The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-24
A HORRIBLE MURDER.
Massachusetts Bidding Fair 10 Gain the
Murder Premium.
Wife Coolly Shot by Her Drunken Husband
in Edgeworth-Details Of the Tragedy
The Murderer Takes to the Woods,
but Is Subsequently Secured
Verdict Of the Coroners
Jury Against Him.

Railroad In Edgeworth, village OF Maiden, while
in drunken frenzy shot his vile through the heart
and then fed to the adjacent woods. The particu-
lars Of this terrible tragedy with its surroundings
and the previous history OF the participants are
these Some twenty years ago John Walch and his
wife Sarah, Of Lancashire, England. came to this
country, and for while located in Providence,
R. l., from which place they subsequently re-
moved TO Maiden. While living there the war
broke out, and Walch enlisted in the Thirty third
Massachusetts, regiment, and with that organiza-
ton participated in several battles. His health be-
coming undermined he was discharged and SUBJ
sequently he went to Lancashire, thinking voyage
across the ocean would do him good This hope
was not realized. as he died in his native village
and his wife obtained q pension, which she drew
quarterly up to the 9TH OF last December, on which
day she married
MARK B0OTHBY.
This man was born in Buxton, Me-, and was
thirtyseven years old, seventeen years the Junior
OF the deceased wife, who was itty-four years Old
He lived in Buxton a few years. but removed to
Palmyra when mere boy, and that was his home
until few years since, when he came to Massa
chusetts. He was by trade carpenter but had
also followed seafaring life in the merchant SER
vice for several years, besides which he had been
in both branches Of the United States service the
army and the navy.
HE HAS TWO WIVES,
SO 1t is alleged by the neighbors, living, from
one ofwhom, however, he obtained bill Of divorce
Three OF his children live In Boston, as does also
his divorced wife. His relatives were all much OPP
posed to his marriage with the Walch woman, but
1t Is said that property considerations led him to
marry her, despite their protestaton. Ever since
his marriage the couple have lived unhappily and
the chief blame is charged upon him. He is
SAID to be OF q morose, ugly disposition fire.
quently abusing his wife ana her two children,
while liquor increased this disposition to an aggra-
waited degree. It is reported that he has made
frequent threats OF shooting his wife and also to
marry the little girl, but nothing is tsld OF any oc
currence Of this kind previous TO yesterday. He
was drunk then ana, being ut work in the dock
yard making some wlleelbarr0ws for Maiden
mar, took notion to destroy them for no other
purpose, 1t seems than to spite or aggravate his
wife. lie split the sides up with an axe
set them on IRE. Fearing the house
warla burn, his wife went out and dashed pail
81 %ar On M r al ana said M to nm don't
BY the throat, choked her. and declared he would
"Murder!' and, fearing the neighb0rs would be
alarmed, ne desisted, and, turning to the little
s sSa MI
the day. and was drunk when he went to bed and
also when he got up this morning.
MRS. BOOTIIBY HAS SON
who is employed In a store in Boston. His name Is
George II. Walch, and his age is nearly seventeen
years. When he returned home last night his
mother told him OF her troubles and he said such
things to allay her fears he could; hut 1t not
Without fear that he left his home this morning
had passed away he heard the horrible news
tnat his mother mad been murdered. AS soon as
Boothby had eaten his breakfast he started out for
more rum. He did not have to go far. for lew rods
away lives man named Campbell, who keeps
low groggery and to this place Mack directed his
him from drinking If possible, soon followed,
and succeeded, after some words-some OF
m'i inducing 1 him to ef return homs, and they
left the place together. She entered the house
first and he soon afterwards and he, taking up the
cat. began to play with and tease 1t in pleasant
manner. Soon, however. the cat sprang out OF his
arms and ran away, and he directed the little girl
Mary to catch 1t for him, which she did The ami
NAL appeared frightened, and this exasperated
him, and
SEEING AN OLD MUsKET
which he kept loaded, he declared he was going to
shoot It,. His wife tnereupon remarked,
"Why, Mack, you don't want to shoot the cat;
she never did you any harm.n And Mary, whose
favorite the cat was, also expostulaied quite
warmly, whereupon Bootlby, turning TO the latter,
exclaimed, well then, damn you, IN shoot you"
and raised the gun and aimed 1t at her.
With mothery instinct MRS. Boothby sprang to-
wards him, seized the gun and diverted the aim
beast, with his great staring eyes gloatng upon
her, he turned quickly,
TOOK HASTY AIM AT HIS WIFE, AND FIRED.
She threw up her arms, gasped out spasmod-
ically, .Oh, my heart ~ and, staggering backward,
fell and instantly expired. The gun was loaded
an e the e
breast not more than quarter OF an inch above
the nipple I ,,a making ghastly orfce from
over the PROSTATE form OF the woman
saturating the clothing and standing great pools
ON the noor. The slugs went entirely through the
body one of them lodging in the mortar Of the
partition wall and another hanging just inside the
was committed the murderer, before his expiring
victim had scarcely ceased to breathe, threw his
gun down and ssatciing his coat put his arm into
one sleeve, sprang out OF the door and
RAN FOR THE WOODS.
Tot word was spoken by him. Not a look did
leading toward MedIord down which he travelled
ioI short distance. glancng frequently down at
oes 10 the woods
to the house OF his sister, in Wakefield,
and afterwards, by her advice. giving himself up
seven although he looks older; stands five feet
seven inches high; is stout built, with extremely
black hair; wears heavy mustache and chin whis-
ktrs separated in the middle both slightly gray;
has a large staring eye; looks downward, and mas
.'HANG-Doa APPEARANCE"
The clothes he wore were a pair OF dark, mixed
Innts; white shirt, no vest, black sack coat and
The only witness of the dreadful crime was the
ome st looking rst at her mother ana then at
the murderer, and 1t was not till he had got some
distance away that she recovered sufliciently to
five the alarm. she then ran to the door and
screamed for help and, no one appearing to hear
Ter, she ran to the nearest neighbors and inco-
icrently told her story which was listened to with
Almost actual disbelief at first. When they were
brought to realize what had happened
THE CRY OF .'MURDER', WAS RAISED.
A crowd quickly collected. The news spread like
wildnre. The excitement In the little village OF
Edgeworth the scene OF the tragedy, Is intense.
All day crowds OF men, women and children
have gathered about the house, many OF
them eyen Young girls. showing morbid
curiosity neither delicate nor becoming In insisting
upon removing the sheet which covered the
breasts OF the unfortunate woman az she lay upon
the floor OF the narrow apartment, so az to view
the horrible CHASTITY rent in her bosom.
Anti mat balA shkao