American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-04-10
oAreHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.

A hoary old villain OF Newark,
N. J., William Cunningham by
name, Was adroitly caught in his
owe trap, which he had Set for the
murder of his own poor old wife,
" no had brought him thirteen chill
dren. Cunningham had money.
aud he found poor fellow, Nor
wood Hatfield, who had none, hut
who needed some to help his two
brothers out of bad scrape. Cun-
ningham's money approached Hat
fields needs at first by stealth, and
then came boldly out and pointed
the way to murder. Canning ham
wanted his wife assassinated, aud
put the job III Elattield's hands.
Hatfield was not that kind of ii man
at least not for 80 small All
amount AS Cunningham was willing
| to give Tor the Perilous work. He
| listened TO HIM, though, and agreed
| to make him a wldOwrr; but he let
the police into the secret while the
! plot was coming to Il head III Gun
uiugha ms bi ain. Hat field was ad
vised by the chi-t OF police to go
Ii
ment of execution. AT first 1t Was
arranged that Cunningham should
leave his back door open Oh ii GER
tain night, by whlcn Ha fed wa,
to enter the house, Kill, the Oii
woman in her bed, and bIni ami
gag him so that lie could not BE-
SUSPECTED. On second thought
that looked rather odd, aud Gun
bingham. himself, was much too
near the prospective scene of blood
to feel pleasant contemplating 1t.
IL might, besides, give the law a
possible hitch upon him. He aban.
doned that plan as impoitic, if not
im and cOncOcted an alihi
which would place HIM Clear out
side of suspicion. Hatfield was
shown over the house, i'll the obi
wOman's absence, to See how the
laud lay. and feel at home when
lie should visit it by himself Il
was arranged that the murder
should be done at 7 O'Clock in Tho
morning.. Cunningham was Il
leave the house IlnOcently at $50
aud take the train tor Bloomfield
and return innocently 10 Newark al
$50. That strategic movement
would safely bridge him over III.
bloody chasm. The officers were o,
the watch. Cunningham Jeff hi.
home at the appointed moment, ait
, FASTENED 10 the raiiraod- Au Off
. Ger entered The house, ami a-he,
, Mis-. CunninghaIn to GO with hin.
hA h.A. IL
was questioned about her life witt
her husband, and stated that the,
were not living happily together
He had not spoken to her for til,
, last three months, and about "a yea
! ago he had tiied To poison her. AL
though her husband was a man q
, means he allowed her only 81 50
!. week to provide tor the house.
While this examination was i'll pro
lgress an aflicer Was at the depo
!. awaiting the arrival of the S:3'
= train from Bloomfield. Cunnins
ham came, according 10 programme
= aud Was arrested. When the pu
q liceman put his hand on Cunning
hams shoulder, aud before wor,
, had been spoken, Cunningham ask
, Ell if any thing ha.i. happ"nrd AT tn
house. The officer gave him IL
! satisfaction, and he at once took
! for granted that his wife had ice
!, killed. He spoke of her as dead
!. foully-murdered-during his ah
9 sence, and moaned and groaned i
legitimate style. lie proved
), good actor but a bad tragedy plot
q ter. he thoroughly convicted blu
h self before he was told that his Wit
Was not killed, according to COZ
n tract. This news astounded hin
|. Ho VAS locked up for examination
. and at last accounts did not kno
;. how the case stood. 1t would no
be safe tor him 10 GO home nov
J. and it is not likely that he wi
n have ihe pleasure of contributiu
a 81 5Oa week for the maintenant
i. of his family any more. A MOI
cowarlly old scoundrel probabl
does not live.