The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-11-15
ConvictiO,, of UdtzersooE.

The tragic trial of William E. Undertook has
come to termination in his conviction. From
beginning to end the relation of the circumstances
seem more like romance than truth, more like
drama than a reality. The trial began on Mon
day, October 9th, and terminated on Sunday
morning, November 9th, by the rendition by the
jury of verdict of ''murder in the first degree"
The public generally will remember that in Feb
ruary, 1872, small building on the York road,
near Waverly, Baltimore county, was consumed
by fire early in the evening. This building was
occupied by W. S. Goss who was engaged in ex-
perimenting in the invention of a substitute for
India rubber. When the flames broke out the
neighbors collected around and VIM. E. Udder-
zook, brother-in-law of Goss, gave the alarm
about the time the roof fell in that be was afraid
that Goss was in the flames. By the use of a
long hook or drag body was discovered and
pulled out, which was supposed to be the remains
of Goss. Prior to this time Goss had secured, in
the interest of his wife, assurances on his life to
the amount of $25, 900. The insurance compa-
MES considered the circumstances surrounding
the affair SO suspicious that they refused to pay
the policies. Suits were brought to recover the
amounts named. At the trial in the u s. Cir
cult Court in Baltimore, it was proved to the sat-
isfaction of an intelligent and upright jury, by
Mrs. Goss, Undertook and others that the body
taken out of the fire sVds the remains of W. S.
Goss. Upon this being established verdict was
obtained for Mrs. Cos. The counsel for the in
surance companies moved for a new trial. This
was in the latter part of June. About the l1th
day Of July body was found cut up and buried
in several places in woods in Chester county,
Pennsylvania. The person who made the dis
covery was attracted TO the place by seeing buzz
yards lowering over a secluded spot. An inves-
tigation was had which led to the naturalization
of the remains disintered as those of W. S. Goss
and to the arrest of VIM. Z. Undertook as the
murderer Undertook was indicted for thecrime
and his trial concluded and resulted as above
stated in the Chester county court.
The evidence adduced at the trial showed that
since the fire Undertook had been in correspon.
dence with parties in Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey soliciting board for friend. This friend
was sent to several different places by Undertook
to reside. He passed under the name of A. G.
Wilson. He talked of his lawsuit in which he
had S25, 900 involved, and manifested considera-
BILE uneasiness About ten days prior to the dis
covery of the body in the woods, Undertook was
seen in that portion of Chester county with a
stranger whose name he studiously concealed
from every one he met. On the night of July lst
be was seen taking his departure in buggy in
the direction of the woods in question in compa-
ny with the stranger. About II O'Clock that
night he returned the buggy with the dash
broken, the oil cloth torn out of the bottom and
the side broken. A ring was foand in the buggy
which was identified as the ring OF Goss and as
that worn by IA. G. Wilson," A number Of
letters were produced connecting Undertook with
"Wilson' and the hand writing of "a. G. Will
SON. was identified as the hand writing of W. s.
Goss-being the same that signed the applications
for the insurance policies. The accused was ably
defended by Wayne McVeagh, of Harrisburg,
and Milton Whitney, of Baltimore. The jury
was forty-6ve hours in making up their verdict
They asked several times instructions at the hands
of the court, which was given cheerfully. On
Sunday morning they desired the letters and the
insurance policies which were granted them
They then asked 10 have the testimony of the
Identification of the body read which the court
did. The jury then retired and in about two
hours they brought in a verdict of ''murder in
the first degree
The case has created considerable attention
throughout the country. The singular features,
tragic scenes and deep laid conspracies that have
10 the reading public.