The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-11
Execution of Ellsworth, the Negro MUIR
derer. ....
From The Same Paper.

From the Same Paper.
Morris Ellsworth, the colored man, who was
convicted of the deliberate murder of his wife in
fit of jealousy on the goth of August last, suf-
fered The extreme penalty of the law upon the
gallows this morning al the Essex County Jail,
in the presence of @ large number OF spectators.
The circumstances of his crime we're so recently
published, that full recapituation is unneees-
sary now. 1t will be remembered that the two
had been attending ball near the theatre.
Anna, his wife, being unwell withdrew about
midnight to her grandmother's, No. SO Market
street, whittier Ellsworth followed, and during
an alteration presented pistol at her head and
fired in the presence OF several witnesses causing
death.
The murderer fed but was arrested before
reaching the street. and after the usual prelmi-
nary Investigations he was tried at the October
term of our court. He was defended on the plea
OF insanity, but the Jury pronounced him guilty
of murder in the first degree, and he was SEN
fenced to be hung on the 2lst ultimo. His coun-
sci renewed their eXertions and endeavored to
procure a communication of the sentence to con-
fnement in the Lunatic Asylum, and finally the
Governor granted reprieve till January 10 for
a medical examination. The Court of Pardons
subsequently met, and after taking the evidence
of the physicians and visiting the prisoner, thev
refused to commute the sentence, on the ground
that he was capable of distinguishing between
right and wrong and acted with full know
ledge of his crime.
The prisoner, whose cell was in sight Of the
gallows, was moved during the day TO another
apartment, and was engaged with his faithful
pastor, Rev. Mr.. Manning, when his visitors en-
tered. He rose and greeted them with melan-
choly smile. He was very communicative, and
upon request gave full history of his life. He
stated that he was born in Bergen township,
Bergen county, n. j., and would be twenty-three
years old on the 9Th OF next July. At the age OF
eight years mis- leg was broken, and the wound
turned to a white swelling, confnng him to the
house for six or seven years. After that ne was
laid up for ten months from cut in the leg.
Subsequently, he said, he was accidentally
struck on the head with stone thrown by his
brother.
His account of this last accident was somewhat
remarkable and incoherent, as he declared The
stone stuck in his head, and he drove it still
further in by running against tree-thlt when
the stone was taken out by the doctor 1t LETT his
brain exposed, and he had never been right in
his head since" When he recovered he entered
the army, as servant, in the 9TH regiment New
Jersey Volunteers, remained there two years and
half, returned IN charge of General Patterson's
horses, and again went out with the 2lst New
Jersey Volunteers and after nine months SER
vice was sent home his leg having become sore
again.
with Anna Pearson his marriage to her, and his
domestic troubles. She was light mulatto,
about eighteen years OF age, and they were mar
ried by Dominic Taylor, OF South Bergen. Ac.
cording to his account his wife was unfaithtul
and gave him a great deal OF trouble. He finally
enlisted In the 2lst Pennsylvania Regiment, but
on arriving at Philadelphia was taken sick and
discharged On coming back ne lonnd nus WE we
at Bloomfield and brought her to Newark,
leaving her at her brothers house. lie worked
two months for Meeker d Hedden; three months
for Mr.. Miller in Halsey street, and was then
employed as watchman at Crumps garden
where he remained till the time OF the murder
He had but little to say with regard TO the
Decd merely stating that it was done in mo
ment of frenzy; that he was insane, and hat
been made so by her treatment working upon
brain that had never been entirely right sincl
receiving the injury in childhood. He declared
that he always loved his wife fondly, and tel
that he could not live without her. but she wa
not only addicted TO drink. but was also unfaith
full 10 him. Before leaving him he desired hi
visitors to say that he had received every kind