The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-26


door was locked; looked through the keyhole and
smelt smoke. and then went across the entry to a
room where there was Mr.. Foster, and gave the
alarm; he went back ID The room with me, broke
open the door, and found Mr. Clark in the bed muir
dered; the kerosene'lamp was sitting near his head,
open the entry was light enough for to see how the
men who came out OF the room were dressed, and
recognizes tne General; am as confident IN ast,
the Janeses as am that was sitting on the stairs
watching; lnext saw them, think, the next day in
amount OF money on hsxperson and the day previ-
Gus TO the murder he had $l2 900 in his posses
sion and 40 not think he parted with any OF 1t be-
THE FLIGHT, PURSUIT AND CAPTURE.
Having accomplished their murderous design the
nrst instinct OF the criminals was self preservation
they knew that Clarks mistress had been in the
building III the manner which she has described and
were, OF couse fearful that their crime would be dis
before the traces OF 1t had been destroyed
Dy nre. No time, therefore, was to be lost. The
,sain LOT New YORK was about due and they agreed
that 10 fly IN that direction would be the most judi
clous. They accordingly went TO the depot and pur
chased couple Of tickets for the metropolis, but
ed crowd OF police offcers approaching and imme-
dlately undertook to skedaddle The officers recog-
General or sias James, while Charles made good hs
escape in the direction of Boston. He continued
lar as West6oro, where he arrived shortly before
midnight. lie then proceeded Immediately TO
. nvery stable and hired span OF
horses saying that he had friend lying at the point
OF death IN Providence, Il. l., and that he must be
there as soon as possible. On the way he was con-
stantly beseechng the driver to hurry up, and APP
peared very much excited and frightened Arriving
at Pawtucket, about four miles from Providence,
Charles said that inasmuch the horses were tired
he would 20 on foot the rest OF the way. He then
paid the driver literally, and the two separated the
latter returning TO Westboro and James continuing
on foot in the direction Of Providence. He did not
keep on to the city, however but stopped at Olney-
ville where he had sster-in-aw residing and while
on the way to her house he passed some men who
had seen an account OF the murder in the morning
papers and who recognized him as one Of the s,s-
pected parties They followed in the direction which
ne was going, and perceiving their movements he
showed his guilt by striking out from the highway
ana running In the direction OF piece OF woods
short distance from the roadside; the crowd imme-
diatey gave chase, and soon overlook and captured
away something In the snow, but this was after.
wards found and proved to be q handkerchief con-
gold watch and diamond pin belonging to Clark he
was conveyed Immediately to the station house in
Providence, where an officer shrewdly managed to
TO draw from him confession OF the whole crime;
he told him first that the General had owned up ALL
and that lie might well do the same Charles then
said that the whole transaction proposed by the
General for the purpose Of rObbing Clark OF his
money, and that he (Charles) struck the fatal blow
with the hatchet upon being told that he would
probably be hung he replied that he presumed he
would, but II he was he would ''dle game;" Charles
was brought to this city the next day. and together
with the General was committed for trial for murder;
both were convicted and duly sentenced to the PEN
atty which they suffered to-day
SKETCH OF THE MURDERERs. ..
Ever since early manhood both the prisoners have
been noted as particularly dangerous characters.
They aspired TO be respectable gamblers but
among that class they were generally denomlnated
as dirty loaters and dead beats other equally objec
tionable personages: They were not brothers,
many may suppose, but first cousins. Silas James
or the General, as he was most familiarity known,
was the more intelligent of the two, and it Is prob
ably true that Charles was but a mere tool or
machine unoer his control. He was thrty-two
years old, muscular, blind in the left eye
and possessed OF very wicked appearance.
school when quite young man, and his father was
Tor dozen years or more Higa Sheriff Kent coun-
ty. His grandfather, General James, was once a
United States Senator from Rhode Island, and 1t is
from this honored forefather that the disgraced
grandson inherited the cognomen OF General" He
was married some months before his crime.
Some four or five years ago he gained con-
siderable notoriety on account of being sus-
pccted Of poisoning the noted trottng horse India
Rubber and during his Incarceration In ail he ac.
knowledged that the suspicious were well founded.
Charles james was also native Of Rhode Island and
the son OF respectable parents. Compared inellec-
tually with Siias he was far below him, and IL
probably on account OF the Generals influence over
He was about twenty-three years old and unmarried
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRISONERS.
Neither o. tne unfortunate men was much inclined
reporter called to visit them the afternoon previous
to their execution. With clergymen, their intimate
friends and family relatives they conveised freely;
but 1t was the request to the writer that little
publicity possible be given to them and the sad
ordeal which they were about to pass through. The
General said that notwithstanding he was great
criminal he had friends and relatives VINO were re-
Specialize, aud It was on account OF his regard for
their feelings that as little notoriety as possible
should be given to those who had cast disgrace upon
them. He was inclined, however, to be respectful,
but was very guarded in what few words lie did say,
and avoided any ailusOn whate ser to the murder.
He complained of being unwell, and remarked that
II was the first days sickness he had experienced
since he had been in the jail. He had spent most OF
the day In writing ferewe letters friends and re-
latives, and the contents oil all them were sad and
expressive In the extreme.
Charles, who In distant cell, was occupied
In reading the Bible. He, as well as his companion
In crime. was adverse to engaging IN conversation
with stranger and his reasons were much the same
as those given by the General. HIS whole attention
seemed to be absorbed by spiritual advisers ana IL
was clearly evident that his manifestations OF repen-
lance came from the bottom OF a penitent heart.
soon after his colnmittai to Jail an earnest effort
Charles James, TO obtain executive interference IN
the shape OF communication OF his sentence 10 I'M
prlsonment Tor life. petition, ntImerously signed
by citizens OF Rhode Island, who knew him from
boyhood, was forwarded to Governor Bullock. The
Governor in declining to interfere with the sentence
stated that he did not think a careful examination
OF Charles previous career would warrant, the be-
lief entertained by his friends ana II such facts had
existed they ought 10 have been produced
at the trial. where they have received proper consid
Grafton. This Intelligence being conveyed 10 the
condemned he immediately set TO work preparing
himself for the pending fate. No attempt whatever
was made to secure executive clenency In behalf OF
tile General.
In looking into Charles youthful face and remem-
beriDg how reluctantly he yielded TO temptation to
commit crime, his most invcterate enemy would be
impressed with the hope that lie would receive that
forgiveness from above which was denied TO him
here below. During nearly the entire day yesterday
nc was either engaged IN peruslng the scriptures or
uniting In prayer with the Rev. Mr.. Shipper, the
chaplain OF the prison. lie would occasio nally give
vent 10 his feelings with tears and then Frightening
up would appear ~ calm and happy as II bright
and happy life was before him. lie would some.
times vary his devotional exercises with singing the
well known hymn OF
There's light In the window for thee
being one OF his fayorite selections. In rendering
vocai praise 10 Him before whom he was soon to
appear ms voice seemed TO possess all the charms
OF youth and a sweet melody which musical c,l-
tivatiOn could ever have effected.
THEIR LAST HOURS.
There were no features or special interest or I'm
poranCe connected with their closing moments OF
life. There was guard over both to prevent any
possible movement towards escape or eif.destruc-
ton, and with Charles there was a clergyman
most OF the night, with whom he spent the greater
portion OF the time I'm prayer and other de-
voiiola exercises. The General complained early
In the evening or feciilg unweii and physician
was summoned by his request, who prescribed pa
for his Ills and afterwards he dropped asleep
and slept quietly until day light this morning. Upon
hn s.id that md