The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-03
CRIMINAL CHRONICLE.

u
Another Foster Case s-what His Spirit
ual Adviser said ON the Gallows-
'sThfs Il Murder Most Foul"
The HERALD has given already full details of the
execution at san Francisco on Friday, the 27th OF
July, Of Charles A. Russell, New York printer.
From the San Francisco Chronicle OF the goth IL
seems that the spiritual adviser Of Russell, lust
before he was hanged, asked him n his dying con-
fesson made to him was true, and the condemned
man, with the black cap on his head, in clear
voice, answered.
eyes, SO help me God"
The Chronicle reporter continues
AS the trap swung back DR.. Carpenter who was
greatly excited and could not control his emotions,
turned away, and, looking down on the crowd be-
tSey can da no ssy nsve c ao more mat
crowd began to move away, and buzz OF CONVEX
satlon began before the body had ceased revolving.
The SheriG commanded silence, and Dr. Carpen-
ter raising his hand, exclaimed, "Hush, hush, for
the love OF Godl"
moment afterwards as the crowd began to
leave, the Doctor approached the trap, and, LOOK
Ing down upon the swaying body, exclaimed, in a
tragic tone, This Is murder most foull''
A Chronicle reporter approached him shortly
afterwards and inquired whether Russell left any
statement or confession. The Doctor replied that
he had written statement made by Russell and
some documents which would show That he
much mlsrepresented man, and one who should
nation In regard to the tenor OF the statement,
saying that what was told him was sacred conf
dence, and he could not reveal It, He declined to
give the statement for publication until he could
arrange IL he desired IL, with the proofs to sub
stantate 1t and vindicate the memory OF RUSSELL
he had promised TO do.
The career of the man who suffered an ignomin-
ious death, as above related, affords powerful IL
lustration OF the corrupting effect OF evil asso-
ciates. Russell was born In the city OF New York.
where his parents now reside-in August 1S43, and
Is, therefore, not quite thirty years old. He has
four brothers and two sisters all OF whom are llv
ing. HIS parents were pious people OF the Presby-
terrain persuasion, and he had the benefit OF being
well reared and early Instructed in the precepts OF
Christianity During his boyhood he was vvacous
and somewhat miscellaneous, but he did not mani
fest any vicious tendencies. AT an early age he
lett school and went to learn the printers trade.
He was intelligent and ambitious and applied HIM
sell diligently to his case and study until he be-
came master OF the trade and acquired a fair edu
cation. He worked Tor number OF years at the
trade, during which he was steady, industrious
and honest.
THE BEGINNING OF HIS DOWNFALL.
When the civil war broke out and the President
issued the first call for volunteers Russell aban-
doned his case In the Office Of Fdnk LeSe'S Weehy
where he had been employed for some time, aud
entered the army He was brave soldier and did
SIX general engagements and numerous skirmishes,
ana his commanding officer, General Gilmore,
testihes to his good character and soldierly
qualities. He served mis- term of enlistment and
was honorably discharged holding at the time the
rank OF sergeant. 1t was in the army that he first
He claims that until he fell under the demoralizng
influences OF army life he had never done an act
which would render him amenable to the law.
For the next three years alter his discharge he
led an idle and dssolute lite, cOns0rtlng with the
vicious and deprayed, and gaining living by lair
means or foul. In 1867 he came to this coast in
search OF his brother Philip. printer, who worked
here in 1860, but when Charles got here his
brother had enlisted and gone with MS company to
Arizona.
Russell found himself here without money or
friends, and, resortng to his mode o! life in the
East, he was soon 'spotted" by the police.
few months afterwards he was arrested for steal
ing suit or clothes In Sacramento was tried and
convicted and sent t0,the State Prison Tor three
served n
charge went to Utah, where he became United
States Marshal and there made the acquaintance,
In the discharge OF his official duty OF Cr0tty, his
victim. He Afterwards came to this State and
worked as waiter IN a restaurant in Sacramento.
He subsequently went to Vallejo, and was
RMPLOYED BY JAMES d. PAGE
as waiter IN Ills restaurant on Georgia street In
the course OF time Page saw indications OF crimi-
nal intimacy between his wife and Russell
quarrel ensued and Russell came to this city,
where he became involved in the difficulty which
led to his death. Page and his wife quarrelled ana
separated in consequence Of her conduct
with Russell. The latter wrote several let
ters to Mrs. Page while in jail last Sum-
published them as proofs Of his wfe's infdeity and
Russeil's bad character He was arrested and tried
for tampering with the maus. While the trial was
pending ne shot his wife, and supposing he had
killed her, blew bis own brains out. Mrs. Page re-
few weeks ago, when Russell's friends, who were
striving TO have the sentence commuted, intlmated
TO her that ner visits would not help his case any,
aud she discontinued them.
Russell denies the charge OF improper intimacy
with her, and that with the statement that he did not
intend to Kill Crotty, constitutes the main points In
the statement TO Rev. DR.. Carpenter, the truth OF
which he soemnly affirmed on The gallcws just be-
fore being launched into eternity.
Coach Robbers I'm Montana i'm Is71-The
Robbers of Wells, Fargo q Co.'s Ex-
press Captured Two Years Later.
From the Virginia City Montanian. July 24.l
Many of our readers Will remember that on the
9th of July, 1871, the treasure box Of Wells Fargo
Il Co. was robbed OF $4,000 while the coach was
stopping at the Red Rock dinner station, thirty
five miles below L0veil's. All that could be fairly
conjectured at the time was that collision had
been made between the driver, stock tender and
station keeper to steal the treasure box and throw
suspicion on other parties. There was no messen-
ger accompanying the coach on this trip,
and the robbery was easily accomplished. All
efforts to work these suspicious into positive
proof were unavailing, though the severest mea-
surcs were resorted TO by the express detectives.
If we remember correctly, shortly after the occur
rallied the stock tender and endeavored to make
him CONFESS but q severe choking at the END OF a
aSa 0 pG a nut spy e ne
The officers Of the stage company and the detec-
tves, however, still believed the station people
guilty and for two years have kept the movements
OF McClain station keeper, Hinsman "a Red Rock
ranchInan), Kugg and Mccoy under strict surveil-
lance. During tins time Mccain has ''got tired
OF keeping station" and gone into the stock busl-
ness, having over one hundred head OF cattle and
horses when arrested; Hinslnan grew prosperous
in degree OF rapidity that seemed unreasonable
to those acquainted with his resources, and Rugg
was flush beyond the profits OF his avocatiOn But
there seemed no way OF proving how all this sud-
den prosperity came about, as two years had de-
veloped nothing but increased suspicion. But
within few days the whole AFFAIR has leaked out,
IL seems, through dissatisfaction among the rob-
bers over a division Of the spoiS. Jim Mccoy, the
stock tender now comes forward pleads guilty
to participation In the robbery, and
panions. The reason for this Singular conduct is
this In dividing the $4,000, AcClain, Hlnsman
and Rugg appropriated the lions share of the
money putting OFF Mccoy with the paltry sum OF
s127 and promise that they woult ''nake IL all
right some time" This they have never done, and
Mccoy, probably out Of pure spite. now "pcachesn
ON his pals. Mccoy lodged the Information With
the officers some two weeks since, and on Satur,
day last sheriff Con Bray had the four men In JAIL
at Bannack. IL is understood that all the parties
plead guilty and that McClain's stock and cert-
icate OF deposit for $4,000 at the banking house