Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-06
A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
OUTRAGE AND MURDER.
A JOHN STREET TRAGEDY.
ED. SANDERS'S LAST CRIME.
Outrage. and Death of His Victim

W
John street, in the Seventh ward, this citv
highway that leads in toward the south
east, from East King street at the poin
made by junction with Middle, was the
scene OF an awful tragedy at II O'Clock
last night, the like of which has not. hap
PLY, been known in our city for many
years. 1he Chief actor IN 1t was Ed. San
ders, we'll known in police circles and
whose name has frequently figured as de-
1endant IN the criminal courts Of this
county He has been a dangerous and
desperate character. as our local officers
well know, and the last infamy
with which his name is linked
crowns career that could have
mad no other logical ending than in
shameful crime. His victim in this case.
who came to most horrible death, was a
grass widow named Mary Seymour,
the mother of three children and reported
to be an Industrious and hard working
woman.
The Victim.
John Seymour is q well-known coac,,-
man and ostler of this city. He was for
merly in the employ of Hon. Thos. E,
FRANKLIN, but had to be dismissed some
time ago for dissoluteness. At times he
and his wife lived together, and at other
times his habits were such that his neglect
OF his family compelled her to support
herself, and, even that failing, she would
seek public charity in the almshouse. She
was woman of about 80. Her maiden
name was Quade and she came from the
country, according to one report another.
and probably the true one, is that her name
was Dempsey or Dumpty and her father
has farm on Turkey Hill. She was he.
trayed years ago and left home upon the
disclosure of her shame. Her first and
lllesitimate child was born at the aims
house, where she sought refuge. After that
She met and married Seymour, who left
her soon after the birth of her last
child. She has married sister, Barbara
.-, residing in Quarryville, and a
cousin, John Riley, in New Jersey. Beyond
these her relatives are not known. Her
three children-Emma, aged IL, Daisy
aged 4 and Johnny aged years and
. months-she has kept with her in her
desertion, her poverty and her struggles
to maintain herself. About three moctbs
ago she left the almshouse for the last
time, and Superintendent John Brock saws
he was sorry to see her go and always
glad when She came. She was such an ex-
cellent worker and SO industrious and
faithful woman in all the departments
oi household labor. Mr.. 3. says she was
[ond OF mems company, but he knew
nothing to her disrepute. She was always
'Verse to being the subject of public char
ty and never lost any opportunity which
opened to earn an independent livelihood.
FINDING chance to rent house cheap on
John street, she took it and took an old
hVaiid woman from the almshouse,
adelaide Robinson, sister of the constable
u Willow Street, with her. to whom
he proposed to give home, lodging, at
entlon and board, in turn for the old lady's
ARE OF her children when she went out
washing and otherwise working. The
louse was furnished in the meagerest
md scantiest manner and only those who
aw 1t could realize tha. q family of five
'ersons could live with so few of the ne
essarles OF life. 1t seems that from this
tumble home Mary Seymour went forth
'lmost daily to whatever employment she
ould find; and among her neighbors she
'ore a good name and with those for whom
he worked she had the reputation of be-
ng industrious and faithful.
The Crime.
Philip Rogers, alias "FOp' Ro,crs. a |
Dung man whose associations are none of
he best, and who leads a kind of vagrant
fe IN that neighborhood, used to hang
round Mrs. Seymour's house all
ood deal, and the neighbors say
ne was wont to ask him in and
i've him bite to eat and a roof to
over him. Last evening he was at the
ouse and seems to have been asleep in
ie back room. According to all the re-
orts Of what followed Ed. Sanders, who
intimate with Rogers-though no con-
ection between them last night can be
aced-came to the house some time be- Q
re Il o'clock last night. Mrs. Seymour
as in the front room, downstairs it is
one-story frame house-attending
Adelaide Robinson, and was in n
e act Of administering her medicine, II
hen Sanders knocked at the window and q
ked to be let in. 1t seems that Sanders
ID never visited the house before. except
zee to run through it ; as the neighbors d
Stify, "she hated the sight of him." Mrs. 81
ymour heard him knock and call ana 81
the voice. She refused to let Ia
NJ in, said Mrs. Robinson was sick G.
d needed her attention. He urged tl
r again and again to open the u
or and finally told her he wanted to tell 10
r something very particular. Thus "
pealed to, she consented. and opening u
} door lie entered. Almost Immediately b
fell upon her and fercely assaulted her. d
e screamed and struggled and resisted
his efforts of fpersuasion or force to out.
% her person. Finally he foScibly over. I'll
ne her and accomplished his vile pur- III
les. "a
Rogcrs's Flight. w
leanwhile Rogers, who had been br
ing in the kitchen, was awak- an
d by the screams and strug- bi
S, land looking in the door was affrighted tn
what he saw in the front room, and, til
aking out the back door and across the br,
fled the scene IT, dops MT ,ppoo, | iSt