Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-11-12
SECOND EDITION.
THE UNDERTOOK GRIMES.
CLOSE OF THE CoNsPIRAToR's CA
REER
THE EXECUTION, TODAY, at WEST
CHESTER,

committed by w. E. Uddefzook, near Cocnrans-
vile, Chester county, for which he suffers
deaili, tomorrow, in this Borough, was commit
ted. In order to refresTilthe minds of your read
ers asto the facts, give
BRIEF SKETCH OF THE cAsr.
In February, 1872, Udderzook lived in Balti-
more, and also his ibrother-in-law, Winfield s. |
Goss. The latter had recently had bis life in
sured, in four companies, for the aggregate
amount of 5,00O and on the second day of |
that month, as Goss was working, alone, in a
Little shop which he occupied in the suburbs of
Baltimore, the structure suddenly took fire and
was totally consumed. From the ruins there
we've ralsed out number of bones, which it was
claimed we're those of Goss, but the Life Insur
ance companies refused to pay the $4,000 over
TO Mrs. Goss, and she brought suit against them,
the coming to trial in Baltimore, in May,
1878. The strongest witnesses for Mrs. Goss,
were Udderzook who had married her sister,
and A. C. Goss, brotherof her hush and. YER
dict was given in her favor, but the Com
pany resating-the New York Mutual-ap-
pealed and the money has never yet been paid
over. The Life insurance Companies and their
agents were sure that the attempt to re-
cover the money was a fraud that Goss was
not dead that his pretended burning in the
huOp WIS pun up JoDs anu the poneb louuu
not his. He had very good teeth, while those
of the remains found in the ashes were testified
to he decayed, and several gone.
THE CHESTER COUNTY MURDER
On July II, 1878, the remains of a man were
found in a little piece Of woods near Cochran
ville Chester. county. Attracted to the spot by
the flight of buzzards and a horrible smell, the
discoverer was amazed TO come upon the man
gled body of human creature. In one spot was
the trunk, with the throat cut and fonr or five
fatal stabs in the breast and fifteen IT, further of
the arms and legs are found having been ampu-
tated with the skill of a surgeon. The finding
of these horrible relics created profound sen
sation, and on the 18th of July, the lothes of
the uan were also found. full report Of
all the affair, with the various details, appeared
promptly in the COMMERCIAL Of Monday, July
| 14th. ED. COMMERCIAL
| Udderzook was at once suspected OF having
murdered the person whose mutilated limbs had
| been found. The former was well known in the
| neighborhood. His mother lived at Jenneryie,
fow miles distant, and his brother-in-la;y, Sam
| ue Rhodes, near the place where the body was
| found. Udderzook had been at Jennervile,
| on June 30th, and July 1st, with a strange
ms4b 4byhom he introduced as a friend from Ken
| tucky and ON the night of tho lst the two drove
| away together from Jennerville, and the strang-
| er aas never again seen alive 1t was believed
that he was murdered, that night by Udderzo0k
and his trunk and limbs buried i'll the woods
whore they were found ten days afterward
The mar Rhodes quickly added his quota of
testimony to make the suspicious of Udderzoo ok
more tangible. He testified before the Coro-
ner Jury that the former made proposition to
him to Join in the robbery OF a man whom he
(Udderzook) had at Jennerville,as there were a
thoIza.Id dollars in the job. Rhodes said he re-
fused, but Uddergook declared he would do the
job anyhow. The carriage in which the two
men drove away from bonneville also contiibu-
ted its share of evidence. When returned to
the livery stable, fro which Udderzook had
bred it, the blankets, oil cloth, &c, were missing
aud upon subsequent examination, blood was
found upon it in several places, the dash was
beat and the leather Of it torn, besides the bows
bang broken, showing that the act of killing
was done in the buggy. In the buggy was found
a handsome ring, which was identified as the
one the murdered man wore.
UNDERTOOK WAS BROUGHT TO TRIAL
i'll this Borough, on October 29th, 1873, and on
November 9th the jury found him guilty. He
wa defended by Mr. Joseph Perdue a young
la y yer of this bar, Hon. Wayne McYea h Of
Harrisburg, and Mr.. Milton Whitney, of Balti-
mo.e, but the last named, before the case con-
rln led, ceased to act counsel for the defence,
the understanding being that he was so con-
VIII ed OF the guilt Of the prisoner that he could
not, in view of his (Whitneys) relations to the
baltimore life insurance cases. continue to de-
fei HIM.
A. the trial, the whole conspiracy was devel-
oped. 1t was brought out that as far back at
Oct Der, 1871, three months and more before
the Baltimore fire, Undertook had made arrange
me its with Mr.. Mullen, at Cooperstown, Del
aw,re county, to board friend, whom he intro
ducad as A. O. Wilson, and soon after tue fire
wilson came, and stayed several months
Ff III there he went to Newark. N j., where he
ais boarded several months in a retired way,
and left there, just before the time when Udder
: zonk appeared with the stranger at Jen
nel sville. The testimony in the cast
Connected this stranger with Wilson, ant
the latter with Goss, beyond doubt, and tht
whole conspiracy, including fraud, arson, anC
. murder, lay disclosed. The conviction was ex
pecied, and every one who followed tilt
! trial believed the prisoner guilty. Ever.
4 ed d / was made, however, in his behalf. Mr.
Peidue worked persistently. A new trial wa
ashel, but being refused, Judge Butler on Dec
Is, sentenced the accused to be hanged Th
Supreme Court was then appealed to, and seve
raj months passed before the Judgment Of tn
Court of this County was affirmed. Then tn
case was taken to the Board of Pardons
aud petitions, numerously signed, were
. brought forward to secure at least
= Communication of the sentence, but the Board re
. fused any action, and ON the 14th OF last month
a Governor Hartranft signed the death warrant.
e THE PRISONER HAS PRESERVED,
= during his long imprisonment, stolid front, a
one capable of such a series of crimes might b
| expected to do. He has always denied his guilt
ard has eagerly grasped at every possible legs
\ means to save himself. More recently, however
it has been given out that he had tacitly ad
united to the ministers who have been vistin
nnl, tnaC ne WAS justly accused. lie ma
eaten heartily, slept soundly, aud preserved a
II nuiliuching demeanor. The Jail recently. Ina
Ii bern closely guarded. and only the relations G
the prisoner, his counsel and the ministers hav
i beyn admitted. These keep their own COUNSEL
AM communicate nothing OF what takes pac
IL VII lin the cell of the doomed man.
r I,ecently he has begun, they say to realize hi
position. He has ceased to talk of pardon or re
" Ireve the injustice Of lawsuits, and the uncel
tainty of trials by jury, and his whole converss
ton is of religious character, and his only quer
d If, "What shall do to be saved p Rev. Messr
- II iris, Best and Evaus have been with hit
= IN my hours every day. and endeavor topoint on
tha way of salvation.
THE LAST HOURS
GA Tuesday, his mother took leave Of him
bu' she again visited the Jail to-day. sli
ha, been here, frequently ever since he wa
: im ,rsoned, and has been the strongest suppoi
le he had. The father has also been here, seN
II or, times lately.
: 10 day, Sheriff Gill received the following tel
: o. ram from the Governor
i HARRIsBURa, November IL. 1874
e You may say to Udderzook that the applci
" Il ~ for reprleve in his bl half has been full
5 c nlsidered, and the decision is adverse.
10 Signed, JOHN F. HARTRANFr
rhis was read to Udderzook 10 his cell.
rne coffin has been made, upon the order
III Sheriff. II is of plain pine boards. The bod,
il ia expected, will be buried in the Friends bI