The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-06
THE MURDERER GOADED TO MADNESS.
lie PrOcures a Butchers Cleayer and Horribly
Mangles Her Head and Hands.
THE CORONER'S VERDICT.
The Act Partially Justified by the
Wouaan's Alleged Guilt.
BALTIMORE, May S, 1872.

the record Of justice and blurred the face OF society
In this community. In the silent hours OF last night
q crime was committed in the eastern section OF
this city which, for ghasness and brutality, stands
almost alone. young married woman aged about
twenty three, OF handsome and commanding ap-
pearancc and most engaging manners was
LITERALLY HACKED TO PIECES
in the bed where she sought rest and protection by
her husbands side. With no eye save that OF his
Maker to see him John W. b. Wilkinson, rcspecta-
bic man, residing at No. 9S McElderry street, in
nicted at least twenty horrible wounds upon his
wifes head and person with butchers cleaver,
almost any one Of which would have pro-
duced instant death, and then fed from the
house. No time was allowed for prepara-
ton not moment for remonstrance. The poor,
unfortunate creature was sent to her last account
before she could utter one cry stay the hand Of
the assassin. Her mother and her little daughter,
who slept in the next room, were not even aroused
by the sounds of strife, and not until this morn
ing did they discover the rightful crime that had
been committed so near and the rreparabe loss
which had OvertaKen them.
DISCOVERY OF THE HORRIBLE TRUTH
At an early hour Mrs. Clark the mother OF Emma
Laura Wilkinson, surprised ut her daughters tardi-
ness in coming down stairs visited her room, which
was on the second story front, and only separated
from her own by a narrow passage. There sight
was presented well calculated to curdle the blood
In her veins. Her daughter Mrs. Wilkinson, lay on
her back in bed, with two frightful gashes ON tho
left side OF her face and he al, several the oppO
site side her throat cut from to ear her hands
hacked to ribbons. The bed saturated with
her blood and the cleaver found under the sheets
covered with blood and feathers.
KISSING THE MANGIED FACE.
Mrs. Clark is very near-sighted and at first sup
posed her daughter asleep and kissed her, but was
IrAnA rrttx ivnIh xv thu ~
blood and all the other indications of the tragedy.
The HERALDs writer visited the scene OF the homi.
| eide this morning and Cleaned the following par.
/ tcuars -
THE DOMESTIC RECORD.
| John b. Wilkinson, the murderer, a wood-turner,
! by trade, and q fne-ooking man. married
| Emma Laura Clark, the victim, and the
| daughter OF the late Benjamin j. Clark,
very well known and highly esteemed citizen
of East Baltimore, 1--we years ago last February
The deceased was a remarkably handsome and en-
gaging lady, and very much admired. About year
ago last December the wife murderer was taken
sick with the dr0psy, from which sickness he has
never entirely recovered and which led to dis
of the eyes that has very seriously impaired
his sight. He enabled, however to distinguish
objects readily with one eye, and was by means
totally blind, as has been alleged by many to-day.
NATURALLY OF A JEALOUS DISPOSITION
until it developed into a morbid passion. wilkin-
son was possessed OF some means, which he had
made over to his wife since his sickness, and ap-
pears to have RENTED her the entire control OF
his affairs. Among his other property was a
horse and wagon he kept for huckstering pur-
poses The wagon was driven by a man named
Griswold rather goodlooking fellow, who had
been employed by Wilkinson since his sickness, and
who shared In the profits OF the business.
HER INTIMACY WITH GRISWOLD.
Griswold from the nature OF his business, was
compelled to visit the house OF Wilkinson every day.
An intimacy grew up between the former and Will
kinsons wife which was OF nature to attract the
attention OF persons living in the neighborhood.
There was no evidence, however before the Cor
oners jury to show that the intimacy had been Of
improper ana av the S members Of tho
cause for JEALOUSY or dlstrust. wilkinson, since
his sickness, had become very moody and de-
spondent, and on several occasions had threatened
his wife, and endeavOred to extort promise from
her not to marry again In case Of his death, which
she invariably refused to give. Beyond this, as far
as the family could observe, the relations OF the
parties were perfectly amicable,
THE MURDBRERs PRECAUTIONS.
Wilkinson on saturday hight told hts mother-in-
law, Mrs Clark, that ne had been very thirsty the
night before, and that II he went down to get a
drink of water during the night she must not be
alarmed. About eleven O'Clock, after the house
closed he went down stairs, as Mrs. Clark sup
posed, to get some water, but probably to obtain,
the cleaver, which had formerly belonged to her
ar rs Which was IN s sma cupboard
or disturbance afterwards and the superstition is
that he waited until the inmates were wrapped in
profound sumber and his wife was sleeping peace
fully by his side, and then with
THE DEvIIIsH MALIGNIrY AND CRAFTINEss
result fiom a diseased Imagination, inflicted the.
CHASTITY wounds through which passed awayi
that young life he had sworn to cherish
been fatal, from the fact that there was'
no outcry, though the hands OF his victim were
thrown up to ward of the instrument of death, as
Is evident from the number of wounds upon them.'
HIS ARREST AND CONFESSION
He ran from the room and betook himself.to tho
house of his mother, on Gay street, where he was
arrested this morning by oficer Barton. lie had
already told his family that ne Killed his we ana nae
killed his wife, and when asked how he did u told
him to find out. His statement OF MS having taken
poison Is to some extent c0rrob0rated, as cup
containing q sediment OF arsenic was found on tho
mantel In the diningroom at his house ana na
vOmited freely during the night. lie was perfectly
well TODAY however and smoked his pipe with tho
utmost nonchalance Griswold was arrested on
noon there being no evidence to connect him with
the crime, and the prisoners own statement re-
leyng him from all suspicion.
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST AND VERDICT
Coroncr's Jury was empaneileed tins morning morning
was developed beyond what have already stated,
but the verdict OF the jury Is probably the most re-
tna,iaed 10 s sanity and there was no evidence
TO show that there had been any improper intimacY
between Grswc!d or any other person and Mrss
wilkinson to give rise to such ideas In the diseased
Imagination OF the murderer, and yet they came to
the following conclusion
THAT Emma Laura wilkinson came to her death
by blows with cleaver inflicted by the hand OF
her husband, John wilkinson superinduced by
Jealousy, caused by the intimacy between his wife,
Emma l. Wilkinson, and William Grswold, thereby
causing partial arrangement In the mind OF john
Wilkinson when the fatal deed was perpetrated.n !,
THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY
has caused profound sensation In the eastern
section OF the city, and crowds have thronged tho
house and sidewalks during the day most mel
anchoy feature OF the affair is that the daughter
OF the murdered woman beautiful little child about
three years old, was sleeping within few yards of
mother In .rs,n.