The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-05-05

DELIBERATE MURDER OF HUsBAND-Er-
rdordtndry CrueAg.-The conviction and sem
tence to Imprisonment for life of Mrs. Knapp,
at Fort Wayne, Ind, for the murder of her
husband, has been noticed. The crime appears
to have been one of extraordinary cruelty as
confessed by the murderess. The Fort WayLe
Times says:
The murdered man and the m u rderess were
husband and wife, and had main tanned that
relation to each other for a period of upwards
of fifty years. They resided on a small farm
which they owned in DE kalb county. Mrs.
Knapp informed her son "Jakey" to hold the
old mans hands, while she would choke him
to death "Jakey'' refused. So she said no
more about the matter until the next morning,
when she ersuaded Knapp, under some pre-
icnce. to enter the milk house, and as he was
IN the act OF stepping out of the building she
struck him on the back OF the head with
heavy club. She then seized the axe which
she had ready, and struck him on the forehead
fracturing the skull. She then dragged him to
the well and threw him in, and as he went
down he grasped the top of the gum which
grasp she forced him to release by striking him
upon the hand with the end ola heavy board.
He then sank TO the bottom Of the well.
She then threw n mum ber of chunks into The
well, ieIuarklng to her son at the time that in
case search was made for the old man, his body
would not be recovered. There being some
stains OF blood upon the dress she had on at
the time she placed a second dress over 1t, di-
rectlng ''Jakey' to hide the axe and club with
" hich she had committed the deed She went
to Il Mrs. Smiths, living about Il mile distant,
and spent the day "JaXey, in obedience to her
command, also spent the day away from home.
She met her sou lin law Place and told h m hat
she had just learned that the old man was los t.,
and ha>teHed on her way home. Place aud a
numbe OF the neighbors Immediately ins itu =
ted a search for Knapp, aud noticing thai the
surface OF the water IN the we'll was covered
with chunks, they put down a hook and
Il ho0v of 10 m II rlo
Mrs. Knapp exhibiting no grief, hut Inc
contrary manifesting the most perIeCt indi1fer-
ence, suspicion pon ted at her.
She was accordingly arrested, but denied all
connec ction with the murder-a COMMITTEES of
females was appointed to examine her cloth
ing, and tound upon her second dress The
stains OF blood spoken of-when she became
alarmed and inquired for "Jakey,;' stating that
he was a simple boy, aud that they would get
all out OF him. "Jakey" was then interroga-
ted, and at first denied all knowledge of the
matter, but afterwards made a full statement.
BEAR FIGHT IN A MENAGERIE-A frightful
conflict occurred on Tuesday in the "Old
Adams' menagere at New York j. G..
Adams, known as "O!d Adams the California
hunter, bear atcher and tanner had a fight
with one of has bears and was seriously iu-
Jured. His menagerie has recently been open :
ed to the public, and consists mainly of Cali
fornia animals, which Were captured and
trained by him during a hunting expediton
of fonr years. There is u large ring in the
centre of the tent formed by railing and in
this ring, among other animals, are a lai &c
number of bears, which Adams has trained to
perform various amusing tricks, such as go
ing up tree and sitting in a chair, turning
sOmeTsaults, &c. Some of them seem not 10
have forgotten wholly their old habits, and
are exceedingly cross. One of them, an I'M
mense grizzly bear, three years OF age. is call
ed Colonel Fremont, and Mr.. Adams was
exhibiting on Tuesday afternoon, he struck
this bear with his whip at a moment when he
was peculiarly savage, whereupon his bear
ship resented the affront and seized Adams by
the arm, greatly to the terror Of the female
spectators, many of whom ran Off screaming
The bears are all chained OF course, but unfor-
tunately Colonel Fremont had sufficient room
to get good hold of Mr. Adams left arm and
in f1icted serious wound. A regular beal
fight followed, and Mr. Adams succeeded in
extricating himself and the bear was put in i
to harness and further chained, so that he
will be unable to inflict any further injury
upon anybody. The fight lasted some time
and was truly frightful. tho bear growing or
roaring in terrific style. The injury 10 MIR
Adams arm would not be SO serious were it no
for the remarkable fact that the upper portion
OF his skull was torn off by a fierce Rocky
Mountain grizzly bear about five years ago
from which he has suffered much pain con.
stantly which the wound upon the arm ma Ia
rally increases. He is, however a man Of ex.
traordinary nerve, and, in spite OF the severe
Injuries from which he is suffering, continues
his exhibition.
THE GERMANS AND THE SUNDAY LAW IN