The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-05-01
The Illinois Tragedy.
From the Peoria (Ill.D Democrat, April 4.


| Yesterday we visited Woodford county
to learn the feelings and further partlcu-
| lars in regard to the Hedges Workman
murder. We found Mrs. Workman in the
sheriff's custody in Metamora. but, not
withstanding the almost positive proof
that she committed the murder, so much
sympathy is manifested in her favor that
she is permitted to occupy rooms alone
upstairs in the hotel, while the lailers
house in the Jail is being repaired, clean
ed, and furnished for her The prisoner
was removed to her quarters last eve
! ming.
The sheriff piloted us upstairs and
knocked on the door, which was locked
on the inside, the prisoner having the key.
She declined to open the door. The sheriff
| SAID, There are two gentlemen to see
you" She replied, 81 cannot do so. My
husband is away. and | will see no one in
my room in his absence"
She was then asked if she would 90 to
the parlor and be interviewed by news
paper reporter. She said, mo, I have
always been true to my husband, and will
see no gentlemen in his absence"
She was informed that no one would in
suit her, but the answer came the same :
II have always been true to my husband,
and will remain so still"
In the afternoon Mr. Workman came
out with his little daughter. Our friend
| Meek again tried to obtain for us an inter-
view, but Mr.. Workman on being asked
il we could see his wife said "No,| am
the head devil in this, and that has caused
all the trouble, and will answer no ques-
tons
On being argued with that the truth was
what he wanted, he said that it would
come out in its own way; then replied
Il will consult my wife, and then see
you" In q short time he came down
stairs, and said her nervous system was so
shocked by what had taken place that she
did not want to see any one, and emphati
cally that public opinion was all against
him. which is true and it ought to be. He
then said: Mrs. Hedges was murdered,
but it has not been positively proven that
my wife did it, We asked the privilege
of asking him question. Receiving his
permission, we asked, "Do YOU believe
that your wife murdered Mrs. Hedges ?"
He replied, 81 cannot answer that ques-
tlon,' and declined to be further ques-
toned.
Workman is q man near 6 feet inches
high, rather slender large mouth, dark
eyes, not fine looking, and full of sensu-
ality. Mrs, Hedges, 4 southern born lady
and widow Of five years, fat. fair and 40,
was his game, and as early as September
last, he commenced laying his net with
which to cnsnare the bird The first of
that month on q dark, rainy night, he ac-
companied Mrs. Hedges home from church.
which. within itself, seemed right enough,
as she was alone and so was Workman,
and both residing in the same direction
from the church. His ministerial calls on
Mrs. II edges We're quite frequent, but
then she was Il widow and might need
good advice. Last February he took her
buggy riding to an intair in the country.
This was rather noticeable. and her
brother-ln-law demonstrated with her; al
so, a daughter asked her uncle to stop
Workman's visits. Mr.. J. Barten called
on the reverend gentleman and said it
must be stopped. Then he resortei to
letter writing, two copies Of which letters
we produce as follows
DEAR PASTOR Your kind note reached me.
Went for the books but was detained on the
road. 1t appears there were some books at
the express office for him which he probably
could not redeem, and so she concluded to do it
for him.l will go again, for know you want
them, and YOU shall have them. | was afraid
my letter did not reach you, my love, but am
80 Glad it did. You know there is nothing i'm
possible with God, and | pray may not be
led into temptation. But tor your present
family relations. with the woman you are now
married 10, things might be different. But J
pray for the day when YOU are free, and then
we will marry. | know we will be happy, for
| love you-l wonder if we will have any great
l-t,f,V I
be 50 happy. | am afraid we would both for
get clasS-meetings, and ascend to the heavens
IN happiness. pray God for the day of my
happiness, and not to lead us into temptation.
From your Love.
To this eifuson the pastor replied in the
following equally gushing strain:
MY MOST DEVOTED EARTHLY BEING-You
seem 10 view this matter from physiological
standpoint. We should not view it in that
way You think you are not worthy, and be-
meath me- and pray to God not to lead you into
temptation; and you are going in with both
eyes open. But G d is just. and what would
be my fate if ANYTHING was to be found out?
But my love for you is of that intensity that
many floods could not quench. am foolish to
let my passions run away with my better iudg-
ment. But what can l do? Forget you. |
could sooner forget my earthly existence. 0,
prrdon! 0, pardon me, my love, for saying you
are to blame. for if you had slapped my Jaws
lHS III 81 liiHt lIleu W KISS you, lIldl WOulu
have ended 1t forever. But you sent burning
passion to my heart that [ can never throw off,
aud my earnest prayers are for the day when
we both will be free, praying God to forgive us
and ever after lead us right.
Four other letters in possession of the
coroner he declines to make public.
Those letters falling into the hands of
Mrs. Workman doubtless aroused her
anger to such a pitch as to drive her to
commit the foul deed. On the Friday be-
fore the murder was committed Mrs. w.
called at the residence of Mrs. H. and re-
manned several hours, but did not want to
be seen by any one OF the family, and
when the children came home from school,
to prevent being seen, Mrs. Workman hid
under bed. After leaving the house so
strange were her actions and what she had
said frightened Mrs. Hedges so much that
she sent for her mother to stay with her,
and said, among other things, that Mrs
Workman wanted to borrow money of
her. No doubt but this visit was to ar
range the fatal meeting, and that money
was demanded as hush money, and Mrs
Ill. intended to give the money and say to
her mother it was loaned. On Saturday
the two ladies were seen together, but IN
the afternoon as each one left home for
neither of them went. Ladies'
tracks were seen, showing that they had
been Standing around where the murder
was committed for some time, and on
Mrs. Workman's return home her hands
and face was bloody and her dress muddy,
and on examination after she had been
arrested it was found to be covered with
blood, also her face, arm aud dress, shown
to have been in a severe fight and got
badly beaten. From this cause and the
superior strength Of the murdered wo-
man, many suppose she had assistance;
that is doubtful. Pine splinters taken
from the wound on the head OF Mrs.
Hedges and her throat cnt with sharp
instrument, shows to our mind that Mrs.
Workman struck first with pine plank,
then scutfle ensued, when the screams
were heard by several parties, and finally
the razor did its work, and the deed was
done
On returning home from church Mr..
Hull, the presiding elder said: "Sister
Workman, YOU did not come to church to-