The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-12
MURDER AFTER DIVORCE.
A REMIRKABLE CASE on TRIAL IN
81. AUG USTINE, FLA.
A Nephew Driven by his Aunt TO Commit
Double Murdcr-A Nice Young Man TO 40
n Fishing witb-A Network Of Crime,

a Fishing wi,b-A Network Of Crime.
ST. AUGUSTINE. Fla. Dot. 6.-Mary Ann
Keech. alias Newton, has just been convicted OF
connection with the murder OF Ellen Hunt,
alias Ellen Keech. as accessory before the fact.
Tue circumstances Of this case are In some re-
spects peculiar.
Nearly quarter OF century AGO Henry
keech living In Wisconsin, married a woman
known as Mary Ann Newton. After twenty
years OF welded life Mr.. and Mrs Keech quar-
relied and obtained divorce. The court de-
creed that certain property should be settled
ON Mrs. keech, who reassumod her maiden
namo, and who Is the defendant In this trial.
Keech had the deeds to this property drawn up.
showed them to hts late wife. told her he would
have them properly recorded, and then felo-
niously decamped to Florida. lilo settled at
jacksonville. invested his funds in real estate at
that place and at 1t. Augustine. Among other
lands, Kccch owned a farm near st. Augustine.
Here he lived with a woman named Ellen Hunt
who pissed rs his wife. Three years and half
have passed since his departure from Wisconsin.
In May last Mrs. Newton. learning Of tho
whereabouts and circumstances OF her former
husband hired a nephew named William New
ton to 90 to- Florida for the purpose of killing
keech and Ellen Hunt and obtaining the title
deeds which the court had decrcod her VIM.
Newton visited the farm house near St. Angus
tine. passing himself on as purchaser of real
estate who Intended to settle in that region.
lie spent the night at Kcech's house, and In the
morning invited his host to 90 fishing. The
two men made the excursion IA proposed.
MURDER AND MIRACULOUS RECOVERY.
Upon their return to shore, while Keech was
fastening the boat. Newton crept up behind and
shot him in the back Of the neck. Keech fell,
and Newton, to complete the work, pounded
tho head of his victim between two coquina
rocks until he deemed him dead, and, even then
unsat tisned, cut his throat aud departed. The
murderer then sought the house and put three
/ s.Nal.I hall 4larh fhR gaYnn -
searched the house for certain papers relating
to the investment OF keechs property, he took
a saddle horse from the stable and rode away.
The ncghhors soon discovered the dead wo-
man, and also found keech near the shOre
! Strange to say the latter was not dead, and has
since recovered. The officers Of the law gave
cnas " Newton, and captured him in the vicin-
lhe most singular part OF the story Ia still to
| be told. when Newton was arrested. he gave to
| his captors a letter addressed to Mary Ann New
| ton, In Wisconsin. They mailed II without OPEN
ing. In this letter Newton, IA has since ap.
pearcd. Informed his aunt Of the success OF bis
| murdernis mission. In consequence, the dt-
| VOL, ed wife came down to Jacksonville, claimed
| that size was the widow or Henry keeoh, VINO
| had hepu murdered. and began TO collect, or to
| try to collect, Z. nts on his investments, IL is
| not difficult 60 ima-ine her surprise and coniu-
sion when she learned that Henry teech was
not dead, but was IN 81. Augustine ana IN iair
| way to recover from his wounds
In the mean time, Newton, who was impris-
| oncd at st. Augustine ana who had unrtialy
confessed ms crimes had gwen the oherln IA
order on the JacksOntilie postmaster ior let
| ter directed tN ulnstll NiAcI an hsSuintu hallt.
| Ihc ShcuG obtained ana upencd this letter. IL
proved TO bc from the aunt. aud, although art
fully disguised, implicated her a. an accompce
III the murder. She was Therefore arrested ana
! brought to ST. Augustine. Al the preliminary
| examination Newton testified against his aunt.
| de ply eliminating himself his course was
| taken to make him states evidence. and thus
| tighten his own load OF responsibility.
MENTIONS TRIAL.
At the trial last week Newton repeated his
seif-lnculpatlDg testimony. lie confessed that
he had been hired 10y Mary Ann Newton to kin
| Henry keech and Ellen Hunt, and that she had
! 10y the crime rhe pistol with which the IA n
| and woman hSd been shot was Acknowledged
| by Newton a. one pufchased for hun la Whcon-
| sin 10y Ina uunt.
The defendant's counsel raised a point az to
! the admissitilitY of the testimony ot Newton,
! the principal felOn. Judge Archibald ruled
| that he hA not vet been shown to DC The prln-
! The iury found Mr.. Newton guilty. ana she VIII
| he sentenced to death. Newton viii be tiled
next for murder In the nfst degree and to COM
/ plete the confusion Of this intricate tangle OF
| crimes the grand jury has sent III true bil
| against kecoh, the half-murdcTed man, for hv-
| ing in corcubnage with Ellen Hunt.
| Mrs Ncwton's counsel have appealed to the
| supreme Court which meets in January next
| Ii Is not believed that the appeal will he sus-
| tanned.
ST AUGUSTINE, Oct. THE trial OF Newton IL
now ia progress. II IL said that his testimony
in the preceding trial will not bo received as
states evidence, and that he VIII he disappointed
IA any hope of pardon on this account. The
testimony II kcech, whom lac attempted TO Kill
will be sufficient to convict him, independents OF
any confession OF his own.