Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-12
The Cidcrz0Ok GaSe-ESecutIou OF
The Criminal.

The case of VIM. E. Undertook, convicted
OF the murder of Winfield s. GoSS, reached to.
day its final termination III the execution OF
til. sGn;cucc OF the law upon the crlmlnal at
West Chester, Pennsylvania. The fearful trag-
edy in which he was the chief actor, aud which
itiugly closed on the galows, will remain
amoLg / he most Notable IN the history OF crime.
UddcrzJvk was at the time Of his death
about 81 years Of age. lie was born 10 Chester
county, Pennsylvania, in humble life, and at
the age of fifteen was approached to the trade
OF blacksmith. After serving his apprentice
ship aud reaching the years OF early manhood,
he removed to Baltimore, where be learned
the trade of maker of edge tools, aud be-
came an accomplished workman He subse-
oueu,y engaged in the business Of butcher,
aud later taught penmanship During the late
civil war he served iu the Federal army, reach
ing the rank of lieutenant. After the war he
returned to Baltimore aud resumed his abnr>
as "a mechanic For time he took au active
iutcrest 10 politics, aud was an unsuccessful
Republican, nominee for the Legislature FROM u
| ward 10 South Baltimore. His education was
meagre, but he vas man OF good Intelligence
aud pleasant manners.
His criminal career may be said TO have be-
gun upon the 2lst OF May, 1868, for upon hat
! day u loss, then diving III Balum IRE. and WHO
had married sister of the wife of Udderzook,
took out au ordinary life policy of 5000 in the
| New York Mutual Life Insurance Company for
| OF tie same year he obtalued policy oi s. 900,
| aisu for the benefit OF his wife, 10 the Cont.
| neuta Lite Insurance Company OF New I ork.
! On the 18th OF October OF the same year he
took OUT an accident policy OF $4,000 in the
all 4 | 10 tr>,,
papy, of Hartford, Connecticut. again in favor
| of his wife. On the 26th of Jauuary, 1872,
| oniy eight days prior TO his alleged death 10y
| burning, he took out an ordinary life policy OF
| s. 1000 In the Knickerbuckar Life Insurance
| Company of New York. He thus held policies
asgrcgatug SIS 600, aud Ujdclz3ok assis, ed
hlm to obtain them, acting as his friend, aud
certifying to the correctness of his statements
GA the ID OF February, 1872, small frame
house. near Waverley, Baltimore county, was
discovered suddenly to be 10 flames 1t was
known TO the residents Of the immediate ueigh-
borhuod that the building had been rented for
several months by W. s. Guss, aud he had
gwen out the report that he was engaged 10
| experimenting 10 produce an article 10 supply
the place OF ludla rubber. His movements
were quiet, and the impression was made that
| he WIS making secret experiments. ga the
evening OF the burning, Undertook had accom-.
panied GoSs TO the house on the York road,
but was not 10 the building when the fire was
| first discovered, having gone TO the residence
Of Mr. Eugle, but a short distance of. and
/ requested the loan, for GoSs' use, Of large
coal oil lamp. When the fire was discovered
the entire Deiehborhuod was aroused. aud a
considerable uuuber OF persons hurried to the
Scepe, UGdarz )ok being among them. After
the fire had nearly consumed the ictauable
structure, Undertook suggested that GoSs
mig hit have persisted in the fumes. Surprise
was openly expressed to him at the lateuess Of
the suggestion, aud efforts were at once direct,
ed TO a search Tor the body OF GosS. ln a
snort time the trunk of body Was discovered.
aud it was with some difficulty dragged out OF
the ruins Ii was then found that but little
renamed of il: both legs had been burned off
up 10 the kuees; the right hand had been de-
stroyed; the face and head had been nearly con.
suuued, ami the corpse was generally charred