The New York herald., 1873-07-17
The JENNERSVILLE MYSTERY.
Arrest Of the Supposed Murderer OF
the Stranger.
A CURIOUS REVELATION.
ens Tragedy Results in Explaining Another
The Most Remarkable Criminal Plot
on Record-Kxcitement in
Chester County, Pa.
BALTIMORE, Nd, July 10, 1873.

BALTIMORE, Nd, July 10, 1873.
The mysterious murder OF the unknown man
hear Jennersvile, Chester county, Pa, may result
In exposing one OF the most remarkable criminal
plots that have been developed in this country
10 60 back to the inception Of the plausible
theory Of the mdrdef Which has been
built up, / must recall the circumstances
pf the celebrated Goss life insurance case, which
was on trial in the United states Circuit Court in
this city three months ago. W. y. W. Goss was
Insured in the Mutual Life Insurance Company, Of
Kew York, TOR 1904 He was also insured for a
like amount, each, IN the KnickerbOcker and Con-
onental companies, and for $4,000 IN the Travel
,ers$26, 900 in all on his life He was al inventor
and was engaged IN perfecting the manufacture
ef an article which he claimed was to be perfect
and cheap substitute for india rubber. In Feb
ruary, 1872, he occupied little secluded workshop
ON the York road. couple Of miles from Baltl-
He admitted no person within its doors, and con.
Quoted his operations in the most prolourd
secrecy. One night during that month he and his
wMILLrA Z. UNDERTOOK,
the man who Is now accused OF the murder in
Chester county, went out to this workshop. Goss
entered IL with . can OF ooal oil IN mis- hand; he
sent Udderzook away on some trlnlng errand, and
yards ~ before the snop was In bright blaze
OF fire. refrained lor some moments rom giving
esaped pc e when an
alarm was given the shop, which was nothing but
rIckety tinder box, was burned TO the greund:
The next morning the charred and bloody
remains OF man were found among the
chris Udderzook and Mrs. Goss immediately
with all the honors, and in due time claim was
made upon the insurance companies for the pay
sured. But t"' the agents w. Of the comranies
were not satisfied that Goss had really died;
SeS SDa sEs mous9 a
body upon them and they resisted payment, or at
least tue New York Mutual did to bring test case.
The cause was tried in the United states Court
here and UdderzoOk's testimony decided 1t in IavOr
OF the pla1ntin, Mrs. Goss.
THE SEQUEL
Now comes the sequel. When 1t became known
here that Undertook had been in Chester county
ana was suspected OF beng the murderer attentlOn
nection with the two tragedies. This
5snE was y, greatly when the
That description, which makes him q heavy set
man, with LARK and abundant hair and whsxers.
round lace, and apparently about forty years OF
age, exactly corresponds with the description of
Goss which is contained in the records OF the
Identity once established it becomes easy to trace
out the last crime as a resultant from the first.
TRUTH OR PERJURY.
Udderzook was the only witness who conclu-
eively proved that Goss had entered hts workshop
nas a a am% ne the scas IN s
or nat perjury. II 1t was the latter, the discovery
that Goss was still alive would have sent nlm to the
State Prison. GOss had Just previous to his alleged
death been living an abandoned life He drank a
good deal, and wandered aimlessly about the
country. The theory OF the insurance
people is that he was secreted by Udder-
Eook, and, becoming tired OF lying perdu,
had again taken to his Old habits. Ii
he was discovered Udderzoik was IN danger OF
State prison for perjury, and OF losing the benefit
OF the whole scheme, for applications Tor q new
have not vet been decided upon. Hence, Udder-
zook must
KEEP GOss OUT THE WAY.
II is supposed that he went to the latter's place
Of concealment, endeavOred to make some arrange
ment with him, and, becoming exasperated, muir
aered him. In support OF this suppostiOn
is pointed out that the stranger had
undoubtedly some motive for conceal
ing himself at Jennersvle, where he
gave name, but simply registered himself
''agent from Balumore;" that all the cum
stances point to some acquaintanceship betS cen
the two men that UdderZOok had the strongest mo-
tves in the world for making himself safe by get
ting his bt btOther-in-law out OF the way The meeting
or the two at Jennersville could not have been
accidental for II is not usual Tor stranger 10
drive into country town, halt at a hotel and ask
another to take ride with him. Undertook dis
the murder, and returned to Baltimore, where he
was arrested on Tuesday.
THE NEW CLEw.
great many int telligent people do not believe
that the body found in the ruins In February. 1872,
was that Of GOss and this new Gle TO the mystery
Is widely discussed here to-day. Should subse
quent Investigations show that G0ss has really
been murdered by UdderZook the conclusion OF
this romantic affair will be q most wonderful
incident in the criminal annals OF this country.