Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-02-01

/ HIaHIT IMPoRrANr ARREsr.-N arroc Eseap
from being Hanged Ugjustly-TAe supposed NGr
derers ArTested-0n Thursday afternoon Alder
man hlascher, of Philadelphia, placed warrant
in the hands of Constable William II. Shrouds,
calling for the arrest of John Geller and Mary
Waldenberger. They were charged by Francis
Blerworth, mayor Of Egg Harbor City, with the
crime Of infanticide. The circumstances of the
case are us follows:
Lewis Waldenberger and wife aud three chill
dren resided for several years at Egg llarhor
City, N. }. The wife is about % years of age
aud some time in the month Of April, 1860, she
gave birth to 4 child which was said to be the
offspring Of John Geller, German, who also
lived at Egg Harbor City. The child was
poisoned shortly after its birth, and from the
actions and threats of the husband of the woman,
suspicion fell upon him as having caused its
death. He was accordingly arrested, taken to
Mays landing, Atlantic county, where he was
tried on the charge of infanticide, convicted,
aud sentenced to DO hung. The Governor
signed his death warrant, aud Monday last fthe
18th OF january was appointed for his exc
cution.
During the past month or 3d. certain testimony
or evidence was made Known to Mayor Bier,
worth. of Egg Harbor City, that strongly aud
most positively implicated the wife and her
paramour in the murder Of The child. Efforts
were mnde TO ferret out the parties, and in the
meantime, the Mayor proceeded to the State
capital of New jersey. and communicating all
tue new facts Of the case that had been discoy.
cred the Governor ut once granted n respite to
the doomed man. The latter, from all We could
learn, persisted that he was innocent, aud that
he ought not to suffer death. All his entreates
were Of no avail, aud though he appeared to be
reoonced to his fac, yet he warmly conteuded
that he would die innocent of the crime for which
he bud been uniustly convicted. lie could not
speak or understand the English language, and
this operated to considerable extent ngainst |
him, when Oh trial
For two or three weeks past every effort was
made TO find the wife aud the seducer. The ut. |
most caution was exercised by tho officers 1t |
was kaOwu that the wife had suddenly left Egg |
Haihor City months ago, and it was supposed |
that she had come to Philadelphia. Application |
was made to Alderman Mascher, and The affair
was entrusted to Constable Shrouds, who asce-
tained the party lived in the vicinity of Sixth
and Franklin streets. This information was
communicated to Mayor Bierworth, and that
fuucionary, with several officers, arrived in this
city
On Thursday afternoon, Geller was arrested,
ana some time after this the delinquent wife, who
had been living with him, was also taken into
custody. carriage was procured, and the
prisoners, in company with Mayor Bierworih
and the officers, were driven to the steamboat
landing and taken across the river to Camden,
where they were locked up in jail. Subsequent
ly they were taken TO Egg Harbor to await their
trial. II was most fortunate thing for the
husband, who has certainly made narrow rs-
cape from the halter. We learn that it ia in
tended to give the parties a speedy trial, and at
the same time evidence will be ELECTED that will
relieve the unhappy husband from his imprison-
nent.