The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-05-22
MURDER ON THE FRONTIER.
A Story Of Guilty Love and it's Fatal
Consequences.
Murder Of Witness by the Guilty
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| SSIoCSttCASS9.
Murder Of a Witness by the Guilty
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h,iE ,"gEalaJ T---i0 tsfJ sa9if9t /
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OF A
lsyb BEAUTIFUL WOMAN OF
TWENTY.
slD oszs cHr sEs 7cS ous4r, Nnb.,l
ls's'g8 April "a, 1878.
1.-THE trial Of" Mrs. Mary Oval
|rats: for The murder Of Chaas.. Phillips
was concluded at this place today,
The Jury after being out eighteen
hours bringing IN a verdict Of 'mnu,Sr muir.
der in The second degree. The case
has created the most intense excite
ment in this county, and the popular
opinion. indorses the verdict of the
Jury. Mrs. Walrath, a young and
beautiful woman Of twenty years of
age, has been convicted entirely on
her own confession, made to differ
ent parties, and there seems to be no
question as to her guilt. =
'''.'s''' THE LOCALITY.
Near Big Spring Station, seventy
five miles east of here, is situated
the ranch of the Walrath Brothers.
On this ranch lived Andrew Walrath,
Baggage Walrath and his wife Mary
D. 'Walratb, Charles Phillips and
Harry Dubois, the latter two en-
ployees of the Walraths. In this
sparsely settled country the ranches
fare usually some distance apart. and
the nearest neighbor to Che Walraths
was five miles away. It consequent
" happened that weeks would elapse
during which they would be left en-
tirely alone, and when, il the latter
part Of February, Charles Phillips
was missed there was no suspicion
Of foul play, and the reply TO a cash.
al inquiry that he left the country
caused no suspicion. and hut for the
fears OF conscience stricken woman
The Platte River would forever have
concealed The evidence of an afro
cious crime. ''''' f''1 5. s''' t'''
| THE CONFESSION.
On the Oath of February, Michae'
Radclid called at tile ranch of the
Walraths, and while looking owe,
an album with Mrs. Walratl came tt
the photograph of Phillips. He ask
ed her where Phillips was, and aftel
a few moments hesitation she re
Il'licd that he was not. over a thou
sand miles away, adding that she hat
a SECRET to tell him.. The evidenc.
does not show. that she made any
promise, but she proceeded TO say
that if he would 60 south toward thu
Platte River about a mile he woult
Gnd near "a clump of bushes the!plact
!. where Phillips had been Killed; thai
if he would uncover a heap of sane
there be would find traces Of blood
that he would find a trailein the sane
where the body had been, dragged t.
the Platte River and thrown in Sh,
repeated this same statement to NJ
G, Cook the same day, adding to i
that Harry Duboisshad said TO Phil
lips Con or about the evening o
February 2d) that ii he would g,
with him that night he would shov
him where he had money buried, oh
tanned from The Big Springs robbery
Phillips, told Mrs., Wa!rath that b.
was All aid TO, go,y because, they ha'
had a fight few days before, and h
requested her to follow him., whicl
she did. When Phillips and Duboi
reached the clump Of trees Duboi
said, Charley, what is that COMM
down the road" ,On, Phillips turn
ing he was shot first in the neck an
then in the right. cheek, and was al
terward dragged to the Platte River
Radclif and Cook = immediatel
communicated with a Mr.. Georg
Barhardt, who telegraphed at one
here to the Sheriff, who proceeded t
:, the Walrath ranch and arrested d.
bois. On entering the room fe'
minutes later Mrs. Walrath, on SCI
ling Dubois handcuffed, exclaimed
''There are more guilty hands tina
, his % Upon being questioned by til
, Sheriff in the presence of Barnard
she stated that she. heard the shot
\ "Did Charley say anything whe
he was shol?' was asked.
"No, he groaned and fell down.
"What did you .de?"
81 ran as fast as my legs woul
lftake me" ~ :