Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-26
From the Philadelphia BuIetin Ma CHI 49, Is
The Actors i'm the Philadelphias Tragedy.
BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. SHAW AND MRS. LYNcH-cRIMI
NAL LIVE OF ARrnyi SPRING. -

Il
BIOGRAPHY MRS. SHAW AND MRS. LYN6u-cRIMr-
! NAL LIFE OF ARragns SPRING. \s
/ So much has been said and written concerning
the late dreadful murder in Southw ark, that the
public naturally feel ascurio>ity to know something
i respecting the history Of the persons SO suddenly
brought into notice. WehaYe it in our power 10
furnish an outline of thescareer1of the most con-
l spicuous among the parties Intimately connected
with the terrible transaction.
Honora Shaw. commonly called Hanna Shaw
and Ellen Lynch, the victims-Arthur Spring, the
Afsdpposed assassin, and Bartholomew LYNCH the
husband of EhelB were all born in the same icoun,
ty,(Kefy) i'm Ireland, and were near neighbors be-
tetore their emigration to this COUNT
Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. Lynch were the daughters
of J ohn Donovan, steward ofthe Earl Of KenInare;
they were born in Killarney. Honora was the ED
est.t nShea,was ;bout forty.si years OF age
lat the time of her death. heimarried4a(Dr John
Lovatt at the neighborng town of Dingle, and to-
geher they emi,rated To- the limited States, soon
aiterthtir mafrage. They settled in Philadelphia.
The lusbandiwas much the oldest of twain, and
for long time before his death, (Which occurred
ION the Sth of January 1922 he was entirely de
pendent upon The exertions of his wife for a sup
port tEhey were married fourteen years and had
Shortly after the death of the first husband, the
widow married again. The second husband,
man named Shaw, subsequently, deserted his vile,
and went to Try his fortune in California. Mrs.
\ she bore good character. She is represented as
being warm. hearted, kind woman
Ellen, the youngestToi the two sisters, was also
married at the town of Dingle. She married a
cartwright named John Dowd, in 1843. In 1849 he
died, leaving her with two children. The widow
Soon after came to the United States, leaving her
little ones in the care of her friends at home
Upon the passage to this country she attacked
with ship fever, and arrived in P Philadelphia sick
and destitute. Here she met with Bartholomew
d Lynch. between whom and her family relations OF
friendship had existed in Ireland. Lynch took care
Of her until she obtained situation as housekeer
in the family of Mr.. Durand, the druggist.
Mrs. Dowd, although much younger than hel
kind friend and protector, married him abouta yeal
since, and on the 22d of February the wife gave
birth to twin children. Mrs. Lynch was but thir-
years Of age at the time of her tragcal death
She bore Almost estimable character, and the warm.
est feelings OF affection existed between her hus
band and herself. "a -a'a' H.s. 1t. 1aiH 4a'+lsl'
Bartholomew Lynch is a veteran soldier He
enlisted in the United States Dragons in 1856 he
served with distinction in Florada. under the com
mand of the gallant Harvey, and received wound
while in tina service. He subsequently served un.
der Gen. Taylor and Scott, and was in every battle
oil Importance in Mexico, from Palo Alto 10 the Ia
king OF the capitol AT Cerra Gordo and Chapul-
tepec Lynch received wounds, the traces of which
he still bears. Soon after the enlistment of oui
hero he was promoted to the rank of sergea mt,
post he filed until the close OF his military service
The sergeant returned to New York with the shat
tered remnant OF The New York Volunteers, ant
was there presented by the authorities with hand
some silver medal, as testimonial Of their appre
citation of his services. So
sergeant Lynch was appointed one OF the watch
men at the Philadelphia Navy Yard some time
since, and quilted that situation about three weeks
ago, 10 go to New York, where lie was promised ;
situation Of some kind, The money he I. ceiyed q
the close OF his service at the naval station in THU
city is believed to have been the object which
prompted the assassin who perpetrated the crue
murder OF his wife and sister-in-law.
Arthur Spring, the alleged murderer, was born
Midtown, county Of Kerry, Ireland. 1t is mpossl
Bile 10 say with any degree of precision what The
age OF this man is. In 1s43 he said he was TWEEN
ty' eight years of age. Hewould consequently be
but thirty years of age at the present time
HIS present appearance denotes man of nearl,
fifty, but whether this is to he attributed to the wea
and lear incident TO the life he has led we are un
able TO say II his is nineteen as is stated b,
those who know the family, the father must Ger
family be more than rty-eight. Those who aIt
competent 10 judge, fix the age of Arthur Spring
from forty FIVE to forty-seven.
In appearance the supposed murderer is far from
nrepoSsessng, his countenance is forbiddng, ant
theie is peculiar expression of cruelty and Gun
nlng about his eye, which is by no means attrac
tive. He is stout built, and about five feet eigh
inches IN height has light blue eyes,. and sand,
hair, turning 10 gray. The top of his head is balc
and the hair is brought around so as to conceal h
defect as much as possible.
The precise time at which Spring emigrated t.
this country, is not known. 1t is said that he came
here IN the year 1929. In 1885 he opened con
dictionary on the south side of Market street. above
Thirteenth. He remainedthere for several years
during which time he was in bad repute amonl
his neighbors, and was generally considered a bad
man. His vile " as the constant victim Of his bru
tality, and was seldom free from. the marks of hi
violence. In 1913 he was arrested for obtaining {
quantity of liquor under false pretenses from
Mr. John Lafour, in Walnut street, and wa
subsequently, convicted of the off, nee, and sen
fenced to prison, and to pay fine of S4O0. Spring
was pardoned out a few months after his ncarcera
ton by Governor Porter. -...-
1t Is curious circumstance that on the records
Oh the county prison Immediately in connection
with Inc name and description Of Spring, some
person sketched, ten years ago, gallows, with ;
figure upon il, and under it the prophetic in
scrPtion, '"God is just, and will not suffer the
guilty TO escape" -5 a1 va.s .a.. a.f.s,,. TT
After the release Of Spring from prison, he went
to New York, where he afterwards opened an eat
ing and drinking cellar IN Park row. Hele he
committed an outrageous robbery on an Irishmar
named Dillon, whom he not only robbed of a large
amount of money, but he also broke his cola
bone. For this offence SpiEg was arrested anC
tired, but by some hocus pocuS, brought about b,
the tree use OF the poor Irishman'S money, tn,
perpetrator of the outrage managed to escape.
1 Ihe next criminal matter in which Spring fig
ured, was in charge of robbery committed a
The house of a Mr.. Hickson, in Centre street,
dickson had befrended Spring, and the ingIat
plundered him in leturn. For the last offence h,
was sentenced TO an Imprisonment of eight year
and four months in Sing Sing. ia ~
!nthe meantime, Mrs. Spring had died-pub
OPINION branded the unworthy husband as he
murderer, but he never was tried upon the charge
AT the time Spring was sent to the New York pen
itentary, his son Arthur, and three other children
all OF whom were girls, went TO Washington
where they made their home with sister of thei
deceased mother Here young Arthur learne,
the trade of confectioner. In October last through
the e&ersions of the son, the father was pardone,
/. by the Governor of New York, and about { hrist
mas ne was introduced into the family of CAROLS
by Mrs. Harrington. Mrs. Shaw had been III,
god-mother of the younger Spring, and felt .
lively interest in his welfare The father she pitied
and out of her small means she purchased hin
decent clothes in the place of the miserable gar
ments he then wore. o. >,
Carroll and Linch both forbid Spring the house
but be continued to visit there occasionally
either openly or clandestinly, until The night o
the 10Th inst, when the fearful murder was com
WI ~ - 90