Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-11-19
the UNDERTOOK GRIMES.
close OF THE CONSPIRATOR's CA.
REER.
TEgE EXECUTION, TO-DAY, at WEST
FNt CHESTER

| Sbu
(special Correspondence Of the Commercial
/ WEST CHESTER, Nov. II.
Itis now about sixteen months since the crime
committed by W. f. Undertook, near Cochrans-
vile, Chester county, for which ho suffers
death, Tomorrow in this Borough. WAS commit
tei. In order to rofresh tho minds Of your read
ers aAto the facts, give
BRIEF SKETCH OF TIE CASE.
In February, 1872, Udderzook lived In Bslti.
more, and also his brotherin.law, Winfield 3.
Goes. The latter had recently had his life in.
sured, in four companies, for the aggregate
amount Of $4,000, and on tho second day Of
that month, AZ Goss WAS working, alone, in I
little shop which he occupied in the suburbs Of
Baltimore, the structure suddenly took fire and
was totally consumed. From the ruins there
were raked out number Of bones, which it was
claimed were those Of Goss, but the Life Insur-
snce companies refused to pay the S25,0O0 over
TO Mrs. Goss, and she brought suit against them,
the case coming to trial in Baltimore, in May.
1878. The strongest witnesses for Mrs. Goss,
were Udderzook, who had married her sister,
and A. G. Goss, brother OF her husband. ver-
dict was given in her favor, but the Com
pany ressting-the New York MutuAl-ap.
1 pealed, and the money has never yet boon paid
over. The Life Insurance Companies and their
agents were sure that the attempt to re-
cover the money was fraud that Goss was
not dead /; that his pretended burning in the
shop WIS "put up job" and the bones found
not his. He had very good teeth, while those
of tho remains found in the ashes were testified
to be decayed, and several gone.
|I THE CHESTER COUNTY MURDER
On July II, 1873, The remains Of man were
l Fs.HrU. tv. l..
vile, hester.county. Attracted to the spot by
the flight OF buzzards and horrible smell, the
discoverer WAS amazed to come upon the man
| gled body of a human creature. In one spot was
the trunk, with the throat cut and four or five
fatal stabs in the breast, and fifteen IT. further OF
the arms aud legs are found, having been ampu-
tated with the skill Of surgeon. The finding
Of these horrible relics created q profound sem
sation, and on the 18th Of July, the clothes Of
the man were also found. "a full report Of
promptly in the COMMERCIAL OF Monday, July
| l4th.-ED. COMMERCIAL 80
Undertook was ut once suspected OF having
murdered the person whose mutilated limbs had
been found. The former was well known in the
neighborhood. His mother lived ut Jennerylle
few miles distant, and his brother-in-av, Sam
ue Rhodes, near the place where the body was
| found. Undertook had been at Jennerville,
on June 30th, and July 1st, with = strange
man whom he introduced az friend from Ken
away together from Jennervle, and the strang-
or was never again seen alive. 1t was believed
that he was murdered, that night, by Undertook,
and his trunk and limbs buried in the woods
| where they were found ten days afterwsrd.
The man Rhodes quickly added his quota OF
testimony to make the suspicious Of Udderzook
more tangible. He testified before the Coro-
ner's jury that the former made proposition to
him to join i'll the robbery Of . man whoml he
| (Udderzook) had at Jennervllleas ~ there were
fhnusa ID inllara in the inh RhOdaa anid l,e
fused, but Undertook declared he would do the
| job anyhow. The carriage in which the two
men drove away from JennervilIe also contribu-
ted its share Of evidence. When returned to
the hvery-stable, from which Udderzook had
hired it, the Blankets oil coth, &c. were missing
and upon subsequent examination, blood WAS
fo.Ai.u ujeis i, n sSverN places, t1e uAAh WAs
bent and the leather Of 1t torn, besides the bows
was done in the buggy. In the buggy was found
handsome ring, which was identified rs the
| one tho murdered man wore.
uppERzooR WAS BROUGHT TO TRIAL
in this Borough, on October Goth, 1873 and OH
| November 9th, the jury found him guilty. He
was defended by Mr.. Joseph, Perdue, = young
lawyer OF this bar, Hon. Wayne McVesgh OF
more, bat the last named, before the case con-
cluded, ceased to act as counsel for the defence,
the understanding being that he was so con-
vinced Of the guilt Of the prisoner that he could
not, in view OF his (Whitney's) relations to the
Baltimore life insurance cases, continue to de-
fend him.
At the trial, tho whole conspiracy was devel-
oped 1t was brought out that ~ far back rs
October 1871, three months and more before
the Baltimore fire, Undertook had made arrange
ments with a Mr.. Mullen, at Cooperstown, Del
aware county, to board friend, whom he intro
duced as A. q. Wilson, and soon after the fire,
Wilson came, and stayed several months
From there he went to Newark. N. j.. where he
also boarded several months in retired way,
and left there, just before the time when Udder-
zook appeared with the stranger at Jen-
nersville. The testimony in the case
connected this stranger with "Wilson," and
the latter with Goss, beyond doubt, and the
whole conspiracy, including fraud, arson, and
pected, and every one who followed the
trial believed the prisoner guilty. Every
effort was made, however, in his behalf. Mr..
Perdue worked persistently. A new trial was
49, sentenced the accused to be hanged The
supreme Court was then appealed to, and seve-
raj months passed before the Judgment of the
Court Of this County was affirmed. Then the
case was taken to the Board Of Pardons,
and petitions, numerously signed, were
brought forward to secure at least a
Communication of the sentence but the Board re-
fused any action, and OH the 14th OF last month,
Governor Hartranft signed the death warrant.
THE PRISONER HAS pREsEnvED,
during his long imprisonment, stolid front, as
| one capable OF such series OF crimes might be
expected to do. He has always denied his guilt,
and has eagerly grasped at every possible legal
means to save himself. More recently, however,
it has been given out that he had tscitly ad-
United to the ministers who have been visiting
him, that he was Justly accused. He has
eaten heartily, slept soundly, and preserved All
unhinching demeanor. The jail recently. has
been closely guarded. and only the relations of
the prisoner, his counsel and the minister's have
been admitted. These keep their own counsels,
| and communicate nothing OF what takes place
within the cell Of the doomed man.
Recently he has begun, they say, to realize his
position. he has ceased to talk Of pardon or re-
prieve the injustice OF lawsuits, and the uncer
tainty of trials by jury, and his whole CONVERSE
| ton IL OF religious character, and his only query
| 49, "What shall do to be saved p Rev. Messrs
Harris, best, and Evans have been with him
many hours every day, and endeavor to point ont
the way OF salvation.
| THE LAST HOURS.
On Tuesday, his mother took leave OF him.
but she again visited the Jail to-day. She
has been here, frequently ever since he was
| imprisoned and has been the strongest suppor-
ter he had. The father has also been here, sew
eral times lately.
To-day, sheriif Gill received the following tel
egram from the GovernOr:-
HARnIsBuRa, November II, 1874.
You may say to Udderaook that the applica-
tion for repreye in his bs half has been fully
considered, and the decision is adverse.
Signed, JOHN \. HARTRASFr.
This was read to Udderzook in his cell.
Tue coffin has been made, upon the order OF
the Sheriff. II is Of plain pine boards. The body
it is expected, will be buried in the Friends bu-
rying- ground.
Tie galows to be used are the same which
have been formerly employed here and on
which the last person hung WAS . c,lored man
named Grant.
A great many strangers are in town, including
many correspondents Of newspapers.
The prisoner, tonight IL under double guard
and all precautions have been taken to guard
| against suicide, which seems to have been ex-
pected by many people.
AT noon tile prisoner was brought ont from
his cell in tho county prison, and passed through
the prison yard, accompanied by the Sheriff, and
deputy. with the ministers who have been in
attendance upon him.
He walked firmly, with no outward exhibition
OF his sense OF the terrible fate that awaited
him.
He ascended the scaffold, where short prayer
WAS offered by the Rev. Mr.. Best.
| A few moments were then spent in q subdued
conversation between Udderzook and the minis.
tors.
His last words to his spiritual advisers, who
have been constant and devoted in their atten.
tions to him, were:
San have to say is am sinner, saved by
grace, aud am accepted Of God"
The Shenh then approached him, and shook
hands with him, bidding him good-by. Deputy
McFarlan then placed the black cap on his head
. -