The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-12
Jealousy and Bad Whiskey the
Active Agents.
A PRIVATE EXECUTION.
The Culprit's Avowal-"Didn't
Mean to Kill"

vict and adequately punish q murderer within two
years OF the commission OF his crime, the soft-heart
edness of Governors, who reprieve and commute
sentences and pardon out murderers on the slightest
provOcation, and the general uncertainty and I'M
safety OF human life thence resulting be taken
a. furnishing one Of the principal reasons why the
Canadian people look with distrust upon their
American cousins and are disinclined to enter
into intimate political and social relations
with them. Here the murderer must come
up for trial ut the first Assizes that follow dlatory
pleas are never regarded emotional insanity
would be Q hopeless excuse, and once verdict is
found and sentence passed the culprit's fate is
sealed, 80 far as the Courts are concerned. Espe-
Cially in Lower Canada, the Bench, being ap-
pointed, Is recruited from the Queens counsel who
have made their mark as crown prosecutors in
capital cases. The late Chief Justice Aywin ana
Justices johnson, Drummond and Ramsay are
conspicuous instances OF this The finest criminal
lawyers are thus placed on the Bench, with the
perfect independence secured by life tenure and
with the whole moral force OF the community be-
hind them, so that the guilty criminal who comes
mp for trial stands fair chance-say ninety nine
chances in hundred-of kicking heels with his
throat in rope"
cARRUTHERs' BRUTAL CRIME.
Another OF these guilty wretches has just been
sent to his merited doom. In this busting little
town to-day James Carruthers has expiated on the
shameful tree the cowardly murder OF the woman
whom, twenty years before, at the altar he had
vowed to love and cherish for life. The facts OF the
tragedy are briefly as follows:-James Carruthers
lived with his wife Rebecca, woman OF forty or
thereabouts, at Essa, In the county OF Slmcoe.
With them were their three children. Their mar
red life had not been happy, although IT does not
seem that Mrs. Carruthers' conduct had been such
rs to merit the treatment OF her husband. He
accused her OF infdel,ty, and repeatedly
declared that their eldest son, william,
was not his son, abusing the boy
rs well as his mother. The latest object OF his
jealousy was the cousin OF his wife, Samuel Aber-
nethy, who came to reside near Essa who, ON
one occasion, went Derry-picking with Mrs. Car
ruthers. Angry words followed and husband and
wife separated Tor few weeks. In November she
went away again, this time to Medonte, causing
her husband to fret himself with the torturing
belief that Abernethy had induced her 10
away, and that she would not return. He believed
that Abernethy had shot at him on one occa-
sion and wounded him IN the leg, and showed
several scratches, which he claimed were
marks Of buckshOt. His conduct towards his
wife was marked by alterations OF affection, jeal
ma b9r to ascrSe TO
sanity. TO one witness he said, "McLardy, wish
to God nag never met my wife" 10 another another
OF hiss, he said, Dave, my daughter is as fine
girl as ever lived. but my wife is the worst woman
Thus things were on the 4th Of December last.
from school at five O'Clock with his sister. His
father was not at home, and he went down to the
at ne Fl sno ynera ee m
about half an hour there he asked his
ne hut no the ns te
horses and sleigh, following him shortly after
Garruthers had taken several or drinks Of whisSey
steady gaze full Of deadly purpose and fascina-
"Rebecca, you will fall tonight
''Shall fall dog fall ~ she answered.
"You will find out what sort of . fall" he
the fendish impulse was raging within him, but
he needed more fuel for the fame Rum was what
the bloody work he had yet to door the butchery
or his wife in the midst of their children. He took
lantern then set 1t down irresolutely, and went
out without it, saying he was "going to Ritchies,"
. tavern near by After about ten minutes alb
he returned, and his better angel left him at
the door and vanished, despairing in the dark.
Re-entering the room with whpstock In his
hand, he took up the lamp, set it down, took or
his coat laid it on the back of chair; then rails
ing the whipstock struck his wife violent blow
on the head. She screamed and threw up her
arms The children ran into the road uttering
cries OF alarm but ere they reached the door
heard the blow repeated, dull and deadly; then the
THEIR MOTHER FELL HEAVILY
upon the blood-besprinkled floor. In few minutes
Frank Wood, a school teacher, who boarded with
house accompanied by his landlady The victim
lay on the floor, her hair clothed with blood aud
master and Mrs. Mcdonald washed her face with
sAcw to revive her. There was no wound visible
they were bathing his wiie's head, and asked she
III she is not dead will kill her.,
"Y0u have often tried to Kill herr said the neigh
Dor, land you have done 1t at lastn
Carruthers then said he would not run away but
would give himself up, and asked the teacher to
TO for the constable Ere going Mr.. Wood looked
at the body OF the woman. The eyes were closed,
but the eyelids were nuttering Going to the door
he sent one OF the sons for the doctor, thinking
that there was lie to be saved. When he returned
her head had fallen on her breast and there was
there when he left her. Inc woman died twenty
Elk hours AFTER me pos.,mortem t examinatiSn
head which were only cut wounds. such as would
have been produced BY. the whipstock; but the
wound in the forehead had smashed the frontal
bone all TO fragments, and had evidently been in
ncted by heavier instrument An axe was found
eye save the al-seeing eye OF God had beheld the
bloody deed. the story was plainly written In char
down and was lying senseless, while one neighbor
was seeking the doctor and one the oficer OF the
law, the brute, determined to make assurance
doubly sure, had smashed in the woman's head
With the axe.
TRIAL AND SENTENCE OF DEATH.
AT his trial at the April asszes his counsel en-
0eavored TO set up the plea OF insanity, adducing
MS jealousy OF his wife as its cause and also rested
fatal blow on the forehead had been delivered BY
him. The jury were not long absent, and returned
verdict OF guilty, adding recommendation to
why sentence OF death should not be passed upon
him, Carruthcrs said, NO; leave 1t all in Your
Lordshps hands" The Judge, In set and brief
terms, ordered his accompaniment to prison and his
execution on the 18th OF June.
THE EXECUTION.
In conformity with the sentence, Carruthers met
his fate at the scanold within the precincts OF the
fail here this morning Since his n1nement the
prisoner had continued to grow weak from loss
Of appetite, and on many occasions has been
known to abstain from food for period of nearly
two days; 80 much so, In fact, had he become
reduced in health and strength that 1t was
che opinion OF the jail officials and even
his medical attendants that the hangman'a