Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-01-11
A Murderer Hung.

John Ware, who was hung in New
Jersey, for the murder of his father,
seems to have possessed many brutal
attributes. The execution created no
small excitement, owing to the celebrity
bestowed on the murderer by the local
journals, and the fact that he had hung,
Mahomet-like, between life and death
in the argumentative coffin Of law for
months past. Adjudged to die at last by
the final mandate of justice, he died to-
day, fearing nothing, admitting moth
ing, defying every thing, blasphemous
wretch, cursing at the verge of eternity.
The story of the murder is thus told by
newspaper correspondent: Near the
village Of Long-a-Coming, lived the
Ware family. The old man, John A.
Ware, his wife, his son and murderer,
John Ware, and his daughter, Patience
Ware. The family was not especially
distinguished for advanced intelligence
or elevated character. The folks in the
vicinity and neighbols used to say that
the old man used to beat the old woman
and the old womanr etrrn the compli-
ment, both being drunk at such time,
and the only decent one of the lot was
the daughter Patience Ware, married to
a decent man named George Williamson.
The son John Ware, was logged, ignor-
ant, and brutal. The smallest trace OF
refinement was wanting in him, and he
was noted for his desp;cable animal pro-
pensities and passions. His mind was
always bent on something low and in
human, and his actions the natural re-
suit of whatever little of mind he had left
himself were OF similar character
Patience Ware, the daughter, and hel
husband George Williamson, were liv-
ing with the old man at his residence,
near Long-a-Coming. On the 10th Of
August, 1870, John Ware, the murderer,
had quarrel with bis brother-in-law.
He slapped his sister in the face, and
the brother-in-law interfered. William
son went out of the place and up the
Cross Keys Road. There was an old
gun, broken-down musbet, standing in
one corner of the kitchen. John Ware
caught it up, and fired at his brother-in
law. The shot missed, and John went
on his way. He passed by the elder
Ware, the latter going toward the house.
As he passed he said to him "John is
frantic, and fred at me Just now," and
the old man Ware said "He's damn
ed scoundrel." Williamson went on,
and in five minutes heard a shot. He
could see nothing, but his heart told
him there had been murder. He went
back and found that John Ware had
brutally murdered his father.
In the Ware residence there lived also
woman named Mary Ann Champion OF
White. She was the housekeeper, and
her character was none of the best. She
was looking out Of second-story win
dow. She saw the old man Ware coming
along in the middle of the road and reach
the house. John Ware was IN the front
yard, the gun in his hand. The old
man called out, "Go into the house,
John, and put up the gun" Ware made
no reply, except to level the gun and
aim it at the father. The old man said,
"You wouldn't shoot your old father,
John" "Give me some money quick, "
replied the son. The old man laughed,
and said that when the son should have
finished chopping wood he would pay
him. John Ware then said "You =
old grey-haired - of a -, III shoot
you," and leaning the gun on post. fir
ed it. The buckshot entered old Wares
brain, and he fell dead. The parricide
rifed his pockets of $3.50 and fed away,
The alarm was spread and officers put
upon the track of Ware. That night he
was seen in store at Glendale, and
from there traced to Camden. Just as he
was entering the ferry-boat at Camden
for Philadelphia he was arrested. On
his person was found 500 in currency,
$40 in bills. and S. counterfeit note.