The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-17
The Late Tragedy In Philadelphia.
COMPLETE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SCENE.

The Late Tragedy In Philadelphia.
COMPLETE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SCENE.
From the Philadelphia Ledger, March 1911
The that transpred yesterday afternoon in the
court at the county prison, has scarcely parallel
the annals of crime Arthur Spring. accused of the
murder of Hannah Shaw and Ellen Lynch, was brought
before Alderman Iard and the examination proceeded
WITH under the direction OF Attorney General Read 10
seph Doran Esq appeared counsel for the accused
and Aaron Thompson ESQ., for the younger Spring. Who
it known the father would attempt TO crminate
being the actual murderer in connection with youth
named Finney.
Arthur Spring the accused is about 46 years of age
native of Ireland having from the parish in
the county of Kerry with the unfortunate women who
fell victims his lust of gold He lis stout built the
traces of bad passions and dissolute life making him
appear older than he actually is He sat unmoved during
the examination of the Witnesses his counteDance 1T
times wearing smile.
After the examna ton Of various witnesses including
Mr. Mcguire and family keeping the tavern at which
Spring and his we're boarding. and clerk at cloth
ing in Market street. where the purchased
shirts for his father with OF the stolen goG pieces
the placed the stand witness in the
This youth whose name is also Arthur Spring is fair
compexoned intelligent looking lad of about seventeen
and the feeling he exhibited under the peculiar crcum
stances in which he was placed commended him to the
sympathy OF all who witnessed the trying scene.
He took the oath in an impressive manner, and re-
piled to all the questions Of the Attorney General with
modest eanestness and evident sincerity he was deeply
affected when pressed by questions bearing upon the
guilt of his father and at time had to be led to the
open air to keep him from faintng. The statement he
made was substantially follows
The father and son had been living for about four
weeks, at the house Of Patrick Mcguire in Market
street On Tuesday night last the father took the son to
Carrts house, the former carrying with him piece OF
lead pipe--fron Maguiresthe SON accompanying him,
as says order to prevent him from committing vio
lence having some suspicion that he intended to rob ii
on arriving at Carros the boy introduced to the
females and Mrs Shaw took him on her lap telling him
him several times. While there the fight occurred and
John W. Carroll gave the elder Spring . blow in the eye
which is still discelored The son says his father at
tempted strike Carroll with the lead pipe but that it
fell from his hand and the picked it and secreted
it about his person. They then left the house and
turned home the father telling him there too many
there to get the money
The next day his father went again to the to get
his own hat which he left behind him, and Afterwards
he told his that Carroll and bis wife h0n going
to party the next night and there would be nobody in
bas the PREVIOUS might had
dschsIaed from the Ns- lard and received his pay On
clock when be went to tell him he
going out errand for Mrs Mcguire His father
then had his coat of and no thought he was going to
bed. The went the errand, and afterwards met
certain comrades in Morgans court Thirteenth street,
one of whom a boy younger than himself, named
Quinn.
After returning home at about quarter Of II o'clock,
he opened the back door, hearing rapping and
his father with his shoes in his hand He came ia and
gave his number Of tweaty and ten dollar gold
pieces telling hn to put them away. He then told his
son that he had murdered those two women, and had
In to his sons inquiries the father told him
that he Let in by Mrs. Shaw, who opened the back
sH had In
and drank with Mrs SbaE and At last got her to up
stairs and ii her sister was asleep che down
again and told him that she was and after he
menced his murderous assault upon her. Before she
entirely dead Mrs Lynch aroused by the strrg
ges Of her sister AID down stairs In her night
clothes He attacked her ard bad most violent
struggle before he succeeded in quie ting her.
She crept behind beneath the setce, in the back
Hnl
stocking feet but hearing noise, he down again,
and found that she had revived He again attacked her
her neck He then up stairs and broke the dirk in
forcing open the lock of the trunk He then set fire to
the house stating that he burned the ends Of his fingers
in kindling it. When his suggested that the kniie
would lead his detection he said he had thrown away
the dirk in George street The dirk formerly belonged to
his to whom it given by youth al the time he
was living in Washington and was taken from him BY his
father about two weeks since. He had borrowed it
before but returned it, The boy identified the sheath Of
the dirk, and also the piece OF lead pipe.
After going TO their ROOM the brought water, and
the father washed out the stains Of blood from hi shirt
morning lie sent with dollar gold piece to pur
chase shirts for his father and himself. He bought
of large size for his father one for himself and pair of
stockings and out of the change, FIVE dollars paid to
Mrs Mcguire for their beard which the only money
paid upon that account.
On the cross examination Judge Doran after putting
searching questions TO test the ofh previous
testimony without producing the slightest variance asked
the witness in the most solemn whether he had
his Associate A most emphatic denial returned,
and oher questions followed in the spirit prompted
by the father but nothcg was gained for the prisoner
The witness asseverated his innocence in the most solemn
and impressive manner.
The last question askcd whether be not proms
cd if be testified for the prosecution that he should be
liberated. He denied this and said the statement
made Voluntarily but be burst into tears lie exclaimed
that he would rather have met punishment could he
have been sfared his present disgrace.
At this point Mr. Read nterfered he had done
raj tmes previously and resting the prosecution wba.
testimony had been submitted the prisoner remand
cd for trial The Witnesses notified to attend this
morning before tho Grand Jury. who VIII act at
upon the case, and the trial will probably take place
early next week
Spring has during his residence ia this an New York
city been frequently before the criminal char
ges He was many years since, tried in this city for OBJ
tanning cask oiguor under false rreence and served
a short term Of imprisonment At one time he kept
confectionery store in Market street, above Thirteenth
in one Of the old shanties recently demolished to give
place to the Pennsy lsania Railroad depot.
Afterwards he removed to New York, and there
cused Of robbing man Of $500; but this
reached trial he having compromised with the loser By
restoring portion of tie plumber In 1915 he
fenced TO eight years imprisonment in Sing Sing, for
burglary in Centre street After serving years his
son, who working at Washington obtained signatures
Of influential persons to petition 70 Gov Young, for
the pardon of his father and by personally pre- 5ent
ing i at Albany be succeeded in Obtaining his obie;
lie was liberated the I'D Of October 1862 and
TO this city with his SON. about Christmas last. They
were employed for time at Mr.. Ragan's confeconer
in Market street. but for the last month have been idle
report has prevailed that Spring tried for ne muir
der Of his wife in New York. Ths L. however believed
to be an error He was known 70 treat his wife with
great brutality and the marks Of violence her person
when she died led to suppositon that she had been
fouy dealt with but it is said this charge
10 trial.
Lynch, the husband widowed by this foul murde- was
present at the hearing, and deeply agtated while
listening to tie details Of the crime supplied by the
younger Spring. At the conclusion OF the hearing
Lynch shook the witness by the hand and expressed
himself satisfied OF his innocence.
Lynch during yesterday his orphaned children for
the rst time since his return the city and deeply af
fecting was the interview. The children thriving
finely under the motherly Of Mrs Allen and Mrs.
Quinn living PassyHnk road, above Federal street
deep interest has been taken in the welfare Of these in
ants and the probability is that they win be adopted
into families who both able and willing do good
part by them.
The bodies Of the murdered females privately in
TERED yesterday at the Cathedral cemetery OF the
schuylk ina lot owned BY Lynch The first husband Of
Mrs Shaw also lies there having been buried there at the
expense OF Mr. Lynch.
In addition to the evidence nj the hea ring yesterday Il
ue TACT that tie wounds inflicted upon the decea sed
were ht handed blows and that the prisoner for the
ast twenty years has been noted for that POPULARITY
lhe damnDg fact may be mentioned tina the Fingers