Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-01
THE HOUSEN MURDER.
Mrs. Geraldine Housen Intervene.

Mrs. Geraldine HOusen Interviewed.
Our readers, gen araly y, may not be aware
of the fact that for some time past, Mrs.
Geraldine HouseI., Jerry Stkoes, Wilkes
Barnes and Dick Nolan (the three last
named being colored men), have occupied
cells in the county Jail, where they are con-
fined on the charge of being connected
with the murder of old Mrs. Housen,
the circumstances of which murder,
and of the preliminary trial before board
of magistrates last spring, are doubtless
fresh in their minds. As will be remem-
bered, the above named parties were &C
quilted, but they have since been re. arrested,
and will be brought up for trial before the
Criminal Court, which meets inSeptember.
Wedn sdav, a repre- sentative of this psper
called upon Mrs. Housen in her cell, when
the following conversation ensued:
Il have called to Gee how you are getting
along, Mrs. Housen, and to learn whether
you are comfortably fixed, said the reporter.
swell, get along well enough now. 1
have been sick-had a slight
ATTACK OF CHOLERA,
but I've got over that all right" replied
Mrs. Housen.
"You get plenty to eat. of course?"
eyes, but I'd like to have something bet
ter than the fare they have here"
SHOW long have you been here?'
"Nine weeks next Monday night"
"They allow your husband and friends to
come and see you, SUPPOSE"
"My husband don,t. never come, l hsin,J
seen him since I was brought here. Nv
mother and father and brothers and sisters
come snd see me, though My husband
ACTS MIGHTY STRANGE.
expect he's the one that put mo in hera.
he sWore the day his mother was killed
that be wasn't goin' to be governed by
women any longer and tina. he'd get rid of
both of us, and | reckon he fixed this
thing up to get clesr of me. 1t nearly
grieves me to death to be treated this way.
He always treated me like dog, and was
q fool to stay with him, but then you see
was married to him, and | thought I'd stay
and put up with him. he often
THREATENED MY LIFE,
and didn't make anything of thTeatenin' to
break my necK."
"Can you read?"
eyes, but don't have nothin' to read
but the Testament; L don't care 10 read
much now, 1 am troubled SO. Ny Sister
brought me some sewing but I've finished
that up and sent it home last week. I'm
doin' some knittin' now; 1 like to
knit and if live, 'spose I'll want some
stockin's when I get out, and if l don't
live, wby-its mighty hard to be treated
the way l am. I'm Just as clear Of that
murder as you are, and l think it's mighty
hard to be imposed upon in this way, just
because
I'm A POOR, HELPLESS WOMAN.
1 gave my husband all the money l had in
the world, Just before l was brought here,
and have sent out word to him lots O
tunes that wish he'd please send it to me.
You see l need it here to buy things. I'd
like to buy some yam to keep me in knittin,'
and then have to buy my own candles. I
keep a candle Lit all night; 1 can't bear
to be here alone in the dark.
When l first come l walked up and
down the cell night and day. l believe
GOD ALMIGHTY WILL BRING Me OUT.
He knows what they accuse me of, and
that Pm as innocent rs the angels is, and |
pray to Him toprotect me-"
"You are not allowed much furniture"
"No, my sister brought me lounge and
my rockin' chair but they wouldn't let me
udNC GLls lldI . O3IC lCdSOh why L wan
so much, have no chair, and not even
box to set down Oh. When my friends
come to see me, tske the pillow off my
bed, and set down en- it By the door and
talk to them through the bars. Mr.. Simp-
son-that's my brother in-law, he brought
me a lookin' glass, but / told him l didn't
have no use for that"
"Your trial will take place in Ssptem-
Der | believe? p
eyes, that's what they tell me-about
the lst of September"
HOW SHE LOOKS.
Mrs. Housen bears her confinement re.
msrkably well. She is pale, but seems to
be in very good health, and talks freely
about her case. She occup es a cell on The
upper floor, ard at the time of our report
e-'s visit, was busily engaged in knitting.
A comfortable, clean-looking bed occupies
The left hand corner near the entrance, and
near it hangs small looking glass.
On the opposite side of the room were
hung a few dresses, and half dozen dishes
we're to be seen on the window sill, the
articles mentioned, being all the room con-
aimed.
1t is to be hoped that this unfortunate
woman may be brought to trial at an early
lay, when her guilt or innoce nee may be
llly established.