The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-01
Execution of q Wife Murderer
i'm North Carolina.
PARTICULARS OF THE CRIME.
FEARFUL SCENES AT the SCAFFOLD
The Culprit Hanged While Making
Desperate Efforts to Escape.
SALISBURY, n. c., June 20, 1868.

SALISBURY n. Co. June 20, 1868.
most exciting spectacle has been witnessed here
to-day in the public execution Of Rufus Ludwig for
the killing OF his wife, to whom he had been married
only eleven days. Some Of the circumstances at
tending it and the incidents at the gaOws were un-
usual; in fact among the most extraordinary ever
seen on such an occasion.
On the Gath Of May, 1857, Rufus was married to
Mily Campbell a poor but virtuous girl, residing
with her widowed mother in the southeastern part
Of this county. He at took her to the house OF
his own parents, who, with their daughter Jane,
young woman OF bad character, lived only about five
miles from the house Of Rufus mother-in-
law. In the course Of two weeks aterward
the brother OF the murdered went to
visit her. and ascertained from her husbands
family that she had been missing since the 4th OF
June, which was Tuesday. Her husband, Rufus,
said she had gone on that day 60 her mothers, with
the intention Of remaining a week. and that he had
supposed her to be there-whch, however, the
brother informed him had not been the case. The
neighborhood was at once aroused and commenced
q search for the missing young wife. This search
was unsuccessful for week. Every effort and in
CURRY was fiuitless. No individual could be found
who had or heard Of her on the 4th OF June
any day after that.
Suspicious were at once excited that she had been
| fouily dealt with, and the peculiar demeanor and
conduct OF the husband and MS family caused these
suspicious to be directed towards them, and about
the 18th of June Rufus and his mother and sister Jane
! were arrested. The two latter were admitted TO
| bail, but Rufus was fully committed to jail
on the charge of having perpetrated the
crime OF murder, though as yet there was
to clear up the mystery concerning the fate OF the
missing young woman led to such persistent
securing Of the entire vicinity, including even the
dragging OF the river and creeks adjacent that
cess was AZ length attained and on the nth Of June
the body was found III Crane creek near its junction
| with the Yadkn river, and then were revealed all
| the marks OF murder most foul and dab0ica
| to considerable degree, lby immersion under the
| water and the cause Of the death was plainly visit
ble bullet had entered the left temple just at the
base OF the brain, close in front or the ear, and
| ranging downward passed through the back OF the
mouth and out al the lower edge OF the right under
| Jaw breaking the jaw bone. There We're two gashes
! Of q knife on the throat--One OF them somewhat
shallow and insufficient to produce death; the other
I almost from ear to ear, and necessarily mortal The
spot where the body was found was secluded one,
| perhaps mile from the house where Rufus and his
! parents lived.
| The husband was tried ut the fall term of Rowan
Superior Court. The prosecution was ably conducted
Kerr, Boyden and Bailey The evidence was alto.
gether circumstantial, and consisting of train of
minute particulars, difficult to set forth satisfactorily
various falsehoods and contradictions In the state
| menls Of the prisoner himself He had told the
brother OF his wife that sho had gone TO her mothers;
but Mary Hartman, young woman living with the
family testified that there was no truth in the state.
ment, and that no such idea had been mentioned in
| the family. He had denied having any gun that
would shoot, saying that the lock OF his rife was OF;
| l.
| legged murder he had handled this rife and 1t was
then In good order. Rufus said he went on certain
day. about the time Of the murder to neigh
| boring gunsmith TO get the lock repaired.
The sansmiih swore that he (Rufus was not at his
shop any day near The time specified; On the day
| OF the young wOman's disappearance he had passed
| by neighbor's house. coming from the direction
where the body was afterwards found; the lady OF
| the house spoke to him; his manner was confused;
there was no lock on his rifie which he carry.
ing; that he had squirrel IN his pouch, and when
asked how he had got 1t with such gun he said the
| dogs had caught IT. but of the children having
by chance pulled the squirrel out of the pouch was
he Went to the gunsmt6s, aud he pretended he was
then on his return from there. But IL manifest
hst tins WA, was false ana That ne mad IN fact removed
| That day-for the purpose, no doubt OF making q
false impression I'm regard TO the condition OF the rife.
II was also proven that Rufus and his wife had
gone Oh, In the direction where the body was found,
for the pIofes ,l purpose Of nsning on the
and sister Jane had shown bitter dislike
towards the deceased wife from the first moment Of
her 10 eat at the table sleep in the house; but
| compelled her and her husband 10 sleep In an al
been offered considerable amount BY The family
II he would get rid OF HIS wife by divorce other
MISE Rs 70 a Witness ss I also testified that when
his wife, Rufus had said his mother was the cause
OF has doing IT, " not denying the crime, but in this
| indirect manner confessing IL. He was guilty Of
| many other prevaricaions and Inconsistencies Of
statement having at one time said his father killed
points were proven, all tending towards his guilt.
aud the jury had great difficulty In coming to
And this verdict fully Conceded with the
mature opinions OF all who witnessed the trial.
several law points, but they were all decided against
him, and at Spring term OF Superior Court the final
sentence was pronounced, which has today been
| carried out. The mother and sister OF RUFUS have
never been arraigned for trial, az the evidence did
not seem at all conclusive as to them But they have
since fed, aud what II yet 10 be said will probably
convince every reader that they were participants in
the foul Decd In fact, there Is every reason for sup
posing now that they were the first nstigat0rs, and
| that Rufus was the least guilty OF the three.
Rufus Ludwig was about twenty years old, i've
| feet eight Inches high, weight about one hundred
| and sixty, with fne muscular development and un.
usual strength. ON his trial his department was re.
aud unconcern. lie il said 10 have engaged in swap
ping knives and trnkets with the boys around the
| bar. ne heard me sentence OF death without emo
ton. This has been his uniform demean0r during
| his long Imprisonment. He appeared always to have
secretly cherished hope OF somehow escaping the
penalty OF death. lie exhibited infinite perseverance
and ingenuity In his devices 10 get or JAIL and on
| two occasions came near succeeding before dis
covery.
Not less than four thousand persons were present
at the execution. They were Of every age, sex and
ness The final scene of one whom everybody believed
| ana sun believes q hardened criminal. Immense
perfectly quiet and orderly, but full OF inpatience
| and curiosity. Ludwig was visited by different
ministers Of the gospel for month or more almost
every day. He also seemed TO be pleased to receive
books TO read; but he listened 10 instruction with
much listessness did not seem 70 realize the near
Ht-s anu VI inter-
| rupted the most solemn exhortations with irreie-
want and unimporant remarks, with no ap.
parent intention TO act irreyerently, but from
a want OF genuine interest 10 the subject
or preparing for death. He often alluded to the
subject OF HIS yet being saved from the fatal end,
and appeared incapable TO be convinced of mis- deu.
sion on this point. lie chung 10 life with tenacious
persistency. lie ate and slept well TO the last and
looked In splendid health to-day No care burden
OF remorse seemed 10 weigh on his mind; he was
always cheerful. TO his spiritual advisers he con.
tinued to protest his total ignorance 10 how the
murder took place or by whom committed up 10 the
last two days. Then he changed his statement and
said he himself was innocent but that his mother
and sister had told him the day after the murder that
they had done IL. He had said this before not
even 10 his counsel. but he now reiterated 10 and
went forth to execution with this version OF the
case.
Al hafpast twelve precisely he was led ont Of the