River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-02
4 Clergyman Murdered.

The correspondent of Baltimore
paper, Writing from Hagerstown, Nd,
gives an account of the murder of a
clergyman last May and the means by
which the murderers were hunted down
and captured. The correspondent says
The deceased was found in the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal in May, anti on the
first Of June the coTUner's jury rendered
a verdict Of accidental death. After a
visit to Harper's Ferry, Va, end Hagers-
town, AID careful investigation in both
places your correspondent finds the fol-
lowing facts, which are correct: On
Nav 81 Rev John NJ Friday was called
upon to cross the river into this State
and marry a couple who desired extreme
privacy. It was then known that he had
left his home. but where he had gone or
his purpose was not known. He did not
return on the night of the day mentioned,
and the following day a thorough search
was instituted. His body vas found in
the cahal as stated. Although the coro-
ner'. jury had rendered a verdict of acct
dental death, sUspicions were aroused, as
there were several Commissions on the back
of the deceased's head. 4 thorough
search was instituted by the municipal
authorities, but with no good result.
As last resort, the church of which
the deceased had been pastor employed
the firm of Smith s West, detectives, of
Baltimore. This firm sent Patsy Carsner
to Harper's Ferry Oh the twelfth of June.
He was dressed as a miner, and formed
association with the lower classes imme-
Il h. rxrlnn cH
friendliness toward the officer than any
other was James Gardner, who seemed to
want to impart some information of some
kind. After the two had become in
innate, Gardner asked the disguised
detective if he did not live by his wits.
When he was answered in the affirma-
tive, the officer also intimating in a dark
way that Pennsylvania wanted him for
knocking down some one, of the effect
of which the person had expired, Gard
ner grew confidential also,and volunteered
the information that he and a pal, j. w.
Grove, had tapped the preacher, but said
they had made no stuff, as their man
tumbled into the canal, from where they
could no. take him. Then Patsy Carsner
smiled, and asked how the deed had been
done. Gardner said that he and Grove
had been up the canal stealing onions,
which they had in bag When approach
ing the ferry bridge they came upon
some one, when it was proposed to rob
him. Gardner says that Grove carried
the bag and struck the deceased over the
head with it. He fell and rolled into the
canal. The guilty parties then passed
on, and mum was the word. After the
confession Carsner dispatched for a re:
QUESTION, but none came. 1t was then his
duty to get Gardner into the State.
The officer put up job to rob Mr..
Samuel Tregallis, salesman from Balti-
mire, who was there at the hotel await
ing the arrival of the train. He hired a
man to steal bundle from the gentle
man and run with ii across the bridge to
the Maryland side, where he and the
murderers would be in waiting, Gardner
being previously put up to the manner Of
making the job. Mr.. Tregallis and sew
eral friends saw the bundle taken, but
not being cognizant Of the trick at once
pursued the thief, who ran over the
bridge. When Mr.. Tregallis arrived on
the Maryland side he saw Carsner stand
ing there with the bundle of goods. He
at once claimed his property. Carsner
advised him that he was fool; he could
not get the goods OF have an arrest made
in Maryland for the offense which had
been committed in Virginia.
Gardner then stepped from the bushes
and proposed to push the salesman into
the canal. Then Carsner said to Gard
ner 1--WE are on dangerous ground and
we had better take the first train east"
They went 10 Baltimore and back TO Ha-
gerstown, thence to the ferry, where the
crowd assembled at house on the noun
tain side By this time the requisition
had arrived. The agent of Pink West,
Patsy, had left word for West as to his
whereabouts, and he, WEST accompa-
MED By deputy sheriff Leggett, repaired
thither. and at eleven o'clock A. NJ. made
the arrest of both of the accused. The
decoy officer was handcufed with the
criminals and the whole party were at
once brought here. The officer was re-
leased and the two prisoners committed
to Jail,