Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-01-03

MARIETTA. O.. Dec. 2e.
Bamgardner, the murderer of Eu-
bank, made an attempt to escape
from jail last evening. He fled bis
chains. and with the ball struck
Peter Baker, the Deputy Sheriff. ih-
juring him severely. He was shot in
the face and shoulder by Deputy
Hicks and after desperate struggle
was returned to his cell
The circumstances OF bis crime
are as follows: 0n-th 18th of Sep
tembet last he crossed the Ohio
River from West Va, into this State,
in company with Jno. Thos. Eubank.
They proceeded to Hills Landing,
in Washington County, o., and en-
camped there for the night At
seme hour before daylight Bumgard
ner murdered Eubank, severed his
head from his body, and threw the
latter in the river Bumgardner
possessed himself of his victims
property, and escaped suspicion un
til the remains were found in the
river, and provoked an investigation
which let to Bumgarduer's arrest
and coRvictisn.
Last Friday he was brought into
Court TO receive his sentence, his wife
accompanying him
The Court ordered Bumgardner
to stand up, and asked if he had any
thing to sag why the sentence of the
law should not be pronsunced on
him. With much agitation the pri
soner began to speak: ''Nc, sir, but
| think it a very unjust thing. |
stand before you an innocent man,
and l speak as l would before my
God" He then went on TO say that
he never denied having Eubank' 5
team, but came by it honestly, by
purchase, adding: II can not blame
yeu Judge, but false testimony was
made against me here" He spoke
of having been sinner against God,
but with conscience now reeonciled
saying: "The God that rules above
knows that / AM innocent of this
charge With considerable feeling
he said; SIT griRds me to leave my
wife and three little children, who
have no place to go to. My wife's
father has turned her ont of doors
because she wsuld not forsake me.
Had the prisoner stopped here be
might have had some sympathy
frem those present. But he went on
to speak at length, relating the con
neotion between him and EubaAk;
how, as he said, he bought the team;
commenting and arguing upon the
testimony; charging false testimony,
on the part Of every witness, on
every point which made agains. him,
sometimes net inpunging the mo-
tiYes of the witnesses, but again in
sinuatiag that they ssdid it ca pur-
psse;" finding fault, infrentialiy, |
with the Prosecuting Attorney for
his zeal in the case, in which Col |
Allan had done his duty, and well
done it--and SO on. He told his
whele story from beginning to end
from Burning Springs w Va. to
Frankfort, Ress County, near where
he was arrested, covering space Of
oYen tF5 Eaelss s dnitgng that fIps
svf III q = sfssslsss.sz q sad, lad
gaDs 10 Hillis Landing With Enbaaix,
or rather Eubank vita MIA, TO SHOW /
him how to gear it up in the NOR
ming, &c; telling him hsw they
slept together in the wagon, ard
how they parted. after daylight, Eu-
bank going back to Parkersburg,
and he to go on, with his own team, !
to Gallia County. He denied that
he ever WAS in the rebel array, bnt /
said he was Union man, and was
permitted to go on the "enrelling
guard of Augusta County, Va, anu
came away from there with his
family, with Gen. AverilI, in 1864,
and settled in Addison Township,
Gsllia County. He frequently pro
tests his innocence of the murder of
Eubank, and said that he had never
taken ths life of any man, or was
the cause OF it. He said, Il have
never stood up in an army and shot
at any man"
Bumgardner spoke an hour and
and stated considera-
BILE that had but little to do with the
case. When he concluded, Judge
Guthrie sentenced him to be hung
On Friday, February Is, 1867.