The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-23
4 Strange Story Of an Awful Trag.
edy in the Monumental City.
MRS. NARY ANN LAMPLEYS "TAKING OFF,"
no Arrest, Trial and Conviction Of Two Desper-
ate Scoundrels-Confession Of the Princf-
Patio Be Hanged by the Neck.

IL.
and Joshua Nicholson, white, and James West and
were indicted and convicted together for the muir.
der OF an aged woman, Mrs. Mary Ann Lampley,
the % OF January. 1878, under circumstances OF
peculiar atrocity. West, an ignorant negro, was
convicted for the murder Of his paramour on the
18th OF March last and Palmer for the outrage with
. confederate who has already been executed, OF
y German girl some two years ago. The Lampley
MurdeTers, they are generally known here,
HOllOhan and Nicholson, have fed the popular
taste for sensation in Baltimore for the
last six months, and have managed during
shat time to keep themselves constantly before the
public, by some new and startling scene in the
drama OF the discovery OF their crime, enacted
almost every day. Their case is a remarkable one,
IN that 1t goes to show what q complete chain OF
the most damning circumstances may be woven
from the slightest threads. On the night of the I'd
OF January. 1873, about seven O'Clock MI John
Lampley left his wife. Mrs. Mary Ann Lampley, aged
seventy years, at her house, in the eastern portion
81 Baltimore. in apparently excellent health. He
proceeded to his stepdaughter's, Mrs. John Eng
lish, and, together with her and her husband, and
. child. proceeded to Ford's Opera House, where
they saw JEFFERSON play "Trip Van Winkle." Re-
turning home about eleven O'Clock, Mr.. Lampley
found his house broken open and robbed of some
wife lying on the floor dead. The doctors could
not tell for while whether she had been murdered
or not; but, presently, finding some slight abra-
sions about the neck concluded that she had been.
Near where the murdered woman lay stood q table
with bundle Of cakes and pies upon it, bottle Of
WINE, and wine glass with little wine in it. For
Sour weeks no clue could be found to the murder
ers, though the police proclaimed constantly that
they were
"wORKING IT UP.o
wOman's wit, 1t appears, detected the crimi-
mails Mrs. John English the daughter OF the de-
ceased Mrs. Lampley, had daughter, who had
married worthless vagabond named Joshua
Nicholson. Mrs. English knew this Nicholson to be
, skilled reprobate, and, in short, had very
great opinion OF him altogether, which, it appears
Nicholson returned with interest. Mrs. English
Kept her eye on NicnolsOn to use her own express
sion, but could find no clue till she remembered
one thing, which was that Nicholson's children
liked sweet things, and one Of them liked cake and
the other liked pie, and in the bundle found on
1he table near the murdered woman were con-
tanned equal portions Of cake and pie, and evil
IDENTITY, as it occurred to Mrs. English wrapped up
by Mrs. Lampley to be sent to Ncholson's Children
Of whom she was known TO be very fond. This
seemed to point strongly to Nlcholson's
presence there that night, especially as he
could not account for himself chisel was
also found which was identified by deaf mute as
belonging to Thomas Hollohan, an associate OF
Nicholson. Holohan, on being questioned &C.
knOwledged that he had been in Nicholson's CON-
pany that night, and, like Nicholson, could not
count for himself between the hours OF halcpast
seven and nine O'Clock, when it was shown the
murder Must have taken place. Both Of them
were thrown into the watch house on suspici6n,
and confined In separate cells. On
~ THE NIGHT OF THE ARREST
Nicholson, who is treacherous and chicken
hearted fellow moved by the fear that Hollohan
would turn States evidence, anticipated his con-
federate by making a clean breast OF the whole
affair fondly hoping that on the trial he would be
allowed to turn States evidence. The case came
up at the May term OF the Criminal Cou.s or Anne
Arundel eogs.sy, At Annapolis, whittier il was re.
moved where Mrs. Wharton was tried),
Just before the announcement OF the verdict OF the
Jury most extraordinary scene occurred IN court.
mynS informed By his
ney Whyte, that no hope existed of his acquittal
eat for while in the box with his confederate
Nicholson, perfectly calm and apparently uncon-
cerned. Al preconcerted signal, however, Hollo-
han and Nicholson both sprung ike shot from
and Holohan for the window in front OF him and
beyond the Jury. Hoohan, who Is a powerful man,
made terrible leap, but failed to clear the raining
and as he came down upon the bar he lunged
forward quickly and struck overland at Marshal OF
Police Frey, sitting just in front of him. and brought
down with fearful force upon the Marshas unprO-
tected head Misunderstanding slung shot, yelling
like wild beast as he did so, Take that, you
damned perjurer" For a moment not a man in
the crowded court room stirred everybody
seemed transnxed youthful reporter, sitting
near the Marshal, broke the silence with q
Hammond put on his spectacles and Judge Miller
Gnocked the ashes from his pipe, and one OF the
kicked the air until ne was AIKEN down and put to
bed. Meanwhile Hoohan had been
and Nicholson secured. nolIohan Afterwards said
that he had been inspired to make this despe-
rate attempt to escape by reading about the
A0d0cs. Hollohan was at once sentenced. An
exception was filed in Nichosons case and carried
before the Court OF Appeals, who, however sus-
tanned the action OF the minor Court, and accord
lngly Governor Whyte sentenced both OF the men
10 be hanged IN Baltimore city on the first day OF
August Hollohan Is Ave feet ten inches In height
OF powerful build; has a strong, resolute face,
with rather iorbidding PAIR OF brown eyes,
and and wavy brown nalr He is thirty years old, was
man. worked upon farm. When the war broke
out he Joined Company OF the 18th infantry. Cap
fought all through the war winning a sergeant's
STRIPES for his galantry, aud obtaining an honor
Buli Run Bristow, chantiIIy. south Mcuntaip a.
Blackburn Farm, Sbepherdstown and Shar psburg.
HIS right name is not Hollohan, and will not men
t,on ms true name, as ne has particularly requested
that II be not published IN the HERALD as said he,
THAT GOES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
family to know it, Hollohan was I'm troubled
before. In the year 1868 he was sentenced TO five
years In the penitentary for breaking into an ola
mar mouse IN Prince George county Nd. He was
subsequently pardoned out by Governor Bowie,
Ahu sui declares his innocence OF any intent to
TOD or lnJure the Old man. Nicholson, the weaker,
but evidently the trickier man Of the two il the
son o. BAKER IN Baltimore. He has never borne
very cAceHent reputation, and is now twenty
SIX years OF age. lie entered the First MARYLAND
Potomac brigade as drummer IN 1864 and was
nonosaDiy discharged. Eight years ago lie married
the daugnter OF mrs. English and the grand
daughter OF the murdered woman, Mrs. sampley.
He left his wife and children, as he SAYS. because
OF the interference OF his mother.ln-law q year or
20 ago, Dut he returned to them last Fail he
would ADVISE every young man TO have as little 10
30 with mothe law as possible Since mis- SEN
tence Hou0han has also made confession He
pad that Nicholson first proposed 'thc iobn 10
MIN, saying that they would "croak the old
woman He demurTed to the .'cr0aklngi at first
but finally consented. He then describes
M On