Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-17
Case Of William Jackson.
| Erom the WASHINGTON Chronicle.

Nearly eighteen months ago colored man,
named William Jackson, living in the house ar
the junction Of the Columbia turnpike, near
the brick yards aud a short distance from the
Long bridge, came home late one evening, and
finding that the woman with whom he was Nv.
ing Clearing the name Of Mary Jackson) had
not strictly obcyed his commands, picked up
bludreon and struck her several heavy blows
upon the head, fracturing her skull and de-
pressing the bone SO much that she died on the
following morning 10th of February, 1872
A most. norton examination was made by Dr.
Gibson, and he found that the cause OF her
death was as stated Jackson Was arrested tor
the aledrcd crime on The day after her death,
and committed to the Alexandria jail At his
trial, in November of the same year, ne was
convicted Of the crime OF murder, and ScuI enccd
to be hung on the 18th of March, 1873 The
sentence was STAYED off until the Court of APP
peals could he heard from regarding u new trial.
This was refused aud he was re-senteuced 10
May to be hung on Friday last.
4 respite has been obtained from Governor
Walker until the lst Of August next, and thus
the doomed .uan is yet awaiting the dread ell
torcement of the seuteauc of the law. Inc
| trial of Jackson was one of unusual interest,
and he was convicted mainly on the evidence OF
Diana Peterson, an old coIorcd woman, Lucy
johnson, known as "urookei- Mouth Lucy,
| and the committing magistrate, Cornelius
| Young. The latter named gentleman, no" de-
| ceased, was found dead 10 his bed some mouths
| siuce, while the dead body OF Lucy johnson
| was 90 Monday morning last found 10 the canal
| near the scene of the murder She was said to
have been harmless, iuofcnslve creature,
| but addicted TO stroug drink.
Mary jackson, at the time Of the murder,
LIZ. r. IL h,,.
birth to child few days before. The eyi.
dence was point bauk that Jackson committed
| the MURDER and yet he has persistently denied
| that he struck or IN any manner maltreatcd
her. The sudden and strange deaths of two
| Of the principal witnesses have thrown an air
| OF mystery around the crime, aud it Is bellev-
| ed by many that jackson will not be hung.
| The respite that be has received would appear
| to give credenre to this belief, though the Gov
ernor, in reSpiting the prisoner states that he
| does so in order that he can carefully look over
| the papers in the case jackson was ably de-
| Tended during the trial, and appears to have
mauy friends.
STORY OF THE DEATH or HIS WIFE
ALEXANDRIA, VA, July ), 1873.
Last year, in February, 1872, was arrested
and accused of being the murderer of my wife
ID
rent the house from. She aud my wife both
| lived under the same roof together, and this
! old woman grand daughter, by the name Of
| Eva RubersoD, and they Dcver could live agree
able ! have seen the day when had to stand
between Eva and this old woman and my wife.
| Eva with hot bucket of water, and my wife
with piece OF iron 10 her hand to defend her
self from the two aud told my wife to go in
| the room to herself and she went, and those
parties kept talking aud exposing her
name SO that she came back again.
and she said she would either fight or they
would have to let her name alone. Mr.. Cold
men and were remaining by the stove, and
when the riot rose again he got up and
went and stood in the door, as if he was going
home, and | went to my wife aud took her
TO carry her back in the room, and Mr. Cold
mon stood iu the door aud shook his head
as if it Was not right that | should carry her
back, because they were III the fault and she
was not And theu let her alone. She was very
much 10 her own way, and | did not want
her hurt, because she was III no state to be
pulled and hauled about by any one, because
she was 10 delicate state OF health; and thcn
| said to my wife, that they live so disagrccablc
here had better move her away. Aud she
said no. that she was not afraid of them hurt
ing her, and she said she didn't wish to move
unll she was confined, and when she got 50
that she could go again she would be ready to
move Mr.. Colduon could testify to that. In
few days afterward my wife was contned-on
Sunday morning at Q clock-and then L had
to call this same old lady to wait on her. She
came and remained with her until the baby
was born. She was not in labor more than
half an hour before the baby was born. Soon
after she gave my wife glass OF gin and wa
ter. told her not to give her that strong
drink, because it was very seldom that she
drank anything strong [ always made toddy
for her out of something Of that kind. But
she would give it to her, and about fifteen
minutes after that she was drunk, and while
she was under the Influence Of the liquor she
was not able TO take care OF the child the whole
day out, and then from that fell into spasm
the same Sunday, and still remained home
until Thursday, the next week, and | asked
my wife if she could spare me to 90 togwork.
She said yes, William, can, fyou think that
the old Aunty will wait on me while you, are
gone. And then | said to her, that | had an
idea Of getting some one else to walt onyou.
And she said to me, William, | don't think
that will do because she Is right here III the
house with me, and then she asked me to call
the old woman and ask her would she wait on
her, ana SDe Salu sue Wouiu, duu CouIu 81 "
my work just the same as had. Friday morn
lug l goes TO my work, and at - O'Clock
| came home again to see how she was,
and she was about the same, and |
goes to my work again, and at night
came home again and found her bout the
same. was working about mile and a half
from home and sat up all night with nay wife
until Saturday morning, when went to my
work again Ga Saturday evening came home
and my wife told me that the old woman had
been gone all day, and was still absent; and then
she said that 90 one had been 10 her room that
day, not even to give her drink Of water or
cup of tea TWAS about o clock 10 the even
ing when | reached home, and the girl that
lives With the old woman was 10 the adjoining
room, and she would not even 90 10 to give
her drink Of water-these are the parties who
swore my life away. Near hight Of the same
Saturday this old woman came home again ,aDd
during her stay she did not come in to see lhcr
again, as if there was no one in there. | satup
ali that nipht alone until Sunday morning, and