Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-11-20
THE GALLOWS.
ExpIAT1oN OF A REMARKABLE MURDER
HANGING OF THE INSURANCE MUIR
DEREIa I1nnIpzooK

Abont a year ago most remarkable muir
der was committed in Pennsylvania WIN.
E. Udderzook contrived with W. Scott
Goss, his brother in-law, to defraud the
Life Insurance companies of $5O,O00. Inc
life of Goss was insured in various compa-
MES for that amount. a frame shop was
rented on the suburbs of Baltimore, adead
body resembling in size that OF Goss pro-
cured and placed in it and the building Tired
The charred remains were Identified py
Mrs. Goss as those of her husband, but
unluckily he had a fine set of teeth and
those of the corpse were badly decayed.-
L re insurance companies resisted payment.
G:,ss had DISAPPEARED and wandered about
through various towns under an assumed
name At last Udderzook; tired OF wait
ing for the insurance companies to pay and
ifraid Goss, in his drunken moments would
betray the matter, got him to come to PENN
sylyania, took him riding in a buggy and
cut his throat. He then cut the body in
pieces and buried it under different trees
in the woods In the death struggle. Guss
dropped finger ring and shirt stud,
which finally led to the detection and exc
cution of the murder at Westchester, Pa,
last Friday. An account in the Baltimore
"Sun" says:
PREPARATIONS FOR DEATH.
After a night of unbroken sleep. he was
out Of bed and dressed by $40 A. M. He
shaved himself, as he had been accustomed
to all along, with Il razor kept bv the ward
Of fhn r,rsc rxy,n nt srr,1 NJ & III
prthension was entertained of any suicidal
thoughts in Udderzook's mind. When he
he had done shaving he carefully wiped the
razor, and remarked to a deputy warden
near by, swell, don want that any more. F"
He breakfaSted with his usual relish for
food, and then leisurely proceeded to pack
his trunk or box with the surplus clothing,
books and other things he had used i'll his
cell as though going on terrestrial journey.
He also rolled the feather bed he had been
| allowed, and ordered the effects to be sent
| to his wife in Baltimore. A wooden chair,
| with the back broken off, was on the plat
| form for tho use of the condemned man.-
| Overhead, between the high walls, the cold
| November clouds shut out the sunlight,
ana the atmosphere Of the court was damp
and chilling.
! APPEARANCE OF THE PRISONER.
| At five minutes past twelve O'Clock I'd
derzook appeared from the prison door,
and passed between the lines OF jurors and
| deputies. He appeared to be man of
| five feet ten inches in height, one hundred
and eighty pounds weight. He was bare
| headed, and wore black frock coat, and
dark pants and vest, white shirt, black
/ necktie or bow, black leather slippers,
! showing white socks His clothing was
neat, and he had buttonhole favor, sent
him by Mrs. Harris, the wife of one of his
spiritual advisers. He seemed to be in
full robust health, and bore himself brave
ly; without bravado or defiance. His hair
| which was thick and carefully combed, ap-
peared almost red, AMI he wore only mus
tache on his face; b It the mustache was
large and full and Il prominent feature by
color and size. His complexion was clear
and cheeks rosy with health or flushed with
or excitement. Udderzook walked between
Sheriff Gill and the Rev. Nh. Evans
Deputy Sheriff Mcfarland and the otl!el
two clergymen followed. The prisoner
carried his head i'll an easy, natural way
and his whole appearance and bearing were
striking: his ctep was firm and he mounted
the scaffold without faltering.
ON THE sCAFFoLD.
/ Before leaving the cell he had carefully
|, brushed his clothing. and with his owl
hand pinned the little bunch Of flowers to
| the lapel of his coat. His hand was firm
while did it, and no sign of nervousness
was exhibited up to the moment Of his APP
lpearanee aIaang those who We're to witness
/ his death, nor even after he had ascendtd
Ito the platform Even then he WAS calm
i and collected as he sat for a second on the
stool Rev. Mr.. Best offered prayer. in
which at times the prisoner followed, re-
peating the words audibly. All three If
the clergymen and the Sheriff were on the
platform. which was barely enough to hold
them. The deputy Sheriff stood on the
steps. Rising from the prayer, which
was very brief, Undertook cast his eye up
to the cross-bean where the rope was rriced
up ready for duty. Perspiration covered
the doomed man Is forehead, while his large
hands looked almost blue. He took out his
handkerchief, wiped his brow and eyes.
which seemed moist, but the rosy color
never left his face. 1t was evident he was
filed with emotion. and chung to life which
he loved so much, and which is not to be
wondered at, considering his SPLENDID ply
steal condition. All the actors in The sad
drama stood for a few seconds in conversa-
ton in a low tone hich could not be heard
by reporters who We're two OF three feet
distant. Undertook then remained in silent
| contemplation for some seconds more,
| when he spoke in subtlued tones. express
| ing the belief that he had been saved and
accepted through the blood If the Lord
| Jesus. He remained all the while after
! rising from the prayer with his hands
| folded.
BINDING AND PINIONING.
At 1915 Sheriff Gill took down from the
cross beam some new leather straps with
| which he bound the prisoners wrists
| pinioned his arms and buckled about his
| ankles. While undergoing this operation
| Undertook recognized some Baltimore &C.
| quaintance among the reporters and depu-
| ties, and bowed to them in qualified sort
| Of way, and then stepped half a pace for
a few inches, probably a foot from the cross
| beam. The clergyMen shook hands with
| him as we'll as they could bound as be
| was.
GOOD BYEs, ETC.
Sheriff Gill adjusted the rope and shak-
| ing hands with Udderzook left the scatfold
! In parting, Uddelzook asked the Sheriff to
write to his wife and say he died in peace
he also added Il am suffering for crime
unjustly.' The sheriff crossed the court
to the Mushroom, through the window of
which a line ran from the trigger Deputy
Mcfarland placed the black cap over the
| prisoners head. Udderzook said 'sGood-
bye, Major; Jesus will save me.'' With
his head enveloped, he calculated short
| sentences of prayer. the last of which was,
! ny SaNinr. lock to Thee. F." As he said
| this, Sheriff Gill pulled the cord. which
drew the prop of the platform and it fell
against tho back wall upon the cushions
which prevented sound.
| THE FINAL ACT.
| Udderzook fell forward slightly, and the
knot slipped to the back of his neck. He
never shiyered, and raised his knees only
once, and then but slightly There was
no violent muscular action; no struggle.
and and, he seemed to die as as easily as going to
ter. who had been appointed under the law
surgeon Of the occasion. pronounced him
dead in fifteen and a halt minutes, of