Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-08-14
NUMBER Z.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.

Earnest Ortwein, the murderer of the
lammet family, near Pittsburg, Pa, who is
now In Jail awaiting hesigning of the death
warrant by the governor, has made another
confession. In his first confession he said
his object was to get some money supposed
to be in the house, but now he says he at
tempted to outrage Ida, the oldest girl. aged
eight; that her screams aroused the other
two children, 50 alarming him that he killed
all Of them. When Mr.. and Mrs. Hammet
returned, he also killed them and then set
fire to the house, hoping to cover all traces
Of the horrible crime
John Franks, a resident of Marysyille.
small town near Fort Wayne, Ind. ON the
3Oth, took 4 young girl named Elizabeth
Barton out riding, drove into dense woods.
and, despite the desperate struggles Of the
girl ,hrutally outraged her. The villain then
put the girl into the buggy and drove back
to town, where he tied up his horse and fled
to the woods. About 300 men secured the
woods, all Monday night, determined 10
hang him if captured, but he eluded them.
and came to Fort Wayne. where he was
caught. and placed in jail. This is the
third time Franks has been arrested for
rape in the last few years.
Few recent tragedies arc more patheticllly
awful in their characteristics than that OF
which the details come from ST. Louis.
where recently 4 man named William c.
Morgan literally butchered his wife on the
sidewalk in manner horrible to describe
lie was married 70 his victim fifteen years
ago in Cincinnati, and thirteen years since
a daughter, Iva, was born 10 them. Failing
in business in the Queen City, he lived
thereafter an idle and diSsolute life, largely
dependent upon his wife exertions for sup
port. About Two years since the wife. who
Is described as a delicate, refined-looking
woman, many years his junior, removed To
st. Louis. and. as 4 drc,>lnaker. earned
living for herself and child. The husband
followed and lived again largely on her earn
lugs, leading her at the same time. such w,l>
his ingratitude. a very hard life About
month ago he determined 10 get possession
Of the child, and issued writ for the pgr-
pose. Ia court he charged his wife with
inflelity, but the judge denominaicd the
case a farce, and said there was not an atom
in proof of his charge. Mrs. Morgan then
applied for divorce, and shortly after the
husband seized the little girl at church and
made away with her TO Illinois. but was
pursued, arrested, and the child restored To
lis mother. Bafllei and reyenseiul, he way
laid his poor wife a. she entered Il store
called her ont. knocked her to the ground.
and then, picking her up, plunged a knife
into her side twice, breaking the handle
from the blade a. he buried it in her body.
y the unfortunate woman was last dying
he was taken 10 her bedside and identified a.
her slayer, remaining >toically Indifferent
the while His victim was then placed
under opiatcs and soon expired. The part
IN scene between the murdered woman and
her little daughter is described as pitiable in
tAe last degree
The terrible Effects Of tie explosion Of >ix
cans # nitr5-glycerine $50 POUNDS, near |
Parker Landing, Pa. are thus described /
Osborne started from Emlenton for Perolia, |
where he was to fill several orders. W hen |
hc reached Parker 1t was too dark to pro- /
ceed further wiki any degree of safety, and /
he was persuaded by a relative 10 remain |
over uight. lie was called early in the /
morning. and obtaining horse and buck /
bard. started from Parker over the rough /
est road that was possible. although II is /
cluiecturcl that be went that way 10 make |
time. O. it Is the nearest route. lie had /
crossed Bear creek and was over a hundred |
feet up Jhe south slope of the hill when the |
explosion occurred O-b1rne'> body was /
horribly mans,el The head and body from
above the hiI-aui portions Of the arms were
thrown oyer ouJ feet from the scene En-
trails. Iart- of clothing and debris could be ]
seen hanging on tops of trees, though they /
were over 100 feet high. The head and por
ii .u- 20. the stonach were found in Bear
creek. over 100 feet distant. The right |
hand va, found nearly halia mile away. and /
in e. radios or a mile numerous other Por-
tilu- were loGnl, but it would be utterly /
i,a,o-~il.e q distinguish them from pur-
,ioas Of the horse, whose body was scattered
ia al directions hy the terrific coucuS~ion.
Tie shoes were torn from the horses feet.
which may DE termed the must singular inci-
dent u tie dreadful disaster. The seat of
the blackboard and Iart Of the structure
were found scattered over bill and rayinc-.
and colll NJ, De distinguished except by Il
ureyi1u. knowledge Of what it WIS. The
trees were stripped of their foliage for rods
around. many o. them being harkci. The
excavation in the road caused hy the expl1-
sion was four 10 five feet deep. and most of
i was from soil ! rock.