The New York herald., 1875-12-06
THE JENNIE GILMoUR MURDER.

/ TORONTO, Ont, Dec. g. 1875.
The readers Of the HERALD viii remember despatch
sent from this place about the middle OF October last
giving the trial and conviction OF Arthur
| Paul Davis notorious medical specialist, and
| his wife for the murder OF a young girl
| named Jennie Gilmour, the daughter Of
Baptist clergyman II will be remembered that her
nude body found in pine box in some sand pits
the outskirts Of the city the morning of Sunday
the LIST OF August BY chain Of strong circumstantal
evidence her murder brought homo to Dr. Davis
and hts wife, who were sentenced to be hanged on
Wednesday next, December s. Nothing came up dur
ing the Davis trial to point out remotely who
the young Rirl's seducer and the who took her
into the Davis den TO hide her shame and his
crime. 1t has always been felt, therefore, that
CRIMINAL
has escaped the clutches OF law though has
all along been supposed that the authorities
quietly working up the order get hold Of the
man who chiefly responsible for the murder sus-
picon at arst pointed very strongly to young
named Nattrass living in the country, at whose
house the unfortunate girl lived for some time
But all the circumstances were connectedly
developed at the trial, Il became very apparent
that IL country youth who induced her enter
the den IN which she afterward met her death, but
that it was more likely to be some city roue, we'll
acquainted with the detestabe agencies employed 10
gradually strengthened, and
SUSPICION FINALLY SETTLED
upon moving in the upper circles OF Toronto so
ciety, ex-Alderman of the city, member Of the
School Board with family grown up, and OF
them married to people In high social condition in this
city His name Is John Clements Notwiths standing
the respectabilty Of his position and connections
however, Clemeats has had the reputation Of
being somewhat loose In his morals though
none OF his have hitherto been moro
than the subject of gossip among his acquaintances
About two weeks ago It announced by the news
papers that the condemned Davises had each made
confession their clergymen and that both their
statements separately made not only agreed in every
particular, but agreed in duplicating Clements the
man who had engaged them for large sum- per-
form the operation which resulted in the death
of Jennie Gimour. After the confessions
Clements was carefully watched by the
police 1t feared he might
escape, though the authorities did yet deem it ex-
pedent to his arrest Hon. Mr. Blake the Min
lister of Justice shortly afterward Toronto
The evidence in the hands of the authorities placed
before him, and he Immediately ordered the arrest Of
Clements, and arrested accordingly was, aud the
asonishment created by this still fever
heat when it was followed by the announcement that
the Governor General had acting the advice OF the
Minister of Justice,
COMMITTED THE DEATH SENTENCE
passed on Dr. Davis and his wife to Imprisonment in
the Penitentary for life This STEP until explained
very favorably regarded by the people here,
| who had all along loudly demanded that the utmost
rigor of the law should be exercised upon those found
1 guilty of the horrible crime which, far,
/ had been OF occurrence in Canada But II
authoritativey announced that In consequence OF the
principle of the law, that persons under sentence OF
death cannot be called witnesses against Others the
government had deemed II wise to secure the convic-
ton Of the greater criminal by modifying the penalty
be exacted from the two lesser ones. Yesterday
/ CLEMENTS PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
the charge OF being accessory before the fact to
! the murder Of JEANNE Gmour was commenced before
the police magistrate Instead OF attempting give
the evidence there taken il will be moro ntelgibe TO
the general reader TO give the events relating the
AFFAIR as nearly as possible in the order as
| appears from that evidence.
i 0 DETAILS STORY. l..
JEANNE Gilmour lived Tor over year with family
named Nattrass some distance out OF Toronto In the
latter part Of March last she eft this place at her
fathers suggestion, he not being satisfied the
piety Of these people; and, on the advice OF some
| friends she came Clements house in Toronto as
| half companion, half servant, her father not being
unusual was noticed by the father on previous
visits his suspicious that Clements not
the. high Christian character formerly represented
| finally aroused. II may be mentioned that Clements
had rcputedy been converted previous to this under
the ministrations Of Mr.. yarley. the revvalst Dur
ing one or his visits the father noticed that Clements
| and his daughter together early morn
| ing cooking breakfast before the otner in
ansSeT % o o' be Souse Careful her conduc %
he had heard that Clements character OF the
| best He observed that from her appearance her
| health good usual and, mentioning
this to her at the dinner table, she bushed violently
and looked very much confused He also noticed that
Clements, well his daughter, who had been before
| OF very religious turn of mind, seemed both
| to avoid tho religious exercises which he
the house during his stay. On the 18th
OF June he his daughter for the last time alone
and bade her goodby in the lobby OF Clements house,
! though the parting less happy than formerly,
owing 70 her reserve and generally altered demeanor
toward her father ~ should be mentioned that Mr..
Gmour during this time laborlng At station at q
great distance from Toronto She remained at Clems
house until the 9th OF July, when, for
son. she returned to her former friends the Mattresses
on July "a she again TO Toronto IN company with
young Nattrass, who left her in the city between ten
! and eleven A. NJ. An acquaintance named Pavey,
druggist, and spoke to her at the Union station
that day the next aud he swears he never her
| alive afterward on Monday the Goth, a man named
Horace Nottingham her at Arthur Fishers pub
Usher Of city directories here at whose place he was
working that day. II should be mentioned here that
| Mr. Fisher Wawho Is very respectable man,
and long intimate with Clements never mentioned
until very lately that Miss Gmour his house at
suspects him OF any completely in the affair further
than desire TO shield Clements, his silence is not very
favorably commented on
II Is given in evidence that she came 10 Fishers in
answer advertisement Tor sewing girl, the ad
dress having been supplied 70 her oy Clements on
Wednesday, July 2S She LEFT Fisner's house, though
what excuse she gave or where she intended going,
has in the evidence Of Fisher or his wlte.
Another point that has significance here that
Natrass Sr, received letter rom her during that
week. and though its contents have not yet been stated
IL was such character he said, TO lead him TO be-
eve she trouble and he, accordingly after
Toronto but the poor girl was then partially
DECoMPosED
On Saturday night her body taken from the Da
Wis den by Mrs Davis and unknown man and left at
the sand pits where doubtless they intended burying
1t had they been disturbed in their work Earlier
that same night wachman had seen the wagon con
drive OF from tho direction OF Davis house
This was Immediately communicated TO De-
tective Reburn who, thinking the intention might be TO
send il of IN a train which left shortly afterward
went TO tho station where he found Clements APP
parenty on the watch. The latter not, OF course
suspected this initial IN the horrible tragedy
his presence there that time, in view Of later
Developments IS very significant
WHAT PUBLIC SAT-.
The presumption Is either that tho real intention of
the parties was take the body to the train or that
Clements ready TO clear out in of the other
parties being detected in their work Clements asked
Reburn what he doing there, and the latter replied
that he was s'on the outlook