Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-03-31
The PHILADELPHIA TRAGEDY.

THE PHILADELPHIA TRAGEDY.
ARTnUR SPRrng, charged with the butch
cry of the two females in PhiIa 1elpbia,
while resident of that city number OF
years ago, bore the reputation OF being a
bad man and n cruel husband.
In October, IS45, Spring was convicted
Of grand larceny in New York, and was
sentenced 10 Sing Sing prison for the term
OF eight years. On the DID of October,
1852, he was pardoned out through the in
tercession of his son. and he was once more
sci loose on society on the following day
II is singular fact, that the testimony OF
the same son published Yesterday is now
likely 10 condemn the father to an ignom-
inious death. Young Spring also states that
il was the intention of his father 10 have
killed Mr.. Lynch two nights before, for the
sake Of the money he subsequently obtained
from the house where the women were
killed. The son declares that he prevented
him from committing tina; crime. Ii ap.
pears further that Spring knew the CAROLS
were TO attend The bail on that night, and
that he watched the house until he was
satisfied that the two women were there
alone.
The Ledger contains the evidence oil
young Spring, given. at the examination be-
foIe the District Attorney, from which we
CLEAN the following additional facts:
On Tuesday night last, Spring took his
son 10 Csfroll'S house, the former carrying
with him a piece OF lead pipe. from Ma
guire's-Ihe son accompanying him, as he
SAYS, in order TO prevent him from commit
ting violence, having some suspicion that
he intended TO rob If he got chance. On
arriving al CAROLS, the boz was introduc-
ed TO the females, and Mrs Shaw took him
on her lap, telling him that she had nursed
him when little boy, and kissing him sew
eral times. While there a tight occurred
between Spring and John w. Carrol, which
induced the former 20 leave the house, but
ga going ~. he fcnnd he had changed
hats. He went again on Wednesday night,
but found that there were too many there
Tor him 10 attempt 10 rob. He remarked
to Mrs. Shaw that he would come The next
night and see them, but she said that he
need not as Carol and his vile were 90
ing TO the ball, and there would be no one
home but herself and Mrs. Lynch. Qt
was in this way that he learned the .emales
would be alone.) He then detailed the par
ticuars % his fathers absence from his room
on the night of the murder, his return home
about ii O'Clock, giving him The pieces OF
gold, and telling him that he had murdered
the two women.
He then proceeded 10 testify that his faith
er told him that he was let in by Mrs. Shrw,
who opened the back door for him: that a
man and girl we've III the house, but he
kept quiet until they had gone. He then
talked and drank with Mrs. Shaw; and AT
last got her to so up stairs and see if her
sister was asleep. She came down again
and told him that she was, and soon after
he commenced his murderous assault upon
her. Before she was entirely dead Mrs.
Lynch was aroused By the struggles of her
sister, and came down stairs in her night
clothes. lie attacked her and had a most
violent struggle before he succeeded in uui-
eting her, She crePt behind or beneath the
settee in Inc back room, and seeming to be
dead, he went up stairs in his stocking feet,
but hearing noise he came down again,
and found that she had revived. He again
attacked heT with The dirn, and finished
her by, as he said, twisting her neck. He
then went 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 his fingers in kinding il. When
his son suggested that the kufe would lead
10 his detection, he said he had thrown
away the DIRK in George street. The dirk
formerly belonged 10 his son, to whom il
was given by a youth at 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 il.
The boy identified the sheath OF the din;
and also the pieces of lead pipe.