Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-24
THE GOss MURDER.
The Remains Of tbs Victim Edenti-
fied-Furfher Interesting Develop

tcE. SuuSylVSul1, 10 the IDliSuSlpIi% Iete'
graph, under date Of the 10Th inst, says
Never has Cas- been known to create
IS much excitement ss the murder Of Mr.
Co.'S IN this county. Why cill the muir.
dered man Mr.. Goss will be seen from the
following facts just obtained from G. H.
Pennypacker, counsel for the Mutual Life
Insurance Company Of New York, and
question If there mas ever been murder
committed in which the plot was so dark
and deeply laid and so cody carried out.
This man who was in company with y m.
E. Undertook, and afterwards known as
the murdered stranger, was Winfield Scott
Goss; they came from Philadelphia TO West
Grove, and from there they walked to Jen-
nersville. Undertook end his companion
declined to converse with any enc as far rs
possible, and were restless and anxious to
keep out of the way and sight Of every body.
While Undertook went to PeDDingtCnVilIe
his companion remained at the hotel, ard,
When addressed by the parties declined 10
converse or even answer any question, az d
seemed irdiSposed. His fine appearance
and great muscular 6evelt pment was IL e
subject OF much comLheIlt. This man, in
company with Undertook, left the hotel be-
tween and 7 O'Clock p. NJ, on July ], the
night of the murder. He is from there trac d
10 within short distance of the woods in
viii the body was found.
From a general summary of all the evil
dence, which it would be improper to pub
lish at this time, there is no d0ub. that tbs
victim was Mr.. Goss, and the murderer
William Z. UdGerzook. The ground for the
murder and the manner of its execution
was carefully laid, and thoroughly consid-
cred by Undertook before he reached the
woods. The instrument used was dag
ger or dirk. The ring, shirt, shoes, etc, are
in keeping of Deputy Coroner Rambo, and
will be carefully preserve =.
w. S. GOss was born in Tennessee, four
miles from Nashville, and at the time of his
insurance be was engsce ed in the mspufac-
ture of soI kind of hard rub5er.
Undertook was partner with him, and
hal borrowed 500 from his mother, be
was also interested in the successful ter
mination Of the Cess suit, and so expressed
himself. Il is supposed that Gos., after his
disappearance from Baltimore, went to
Kentucky or Tennessee, and only within a
few weeks returned TO the scene of bis
swind ing operations, to meet his death at
the hands Of the man whom he cons idered
bis best and only friend.
Newspaper men and detectives are very
plenty here now, and great revelations are
expected in this strange and unparalleled
case.
Cess was brother-in-iaw Of Undertook,
they having married sisters.
The following letter was received this
morning. 1t Is evidently written By soms
friend of Udderz)ob, and perhaps he knows
something of this strange cas-
BALTIMokE, July 16.-To Davis Gill,
Sherff-Dear ST.: have been reading the
various accounts in the newspapers of the
murder of a stranger in your county, and
an account OF the arrest of Mr.. Undertook,
etc, and had arrived at the conclusion that
Mr.. Udderzook without doubt was the
guilty party. But Sf,er IT aiding the account
in the american of this morning. / I'm con
WINGED that Mr.. Undertook is innocent, and
that Err. Rhoads is one Of the guilty p5r-
ties. If Dir. Udde: Zook had asked Mr..
Rhoads to join him in such an act and re-
fused, Mr.. Undertook wou!d not by auy
means have taken Mr.. Rhoads' shovel.
Now, ny object in writing is simply this
that a good detec i've should take the matter
In hand, and see if he could not trIce the
murder TO Rhoads and his associates. See
after this, and y0u will fad that 1 am right.
Yours truly, JAMES MARTEN.
A good detective will find astounding
revelations. j. N.
The Baltimore Gazette of the 2lst inst
contains further developments IS follows:
The interest in the recent tragedy at Jen-
nerville continues undated in this city,
and as fact after fact is developed going to
Identify the remains of the murdered man
IS those Of Goss the excitement and inter-
EST deepens and i~tensifes. The prisoner,
Undertook, amidst the excitement, remains
,alm, reasonably cheerful and communica-
i've. A visitor to him, however, on Satur-
lay last, was forcibly struck with the change
which his cOuntenauCe had undergone since
he day of bis arrest. He now bears down
,ast, narrowed look, and is evidently suffer.
DC much in mind.
He asked after bis mother, aud being in.
0rmed that she was i'll and confined TO her
,ed, he evinced emotion, remarking that |
he was not a strong woman, and had |
'roken down under this present trial.
10 reply TO q question as to his hopes to |
,TOve his innocence Of the charge CT muir |
Ter, he said he had no fears whatevsr, that |
If sufficient time was allowed; the guilty |
,arson would be ferTeted out, and his en-
ire innocence in connection with the deed |
ully established.
He asked, in a rather nervous manner, |
everal questions in regard to tie body; |
whether it bad Jet been identified, and also
.dded that he could see no use in inqQiring
s to It's identity. He thinks his trial should |
lot take place until the October cours, as
e says il would be impossible to have him
elf properly defended sooner.
It wa: remarked to him that the turn
Which matters had taken in connection with
he Gees feature in the drama presented a
cry complicated case, to which he replied
a the affirm ltive, and at the same time ex-
ibited a very evident unessiness at the
MENTION of Goss' name.
He further remarked that he had left a
tide and respectable circle of friends in
Baltimore, ard be believed, as he hoped,
hat be would return and join them again.
He asked after public feeling, and asked
hat were the cuTreut topics Of the day.
He denied that he had desired counsel
-om Baltimore, and aided that he bad left
Il the matters pertaining TO his trial with
Ir. Perdue, his counsel.
He urged those with him to acquaint him
f anything they might hear concerning his
lother's condition, which they promised TO
o.
His cell is scrupulolsly neat and clean.
IL his reserve clothing ne has snugly fol9-
4 and hung upon line, and everything
-ithin his prison quarters Goes to prove him
areful and tidy as to his person and his
Rhodes, to whom Undertook wrote q let,
IT offering him s., 600 for his assistance in
mysteri us matter, gives the following
That he Immediately wr1te to Undertook
, know what the job was, but received no
nswer. Did not see him until he came to l
~ house on Jnly LIST. He csme to my
Ouse on July Isl, when be and my wife
anne to the field at two O'Clock, and he said
was warm, and said, "About that little
tier wrote you but never got a reply?"
Ie said, 81 cannot write any more; it must
3 by word of mouth. But it is just as
pod; bstter, if anytI ing" Then he asked
lie to come up in the shade, and L again
sked him what it was. Ny wife was fifteen
r twenty yards off. She came with him
II fear be would hurt me, as we were enc
lies. He asked me if had horse and
agoD, and told him had. He then ask
me if the wagon ould hold three, and
told bin that it would. He then vented