The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-26
Double Execution In WOrces-
a ter, Mass.
Two Cousins Hanged for Murder, Rob
s1r b berry and Arson.
History Of the Crime and the
adl o.i Criminals.
9 me Seems on the ScaffOld and the Dying
~ Speech Of the Condemned,
WORCESTER, Mass, Sept. 2


The terrOrs of the scafrold and the stubborn fact
that .murder WITH outn have been fully and clearly
realized In this city to-day by Silas James and
Charles T. James. Rarely, II ever, has justice SO
speedily overtaken Its Offenders as In the case Of
the two unfortunate wretches who were swung
from the scanold here this forenoon. 1t is only six
short months ago since they breahed the air OF free
0om and far as the courts had ever decided they
were gutless OF the most trivial offence During this
brief interval they have been convicted of robbery,
arson and murder, and to-day they have suffered
that extreme penalty which it is within human
power to iniict. Their transgression OF the laws
was one attended with few circumstances likely
to create sympathy in their behalf, and their
unfortunate and dsgraceful end will be APP
piauded rather than lamented, except per.
haps by few immediate relatives and friends.
The murder was so atroctous in every detail and the
incidents Of the discovery OF the perpetrators
20 singular that an account OF the whole tragedy
will not be out OF place in connection with
Hative OF the expiation Of their crime on the gal
lows
xHE MURDER, THE MURDERERs AND THEIR VICTIM.
The tragedy, as before intimated, was one which
aroused the indignation Of the whole community,
and when the murderers were arrested there was an
involuntary desire on the part Of the people here
abOuts to take the matter Of punishment into their
Ozark. individual well known to the sporting fra
ternity of New England, and not entirely unknown
among that class in New York, Philadelphia, Wash
mgtOn and some Of the Western cities. In Boston
ne was as popular as any OF the local 'sportsn Of
she HUB and II there Is any degree OF honor at
sached to the memory OF professional gambler his
memory will not be lightly cherished his sad fate
pass unmourned by those who used to mingle
with him in games of chance. He had for some
two or three years previous to his death
maintained what Is popularity termed a gambling
hell" here in the city Of Worcester. His place was,
IN fact, the only gambling saloon Of any amount
which existed in the city. Like all propretOrs OF
such resorts Clark generally got the best Of those
who patronized his place, and he was therefore sell
dom, If ever, found without an abundance OF ready
funds At heart however, he was not deemed bad
man. His sympathy was easily aroused, and he
could not bear to witness human suffering when 1t
was In his power to alleviate it, He had time and
time again loaned money to the Jameses, and had
otherwise befriended them when all their other
acquaintances had turned them away penness.
One OF the murderers when arrested in undertaking
20 assert his innocence asked the officer II he was
fool enough TO believe that he would kill Joe Clark.
the best friend he ever had In the world. That por-
hon OF the golden rule, however, where it
says "Do unto others as you would" &C., seems
pies OF Sllas and Charles James. Their ambi-
bttion was to accumulate sudden wealth.
Murder, robbery and arson and then q
hasty flight to distant part OF the country
were their plans, and Joe Clark was selected
@ snea yG ,bs xed aOe up @
evening OF the 21th OF February last to consum-
mate their murderous design. They accordingly
visited Ciark's rooms In the Union block that even
ing; but the presence of other visitors frustrated
their operations and among those other visitors
xhnQaa fhn
its discovery appears below. The next evening-the
2sth-the Jameses repeated their visit. and finding
three blows with the sharp edge OF Ratchet which he
brought with him Charles James soon split open the
head OF his friend Clark and laid him bleeding
door and commenced rining his body taking some
$4,000 In money, gold watch and diamond pin. To
complete their tragical work they then tied a rope
round the neck OF their lifeless victim, and after
drawing 1t tightly for the purpose or preventing q
nom the too of high bedpost Having done all this
they sought to cover up all traces Of their crime 10y
sairating the bed and body with Kerosene and then
setting the whole on fire, hoping. OF course that the
whole building and It's contents would be burned
down. and that the popular impression would be
shat Clark persisted In the flames.
now CLARK's MISTRESS DISCOVERED THE CRIME AND
THE PERPETRATORS.
Clark, the victim OF the foul conspiracy, like all
eminent professionals of his sort Kept q mistress.
She was young woman, possibly not more than
twenty years OF age, and possessed rare personal
attractions, and her appearance In public
not such as to Indicate that she was one of
the many 'falen doves' which float around
ungy or In larger or smaller nocks In every
community Of respectable numbers. She was mar
ricd when young and innocent, and falling q victim
70 she ,epler sae was pro Se os hep
OF Clark. Her associations with him, together with
an account OF her discovery OF the murder, are In
teresting told by herself In the presence Of the
HERALDs reporter. The same facts, although more
IN detail were given by her as evidence upon the
trial and probably had more weight than any other
testimony toward securing the conviction OF the
fortunate wretches who have today given up their
hves upon the scaod In aionement Ior Their crime.
m conversation upon his pending fate declared that
n 1t had not been for that Eaton woman they would
have got OF with state Prison for NE The follow
tag the story OF Mrs. Eaton. told IN her own way,
IN response TO questions and carefully noted by
your reporter-f was formerly called Mrs. Eaton and
am generally known by that name now, having
once been married TO a man by that name; At the
time OF the murder boarded at my mothers house,
which was about five minutes walk from Clark's
rooms; folks called II that; lived with clark as MS
mistress, and such relation had existed about two
years; was somewhat acquainted with "General"
(SIas James, one Of the prisoners. but was not ac
quainted with Chas r. James; saw General James at
Cark's two evenings before nc was killed. and
Charles was with him; was in the bedroom where
Mr.. Clark and slept; think the.two JaIeses went
out about eleven O'Clock; General James was shaking
props and Charles was playing cards; was there
all the evening; John Gage, man named sarord
and another man were there; heard General James
ask Mr.. Clark, what has become OF that Old girl OF
yoursr Mr.. Clark said 81 have shook her
sG;r james said he would like to know where she
lived, rs he always wanted to get acquainted win
her; don't think either of the Jameses saw me; on
Thursday afternoon, the day before the murder.
saw the prisoners IN the large room where the faro
bank was; was in the small room: when the first
one came In Clark aud me were sitting near the
stove, and ! went into the bedroom the General
asked Clark what he had done with that girl; Clark
said "What grl2" and the General said that girl
you lust got rid OFF, Clark wanted to bet that he
had not done anything with a woman and the
General said, las you are so willing to bet guess
won't bet;" Mr.. Clark took tea with me at mothers
FIRST and I followed soon after and went
to his rooms, arriving there at a quarter be-
fore seven O'Clock; the door was locked
and could not get in; usually could get In at the
outside door with my key; when found could not
get In rung the bell and asked the reason Why's
said, 'Josey open the door and let me In; what
you keeping me out here forfo received no reply
80 rang the bell good many times; said II he
had any one In there he did not want me TO see
would 20 into the small room and stay and not say
word; did not get any answer and said would go
90 my room and come back IN half an hour and II
could not get in then would break the door IN;
,Inos.. inanL 4 GtaIll