Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-11-14
Conviction for Murder

The famous Udderzook-Goss trial in
Pennsylvania has just ended by the con-
viction of Undertook of murder in the first
degree. 1t will be remembered that plot
had been made that house should be
burned and some remains found which
shouldsbe proved by Undertook to be Goss,
and then some $40, 900 insurance on Goss'
life should be obtained This was done and
$1,000 Of the money gotten. Goss wandered
about the country with Undertook, both
fearing detection, and at last Undertook
killed him to get rid of the matter. The
jury brought in their verdict on Sunday. A
letter to the Baltimore Sun says:
At thirty-five minutes past one this af-
ternoon the doors of the court room were
again opened and some two OF three hun
bred men and boys rushed in and took seats.
There was one woman in the crowd. Eight
minutes later the prisoner c;tlnp iii, looking
quite pale. At thirteen minutes OF three
O'Clock court was opened and the jury
brought in. The foreman was then asked
to stand up and the clerk of the court put
the question; Gentlemen Of the jury have
you agreed unai " Veruict?
Foreman-We have.
Clerk-iloW say yos III the issue between
the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
William E. Undertook. defendant; do you
find him guilty in manner and form or not
guilty.
Foreman-Guilty.
Clerk-Guilty of what?
Foreman-Guilty of murder, in the first
degree.
HOW UNDERTOOK BORE IT.
All ewes were then turned on the prison.
Ell. His face became suffused with blood
but he manifested no othersign of emotion.
He was dressed as he has been all through
the trial, but his toilet seemed to have been
less carefully made. He sat with his left
leg thrown over the right and clasped be-
fore him. The jury were called one by one
until all had answered as the first had done
and then the clerk said sSHea1ken to your
verdict as the court have it recorded; you
say in the issue joined between the Com
monwealth Of Pennsylvania and William
E. Undertook, defendant, you find him
guilty, in manner and form, as he stands
indicted; and so say you all. -
REMARKS OF JUDGE BUTLER.
The jury were then directed to stand up.
Judge Butler then addressed them as fol-
lows Gentlemen Of the jury, your du-
| ties have been arduous and painful, and
the court has sympathiZed with you very
deeply. We now discharge you. You are
entitled TO public thanks for the sacrifices
you have made
MI. Perdue, of counsel for defence, en-
tered a motion fora new trial.
| Judge Butler ordered the removal of the
prisoner and said, ''Let the Sheriff take
| the prisoner back to the Jail without any
noise or excitement, remembering it is the
Sabbath - Tho np11rt room was
SILENT AS DEATH
during the rendering of the verdict None
| of the prisoners family was present, and
| there was no excitement or demonstrations
of any kind
| A rush was now made for the jurors to
question them as to the delay in rendering
their verdict, and they in turn made a rush
for their friends to learn the state of pub
lie sentiment. They were soon enlightened
in that respect. The following are the
BALLOTS OF THE JURY.
First ballot, guilty six, not guilty five,
undecided one; second ballot, ditto; third
ballot, guilty six, not six, fourth ballot,
guilty five, not seven; fifth ballot, guilty
four, not guilty eight; sixth ballot, guilty
| six. not guilty six; seventh ballot, guilty
nine, not guilty thee eighth ballot guilty
eleven, not one. On the twelfth ballot a
unanimous vote of guilty was rendered.
! The last three ballots were taken after the
receipt of the letters, &c, handed to the
| jury this morning. The jurors could give
| no reasons for the wide difference of opin-
ion Indicated in the earlier ballots.
The prisoners insensibility is generally
remarked, and it is believed he had antici-
pated the verdict and prepared himself for
| it. On his way to jail he remarked that he
would have lonely winter Of it, as his
wife would return to Baltimore tomorrow
MRS. UNDERTOOK.
who lives opposite the jail, was admitted
| to her husbands cell soon after, and the
nature OF. their interview may be better i'm
agined than described.
| The jury before separating agreed not to
| disclose how each man voted, but it is
| learned that Hood, the colored juror, was
| the undecided one on the first two ballots.
| There is talk Of a new trial and of carrying
the case to the Supreme Court, but the gen
eral impression is that UdderZook will ex-
plate his crime on the scaffoid
| --e><.-zs-e.-4z
HORRIBLE DEATH IN WEST VIRGIN
IA JAIL.-A Sutton, Braxton county.
w. Va, correspondent Of the Weston
Democrat" says
Ruth Salter, who has been confined in
the Jail Of this county for several months
on account of insanity. set her clothes ON
fire to-day, by means of match, it is sup
posed, at half past one o'clock, and was lit
orally burned to a crisp before any relief
could be given her. She was at the time in
All upper room of the Jail. When | first
saw her after the fire was extinguished,
she was standing erect in the centre Of the
room, entirely nude of clothing, and turn
| ing around and around, her eyes being de-
sroyed, and her skin so parched that she
could not talk. After putting her to bed
she seemed to try to talk but only could
understand that she wanted to be put to
sleep by medicine. | gave her a sip of wa
ter. The skin was falling from her hands
and arms, and all over her body. She can't
| live but few hours.
I'm, nj Tho