The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-19
THE WIFE MUIR DERER FERRAs.

company and ardent spirits
THE WIFE MUIR DERER FERRAs.
History of his Crimc-A Horrible Recital.
Frank Ferlas, alias Francisco Ferrero, but
usually called Ferris, will positively be hanged
tomorrow IN the yard of the Tombs prison.
Mr., William F. Kintzing bis counsel, has been
to Albany, where he made such efforts as duty
seemed 10 require for the prisoner; but Cover
nor Fenton declined to interfere. We give the
following account of the murderer, with the Cir
cumstances VIII preceded his crime:-
FACTS PRECEDING THE MURDER.
Mary Ferras, the wife of the prisoner, a hard
woTking, industrious woman, with three chill
dren, occupied the top floor OF tenement house
at No. 81 James street, in the Fourth Ward in
the summer of 1864. The prisoner was man of
very Incorporate habits, and very brutal in his
treatment of his family. A few months before
the murder Ferras made an assault upon his
wife with an axe, from the effects of which she
nearly lost her life. She recovered; but being
in constant fear, she had her husband arrested
by advice OF her friends, tor having attempted
10 kill her, He was convicted and sent to
BlackwelPs Island.
THE CRIME CONTEMPLATED.
After his release, which was a day or two
before the 9th OF September, 1864 when this
murder took place, he went in search of his
wife, and found her home still at No. 81 James
street, but she was not there, being employed
for the day elsewhere. He left, and went around
to mum Der of places at which his wife used to
work, N order to find her. At several of these
places, after being told that she was not there,
Eeras fell down upon his knees, according TO
the testimony subsequently, taken, and looking
upward, swore by the Virgin Mary "that he
would kill his vile Mary. before o'clock that
night-no funning."
PREPARATIONS FOR THE MURDER.
After this, and before evening, he returned to
the rooms of his wife, in James street, and
taking large knife, sharpened it on the curb
stone in front of the house. Mrs. Ferras had
not reached home, and he went away. AT about
o'clock she came from her work, and the in
mates OF the house informed her that Ferras was
out OF prison, repeating the threats he had
made. She was much frightened and by advice
she went to her room, took her bed and brought
it down into friends room on the second floor.
She then gave her three little children, the
to bed. p"' '"eNn
About o'clock Ferras returned to the house.
Finding his wife at home, he procured large
hatchet or axe, and going to her room broke
open the door with the axe. Finding she was
not there, he began to chop up the furniture.
Mrs. Ferras, hearing the noise, and desiring
TO save her goods, took a candle, and went up
TO him.
MRS. FERRAs KILLED.
The door W. heard to shut; few words
passed, and Ms. Ferras putting her head out of
the window, screamed "Murder ~ 'WGtch! !"
This call broughga police officer from the street.
He ran to Ferras' room, in company with the
inmates of the house. The door was closed,
and barred by means OF an iron rod inside.
Ferras opened the door, alter the officer had
threatened to break it down. Mrs. Ferras was
found lying dead upon the floor, her skull cut
open with an axe, and her brains scattered
about. The axe lay by her side covered with
blood, and there was also a large knife which
were found upon her body. Ferras had on no
clothing but his drawers and shirt. These were
bloody. He was asked why he had killed his
wife, to which he made no reply.
He was taken into custody, and committed to
answer the charge. He hadskept his oath; his
wife was dead before o'clock.
THE DEFENSE AND THE VERDICT.
The defense on the trial in the Court of Gene
raj Sessions, as set up by William F. Kintzlng
Jr., his counsel upon the trial, A. Oakley Hall,
K. G. Hutchngs, and Cunning S. Bedford, Jr.,
appearing foI the people, was insanity. The
evidence. however, failed TO support it. The
District Attorney called as witnesses Drs. Sim
mons and HOdgman, who swore the prisoner
was perfectly sane; they had been in daily con-
tact With him ever since his incarceration,
and never noticed any evidence of insanity.
he had been used in the prison as q tier boy.
The jury, after short deliberatiOn, convicted
Ferras OF murder. His counsel could not strug-
gle successfully against the facts. Ferras was
sentenced by Recorder Hoffman to be executed
upon the l4th of April following. MIR. KNITTING
obtained writ of error and stay of execution
from the Appellate Court but upon review
both the Supreme Court and Court OF Appeals
affirmed the conviction, serving, however, as a
Tesp1te TO the prisoner of sixteen months.
WheTeupon Ferfas was resentenced to be
hanged the 18th OF August. In consequence of
proved Ferras until the 10th of October.-M
y. EUeaing Post, 18Th.
INTERVIEW WITH HIS CHILDREN.
At the request of the prisoner, Sheriff Kelly
sent for his three children yesterday afternoon.
One, boy Billy almost eleven years of age,
ano the second, girl, Mary Ann, aged about
eight years, are his step-children, and are under
the charge of the brothers and sisters in the
Catholic Reiormatory. His own child, boy
"Joey,n is bright little fellow, five years OF
age. The three children were brought TO the
Tombs last evening about O'clock and were
confronted with the condemned man, who was
quietly smoking cigar, seated near the stove
in the hallway on the ground floor The step
children we're the first to arrive. As they
entered he rose hurriedly and advanced to.
wards them with open arms, and kueelne
down on the floor before them, covered their
faces with his Kisses muttering, as the tears
rolled down his cheeks, my poor Billy, nv
poor Mary Ann" Looking quickly about HIM,
he noticed that his owD child was not present.
and then stood upright, a look OF anguish pass
ing across his countenance. '0h, you are not
going to keep that dear child away, are your /
must see him." The little fellow soon entered,
and the father was on his knees in an instant,
hugglng the child in his arms, calling him by
various terms of endeaIment. He then sat down,
and taking him upon his knee, gazed at him
fondly. Don't you know me, my sweet little
mad naA tfo