments are confirmed by other corroboratve
testimony and facts.
When lie was arrested, and within few minutes of
her death he spoke few words to his wife, in low
tone Of voice, to which she replied, hope God will
Such Is brief summary Of the evidence against him.
as furnished to me by the presiding Judge. To my
mind, it is such as to exclude to moral certainty,
every hypothesis but that Of his guilt.
Prior TO the day named by the for his execu-
tion, received communication from Wood; 1t was
himself cannot write, as this muncation SUBJ
scribed by him, with Ills mark instead Of his proper
pared under his directions from its reference to pri.
yats interview which had with Wood in prison, with
out making myself known to him at the time
In this communication, he admits that he and his
wife lived unhsppiy, "qusrrslling all the time" lie
endeayors to throw suspicion upon her Of having poi
soned herself and states several material things utter
ly at varsnce with facts proved the trial BY wit
neses other than the brother and the sister law Of
Mrs wood In almost every imp ortant particular this
ed ~ n
the stand. may further state, that 1T varies very
tcrally frsm the narrative which he made to me when
saw him In the prison, about week ten days pre-
vous.
On the 2lst Of June the day previous to that orgi-
gnslly named for his execution, and after that had
declined to interfere with the sentence. received at
this place, telesraphic communication from gentle
man in New York, in whose Intelligence and character
had confidence, requesting respite for days,
and stating that there matters developed which
phc communication received at the same time, said,
| "ncw testimony will, believe, be Obtained Not
knowing what these Developments might be, asd with
aprospect OF there being additional testimony which
might tend to chow Wood innocent did not hes tate
| to grant respite until the 10th Of July.
On the 9th Of July being then In the city Of New
York, several gentlemen applied for further respite;
among them the too gentlemen who bad seat the
tolerraphic communications the 2lst Of June, and
there also another gentleman Of high character
and standing, friend Of whom had known and es-
Snthropy are appreciated by the public a, we'll a. by
myself yielded to his earnest request to be allowed
time to whether he could not pressure the testimony
which 10 hoped would raise at least presumption
in favor Of Woods innocence. The result Of hi. ear
the respite which have received
whereby the execution postponed until the 2Oth Of
this month.
have thus afforded every opportunity to establish
the ipnoctEce OF the prisoner. The execution has
been respited for four weeks but not particle Of evil
deBee has been produced to cast doubt upon the
rectne-- Of the verdict One psre afdsvt has been
produced showing that IN the summer " 1s<s, Mrs.
Wood raid that her .ister inlaw, Mrs McFarlsne was
90 hostile to Wood, that she .aid abe wished him
drowned The party making this affidavit was, ssI
learn, subponsed BY the defence the trial. but this
prisoners counsel aseersniDg that " placsi til.
stand the testimony TO be elected from him on .
cross eNamiLatiOn would tend ssainst Wood, declined
10 call him.
Under theee circumstances, I eannst s<ais inter-
fre With the sentence The ls~ must TAX. its
ust that you will NJ sdnonish the unfsrt unsts