The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-24
THE STORY OF HIS WRONGS.
Carruth'S Attacks Caused the INSANITY
of Lands Wife.
LANDS ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
Prison Treatment and Expe-
riences Described.

Of the County Jail, which is an institution resem.
bling secluded private residence or an srisro.
cratic young ladies' seminary. The prisoner has q
small cell in the women's department OF the JAIL
but during the interview he was alternately
pacing up and down the corridor for exer.
else or reclining on the moor on some
wis and pillow. He was very courteous
and gentlemanly and perfectly willing to talk
to the HERALD representative, although he mas
refused to see every other journalist In con.
versation OF an hour and hall he gave q detailed
history OF tine events leading TO the shooting.
THE INTERVIEW WITH lands.
Alter stating that ever since Carruth has been
editor OF the Independent his assaults upon him
tLandsl have been merciless, Mr.. Lands said that
"As long as Carruth confined his attacks to me
felt like general in battle, VINO knows that II
he can stand pounding he will tire out the enemy;
and knew that II could not outllve his sour.
rllity l did not deserve to succeed; but
when he began to attack my wife and children It
was a far different matter Not only was 1t my
DUTY to protect them at all hazards, but my WHO
is OF a very excitable nature; insanity Is in her
blood, and these illusions to her actually drove
| her mao Copies OF these articles were thrust
under the door or thrown into the window. spite
OF all precautions, and she finally became so
violent that she was dangerous, and had often
TO cali the servants to help me hold her. On the
|
urged DR.. Lane to give her an
anodyne. She talked continually OF the
articles In the Independent. she was encetnte,
and there was a certainty, this the doctor as.
sured her. that her reason would be permanently
overthrow unless the excitement was removed
He said that ii he gave her optate 1t would en-
danger life, and the only remeoy was to remove
the exciting cause. She had often been insane
for week at a time, after a sanderous article In
l Went to my , ONCE se cary; leaving her
and found her in a state OF violent and
dangerous excitement, with the slip from
1t to her. DO not know wno never could keep
them out OF the house. She showed IT TO me. /
words. knew the danger to her reason and her
life. saw the folly OF the Efforts had made Tor
Years to keep these articles from her knowledge.
/ became desperate. ran up stairs TO my library
and locked the door.
Iran to desk and seized q pistol which kept
there. placed the muzzle to my head and pulled
the trigger. Tne cartridge ala not explode.
what would seem cowardly suicide. | saw
that was Killing the injured man IN
stead OF the aggressor. and remembered that
the doctor had SAID that the excltlng cause must
be removed or my vile would become incuraDiy
insane knew that man would never cease his
| persecution as long as lie lived. 1 dropped the
pistol. and picked up an English revolver had
purchased IN Europe.
THE SHOOTING.
went straight 10 Carruth's office and asked for
him. There was no one IN the editorlai roo
| and In the ADJOINING they told me lie was out
| and sent boy after min. walked up anu oown
the little room until Carrutn came IN winch
| was alter about two minutes waiting. ! did
| not walt ten minutes as they say When
he, came | showed nim the slip and SAID,
81 did, and nave done BEFORE" or ~ VIII 30 1t
again." | do not remember exactly which.
Was perfectly cool and collected. and remember
distinctly all That occurred before the shooting.
We bo:h spoke quietly Du. Carrulhs manner was
Insulting. He stood near me with his hand IN his
| breast. | thought he held pistol. have often
heard shat he always went armed. believed he
was then ana oeIeve IL now: sala, NV ~, you
answered immediately NO" defend yourself
them" cried ana presented tne pistol. re-
memoer following him through door and seeing
him all, but have no remembrance OF being in
the printing office. thought l snot him in the
hall.
AFTER THE SHOOTING.
Then all was as. an -, excited t whr!; l remember
with Mr. Dickson strokng my mead. 1 remember
that my 1rst WORDS we're. "Have shot Carrutn!',
j was told Then my executive haoif came back
TO me, aud SAID, Telegraph TO Philadelphia at
oncs Tor DR.; vo nccintoc "a, 10 come | asked
cannot recall those TWO hours | remember there
was crowd and was put into carriage and
since my vile has been calm. she is either
stunned by this greater trouble, or she feels that
these cruel attacks. DR.. McClintock could not
come to attend Carruth. but he sent DR.. Gross,
OF God more ntLing man could not have been
chosen. He came twenty-four hours after the
shootlng, ana was tne hrst one 10 take any active
surgeon mad been bathing and nursing him, but
he performed an operation. hope ne may save
Carruth's life, and II he does shall have been the
means, in sending this surgeon TO HIM; Tor with.
out his attention he would have died.
THE PEACE vOLICY.
In reply to question as TO why he did not cow
hide the editor, instead OF resorting TO these vio
lent measures Mr.. Landis replied. had
ouen thought OF that, but could not. have only
one arm. My right arm Is disabled from sever.
years ago. I could not lift nve pounds with 1t. {
have thought OF hiring man 10 cowhde this fell
low, but tnat would look cowardly and would have
made him still more vindictlve. had no remedy
at law. me hoe! law in TINS State IS
with an indictabie offence, mentioning you
by name; and at clvii law you can only get redress
extent to which you nave been injured. How
could do tnlsy Carrutn was too clever man to
eminent lawyers OF the State without success, and
] had a standing engagement with u lawyer here
none OF his attacks came within the law. l was
discouraged was in despair Ny wie's reason
ana ner life itself depended upon the cessation of
TINS cruelty.
PREPARING TO DIE
When went to Carrutns orlce was certain
there would be tight and was prepared to die
myself. l am no hgnter l dd not wear arms AS
l believe ne did, and was willing 10 die In an
effort to save my vile in struggle with him. l
did not go to shoot MN down witnout giving MIN
Il cnance to defend himself. III had intended tnat
should nave Killed hun before he reached the
second room. should nave fired before 1 spoke.
| SAID to him and he said to me just what have
told you. There was not shadow of
truth the article OF that morning, and
when he SAID that he would continue hrs
persecution OF her knew OF but one course TO
take, ana fred was cool up 10 that time, out
all Is confused alter that. l DO not remember
standing over the body and saying what IS
attributed to me. ] 90 not ike 10 speak harshly
OF Carruth now, but ne was like the creatures
told OF In The German legend, who lived by suck
ing the blood Oh innocent women and children
He represents no more the profession OF journal
ism IMAM he belongs 10 the order ot gentlemen
or honest men,
! lands AND HIS FUTURE.
| Mr.. Lands SAD much more, gong into details
as TO Carruth's persistent vlndictlveness and Its
! enect upon hrs. Lands and MS children. He
earnestly and repeatedly asserted, on his own OBJ
| servatiOn ana the assurances OF ms physician,
that the lady's nts oil Madness were produced only
by tae cruelty OF the articles Ia the Independenh
| Ine prlSOrerS nArrlLlYe nerIectLI clclr ana