The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-15
THE GALLoWS.
Execution of Osborn al Knoxville,
Illinois, for the Murder OF
Mrs. Matthews.
flo Makes a Confession. .


flo Makes a Confession.
Knoxville, March 14.-0sborn, the
murderer Of Mrs. Matthews, was brought
from Galesburg 10 Knoxville about five
o'clock this morning. He was in good
spirits, laughing and jesting all the way
with those who accompanied him. He
took his breakfast with good appetite
and is now dressed and ready for execu-
ton. lie will doubtless be hanged be-
tween twelve and one O'Clock. He has
made full confession Of the crime, which
will be read upon the scafFold. lie ex-
pressed great contrltion, and wished an in
terview with Mr.. Matthews, which was
granted.
SECOND DISPATCH.
KNOXVILLE, Illinois, March l4,-John
W. Osborne, murderer OF Mrs. Adelia
Matthews, was hanged in the jail yard
here at one o'clock today. Previous to
the execution he wrote out full comics
sion of his crime.
THIRD DISPATCH
CINCINNATI, March l4.-The Times
Knoxville special gives tho following ac-
count Of the hanging oI OsbornI in that
place to-day: Osborn was brought here
early this morning, from Galesburg. lie
seemed in good spirits and ate heartily
about II o'clock this morning. He con-
lessed to Mrs. Matthews brother John,
that he killed Mrs. Matthews; says he fol.
lowed her TO the cellar, hit her back ol
the head with brick and left her, return.
ing cut her throat with kniie. He de.
nies that he ravished her but afiirms that
he was hired to kill her. This statement
was written out in full and handed to his
minister for publication.
At one o'clock he was brought on the
scaflold and stated that he had written
out full confession. He made no speech
and showed no fear. When asked II he
was ready, he said: "Ics, sir" promptly,
and stepped willingly on the trap. His
hands and leet were pinioned, the black
cap adjusted, and at precisely one o'clock
and eleven minutes the drop tell and he
was swinging. He fell about five feet
his neck was not broken, and he died by
strangulstion. His struggles were terri
BILE and lasted some time. In thirty min.
utes the body was cut down and lite was
pronounced extinct.
FOURTH DISPATCH.
Later and Fuller Account.
GALEsDuRo, March 14.-John N. Os.
born, who killed Mrs. Adelia Matthews,
at Yates City on the 9th Of last August,
was hanged at ten minutes past one this
afternoon, In tho Jail yard at Knoxville
The circumstances Of the crime were as
follows: Matthews, the husband OF the
deceased, went TO q neighboring farm to
work on tho morning Of the day the
crime was committed, leaving his wife
alone. On returning at sundoWn, he
found her dead in tho cellar, with her
throat cut, and severe injuries on the
head. There was great excitement, and
search in which many Joined; sus.
picion coon fell on Osborn, who had been
discharged from the employ OF Matthews
two or three days before the murder.
He was arrested on the following day
while himself assisting in the search, the
proof against him consisted In finding
money taken on the day Of the murder
from Mathews house, the fitting oi his
boots to the tracks to and from tue house,
tho finding Of his knife rusted with blood,
bloodstains on his shirt and unguarded
language at the time Of his arrest. Several
other Irifiug points were made by the
prosecution, some Of W hiCh were success.
| fully rebutied. The prisoner was tried
in Galesburg on account Of the public
indignation in Knoxville, which Is
nearer to the scene OF the crime.
The Jury condemned him unanimously,
and no sympathy for him was felt by the
public. He was confined In the Gala.
boose at Galesburg until the execution ol
his sentence His language and manners
were generally rude and coarse, and he
delighted in lascivious conversation. He
persisted. with great eftontry In denying
The crime 10 everyone who questioned
him. As the time Of his death drew very
near, he began 10 soften, and his lawyer,
Mr. Kretzonger, and his spiritual adviser,
entreated him to confess. Some days
ago he prepared statement oI some
OF tho particulars OF his early
life, which conveyed tho impression
that he had served term In the Iowa
pcnitcutiary Tor larceny, and belonged to
band OF robbers which had its rami-
licatnus throughout the western States.
The paper also accused Mrs. Mathews Of
maintaining unknown to her husband a
secret correspondence with one Clark
living iu Morrison, Illinois. Several clergy.
men, were with Osborn yesterday, and
last night at late hour, 1t was voiced
about that he had made confession, but
the facts were not given publicity during
the night. lie was taken from this place
to Knoxville, telling stories all the way to
those who accompanied him. At the jail he
ate hearty breakfast, and was dressed
and shaved. This forenoon his CONVEX
sslion was taken in detail, and at o'clock
he was taken to the scatlOld In the Jail
ward. His manner was cool and col
Iec,ed; he smiled even 10 the moment
when he stood on the fatal drop. His
neck was not broken by tho fall, and he
died with most terrible and agonizlng
contnrtions The drop fell at ten min
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