The New York herald., 1876-11-29
SAVED FROM THE GALLONS.
THE DEATH SENTENCE OF scHwAMB, THE
UNION HILL MURDERER, COMMITTED TO I'M
PRISoNNRNT ToR LIFE.

UNION HILL MURDERER, COMMITTED TO I'M
PRIsoNNRNr ron LIFE.
TRENTON. N. J., Nov. %, 1875
The Court OF Pardons which consists Of Governor
Bedlo, Chancellor Runyon and Lay Judges Lilly,
Green, Lathrop, Wales, Dodd and Clements, met In
this city this morning, and, after holding brief
session, agreed unanimously to commute tho death
sentence of John Henry Schwamb, now confined in
the Hudson County Jail. TO Imprisonment tor life.
Schwamb wns convicted in Hudson county for the
murder OF William H. Bette.
HISTORY MURDER.
On the Sd OF August last. Schwamb left his homo In
Williamsburg and went to Hobokcn. Here he called
at several saloons where he met acqualntanoes
and drank freely He then proceeded to the house OF
his sister, who kept saloon Union HILL On meeting
her he upbraided her tor not visiting him lending
HIM some money, MS he was poverty stricken After
conversation u fifteen or twenty minutes he became
boisterous loudly declared he would be paci-
fed His sister became alarmed and told him TO leave
the house He rushed toward her, but she ran behind
the counter. Ho then drew revolver and fired twice
at her. but both shots missed one OF the bullets lodg
ing in the panel OF door near her head. Bette,
report of revolver and inquired what The matter
Schwambs sister informed him that her brother
us ns INTO 70 Walked 70 he back
door and was peerng into the darkness when Schwamb
fred and shot him, the ball entering his neck. He
died the following day Schwamb was arrested and
locked up in the local station After an examination
he was committed to the County Jail. The Grand Jury
indicted him tor murder at tho September term. He
unable TO procure counsel and the Court
signed him Messrs. Randolph and vroom. Judge
was mspC Conducted by District Attorney Garresson
After deliberation which was unusually brief
the jury rendered rem asve verdict oI guilty , o.
OF several days Schwamb taken from the
County Jail and brought before the Court of oyer and
hanged on Friday, December 5. When schwamb was
consigned his cell in the lower tier OF the Jail after
wept freely. He seemed to feel that he deserted
by all his friends Ho repeatedly protested that no
did not intend TO XIII Bette as he had no feeling against
him and that he had not been treated with any degree
OF kindness by his family.
Schwamb was born In Germany about hity-seven
years ago. and the eldest Of family OF ten children
His father In comfortable circumstances, and
who did his bcst TO give his children an education
He was unfortunate in business however, and while
Schwamb still boy, or just entering upon lie as
most people do at that period, between boyhood and
manhood, his father died. leaving his property in such
an unsettled state that by the schwamb had done
tho best he could 10 fix matters up ne found there was
nothing OF the property lett he at once set 10 work
ters almost wholly. Among this number was one sister
who blind. After while he married, and at the
ago Of thiryseven years hc set out for America 70
seek his fortune His first wife, by whom he became
the father OF three children, died, and he married
second time. The second wife, who lives at Williams
burg is tho mother of seven children, that, In all,
Schwamb Is the father of ton children. Upon coming
some difficulty with his SISTERS whom he mad brought
up and cared for and ever since he has been on this
side Of tho water has almost constantly been kept
In unenviable state OF mind by them One OF them
told stories Of he had abused them and ltreatcd
them, but mentioned the fact OF his having sup
ported the whole family when they we're too young
take OF themselves, and mono of them have ever
he has been in trouble taken tho pains TO him
and try to help him out or to console him.
Rev Mr. Mohn, OF Hoboken visited HIM in Jail and
spoke in favorable OF his demeanor and atten
tion TO religious Instruction. Mr.. Mohn visited the
family OF tho doomed in Williamsburg Tho
apartments In which ho found Schwambs wife and
five small children were very poorly furnished but
scrupuously neat. In one room he ound five Of tho
doomed mans children at work making toys, by
means Of which they manage TO gain livelihood.
There was large wheel by tho turning OF
which strips OF board crt into shape for
making the toys, and while the eldest OF the i've Gull
dren, boy, marked tho board, and seemed to be the
general superintendent, the child next to him in
age girl, glued the pieces together and three little
girls, together, "made the wheel go round" which
tho machine that cuts up the boards In the proper
and are well behaved children Since Schwamb has
been jail the nged pastor OF the Lutheran church
which he and his family were wont 10 attend
before he got into trouble, has called on him.
This venerable gentleman, who Is very old spoke Of
Schwamb respectable, Industrious, Christian man.
SchwamD says that his family troubles have been the
cause OF all hs msfortunes For six years he has
been able bodied man, hut he has always worked
when ho could 1nd the work to do, and when he has
been out of work his sisters have insultcd HIM and
laughed at him rather than help him.
The efforts to secure Communication OF his sentence
due mainly TO Mr. Charles Adoiphi, of County
Clerk Brahms assistants, who had petition Tor that
purpose circulated throughout Hudson county.