Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-02
Caught in His own Trap.

A HoARY old villain of Newark, N. j.
William Cunningham by name-was
adrOitly caught In his own trap, which he
had set for the murder Of his own poor
old wife, who had brought him thirteen
children. Cunningham had money and
he found poor fellow, Norwood Hat
field, who had none, but who needed
some TO help his two brothers out of u
bad scrape. Cunningham's money APP
preached Hatfield's needs at first by
stealth, and then came boldly out and
pointed the way to n murder. Cunning
ham wanted his wife assassinated, and
put the job in Hatfelds hands. Hat
field was not that kind of a man, at least
not for SO small an amount rs Cunning
ham was willing to give for the perilous
work. He listened 10 him, though, and
agreed to make him a widOwer; but he
let the police into the secret while the
plot was coming to head in Cunning
hams brain. Hatfield was advised by
the Chief of Police to go on with the
business up to the moment of execution.
AT first il was arranged that Cunningham
should leave his back door open on q GER
tain night, by which Hatfield was to enter
the house, kill the old woman in her bed,
and bind and gag him so that he could
that looked rather odd, and Cunning
ham, himself, was much too near the
prospective scene of blood to feel pleas
ant contemplating 1t. 1t might, besides,
give the law hitch upon him. He
abandoned that plan as impolitic, if not
| impracticable, and concocted an alibi
which would place MIN clear outside of
suspicion. Hatfield was shown over the
house in the old woman's absence to see
how the land lay and feel at home when
he should visit it by hirnself. 1t was
arranged that the murder should be done
at seven O'Clock in the morning. Cum
ningham was to leave the house inno-
Gently at $780, and take the train for
| Bloomfield, and return innocently to
Newark at s,3n That strategic move
ment would safely bridge him over tho
bloody chasm. The officers were on the
watch. Cunningham left his home at
the appointed moment, and hastened to
the railroad. An officer entered the
house and asked Mrs. Cunningham to 60
with him to the police headquarters.
She was questioned about her life with
her husband, and stated that they were
not living happily together He had
not spoken to her for the last
three months, and about year
| uSO hC huu lllCu w BOloOh
her. Although her husband was
a man of means he allowed her only two
dollars and half week to provide for
the house While this examination was
in progress an officer was at the depot
awaiting the arrival of the $50 train
from Bloomfield. Cunningham came,
according to programme, and was ar
rested. When the policeman put his
hand on Cunningham's shoulder, and be-
fore word had been spoken, Cunning
ham asked if anything had happened at
the house. The officer gave him no sat
isfaction, and he ut once took it fol
granted that his wife had keen killed
He spoke of her as dcad-foully mur'
dered- during his absence, and moancd
and groaned in legitimate style. He
proved good actor but bad tragedy
plotter. He thoroughly convicted him
self before he was told that his wife was
not killed according to contract. This
news astounded him. He was locked VI
for examination, and at last accounts die
not know how the case stood. 1t wOuC
not be safe for him to so home now, anC
it is not likely he will have the pleasure
of contributing two dollars and half {
week for the maintenance of his family
any more A more cowardly old scOun
drel probably does not live.-St LOut
Republican.