Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-24
THE RAILROAD MURDERER.
Suicide of Gcfge-Let-
ters Written by Him Previous "a
the Attempt.


Correspondence Cincinnati CommerciaLl
MANSFIELD. October IL, 1870.
William Gaige, the railroad murderer
who was sentenced on Monday last L
Imprisonment for life, was taken to th'
penitentiary to-day. He has made two
attempts TO take his life, the first no
known till his letters below revealed it
and the latter last night, when with .
piece Of q broken bottle he tried to sever
the femoral artery in his left thigh. dc
missed by an inch or two, but cut hor
rid, ragged cash, from which there was
considerable hemorrhage.
Before starting for the penitentiary
he sent the following letters to his coun
sci, Messrs. Matson 4 Dirlam, which he
doubtless intended should be found on
his dead body, if his attempt at suicide
succeeded. The package also contained
letter to VIM. Gaige, his father, in New
York, from whom he had, up to the pres
ent time, carefully concealed his trou-
bles. The letter to his father was an
open one, but from motives of delicacy
was sealed and forwarded by Messrs.
Matson 4 Dirlam without examination,
except that it was found to contain sill
yer dollar, doubtless cherished pocket
piece designed for some loved friend or
relative, by whom he desired TO be held
in remembrance
The first letter, dated the llth, was
written Immediately after Mr.. Matson
had made persistent attempt to induce
him (Gaige) TO confess, as to some lower
grade of homicide, so as to tighten his
punishment. The letters are written in
a plain business hand, and indicate at
least ordinary intelligence on the part of
the writer | furnish copies verbatim.
MANSFIELD. October IL, 1870.
"MR. MATsoY-I will thank you to
write to my father VIM Gaige care of p.
Gaige 68l Broadway giving him state
ment of the cause of my arrest.
"When last | see you | stated freely
and truthfully all the facts so far as /
know relating to the R r disaster, that |
had nothing to do with it and what /
stated to you then / here on my death
bed declare the truth God is my witness.
81 have never done anything to dis
honor myself or family; therefore can
not except your advice and make the
plea of homicide, until | am guilty in
fact want my liberty or death take
the inniative that justice shall be secured
from my stand point of reasoning.
please except my thanks for your
kindnes. Farewell. "W. w. GAIGE."
October Is. '7O-Saturday Night.
Il put off the execution of my design
till after trial, to give Sugdon a chance
to tell the truth, which would entirely
exhonerate me, as he knows very well /
did not take the tools out of the house,
carry them to the place of disaster, or
take out the rail, which are specific facts
he swore to, and all of which are false.
Now, / will not live and be punished
for another mans crimes. True, all the
surrounding me point d.
rectly to me as one of the conspirators,
but is also true If could walk would
of been beyond Pittsburg at the time of
the disaster. My great aim was to get
to New York; he would not try to get to
work in Mansfield so tried to starve
him out that | could go on alone. My
errent to the Hotel in this place was to
engage a weeks accommodation til /
could write home for money, before
favorable opportunity offered itself to
speak to the landlord Sugden came in.
| supposed had successfully delivered
myself Of his presence and knowing |
could not billet him on Hotel without
baggage or reasonable excuse, | had to
get rid of him again.
AS | wish to bury all mallace with
all men being but few moments time
between me and the great future, there
fore will not do him personal injury by
stating all the facts that he made me ac-
luainted with on the Monday night prior
to our arrest. ] leave it to his pleasure
10 exhonerate me to my friends and the |
world, thanking God / have the means
10 relieve me of the troubles | have |
struggled to outliye since last spring. |
The attorney said look at his colorless
ace if he could of possibly Of known
he whole truth that instance he would |
nave gone to the floor My candle is
most gone so must hurry to conclu-
non: beg you to write my Brother.
Please except many thanks for the
ervases have received at your hands.
farewell, "GAIGE."
To MATsoN & DIRLAM."
In explanation of the above letter it
nay be added that Gaige professed to
lis counsel to have been in the utmost
ear Of Sugdon all along during their in
imacy, and that every act of his was
Iictated and enforced by Sugdon, who
lad him under care. Sudgon has the
POSITION reversed exactly. The latter
5 certainly the abler-bodied man of the
wo, although the superiority in intelli-
,ence doubtless rests with the former.
)ne circumstance that came out during
'u6dln' 3 examination on the trial would
Indicate that he was certainly aware of
rs physical superiority over 6aige. He
ad stated in his confession to the de-
ectiye that when he heard the train
oming he (Sugdon) started to run, and
hat Gaige caught him. The counsel
sked him if this was true, and if qaige
ED him. He answered HNo, sir.
rather indignantly Gaige couldn't
old mel
Here follows the third and last letter;
"SVSpAY NIGHT,
oval, | disappointed myself last night,
drank the little bottle up in the paper
OK full Of laudanum. Think OF my as
to awake this morning with
~ usual appetite for breakfast. Now,
" last resort is to the knife, and, as l
m reconciled to all things, shall not
estate.
. haze nothing more to add, except !
y confirmation ef Ehat ] have before
i'd.
Again l thank you, and bid you fare
ell. GAisE."
" / have an abiding faith that / will
ION be with my little boy, although he
on earth, which gill compensate me
II all. G."
But all 10 no purpose. The poison
lied, and the knife (broken bottlel
Used is mark; and both Gaige and
lgdon viii live to expiate their crimes
the penitentiary. B. :