Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-28
SUICIDE OF THE TWINS.
OFFICER JARvIs' ASSAILANTS DROWN
THEMSELVES.
Deliberately Meeting Death in Trenton. n.
j., because lhey Feared Arrest
aud the Hansn ans Rope,

j., because hey Feared Arrest
and the Hansman's Rope,
Philadelphia Record.
William aud Jacob Rusk, the twin
brothers of this city, who stabbed Officer
Jarvis on Christmas night, committed sui
eide in Trenton, n. j., yesterday, by
drowning themselves in a stream known
as the Water Power. adjacent to the state
house. They took off their coats and
hats, laid them on the 6ank, tied their
hands aud feet fast with c!otheslire, then
bound themselves together and jump: d
from bridge into the water. The body
of William was found in the afternoon, at
half past six o'clock, and that Of Jacob 81
nine o'clock last night. Their brother
John was present at the finding Of the
bodies. When the first ono was paIled out
John hauled it up to tho bank, threw him
| at the same time uttered imprecatiOus
against the Philadelphia police who, lie
said, had dosged his brothers and made
them commit self destruction. The bodies
were dressed in wOrkingmen's clothes,
and looked rs much like each other in the
features as if both hal but one life and
soul.
They stabbed Police Officer Jarvis while
he and another officer were trying to al rest
them for Obstructing the sidewalk. After
the stabbinS they were taken to Trenton
by their brother John to escape arrest.
They came on the Owl line over the Bound
Brook route, arriving at 2 o'clock in the
morning. They were taken to the house
Of James Mills, i tobaccouist, on Willow
street, whose sister is married to John
Iiusk.
Here thcy were concealed all day.
They retired to bed at night and early
yesterday morning, about 3 o'clock, they
arose and dressed themselves. They told
their sister in-law that they were going to
drown themselves and that their clothes
would be found on the bank where they
would jump into the water. They then
went out in tho yard, cut 4 large piece
from the clothes line, and hurriedly do
parted. The sister in law followed part OF
the way, but soon lost Int of them.
In the morning, about six o'clock,
Thomas Hill, a night watchman, found
the clothes on the bank, and wondered
what was the matter. He took them to
the police station, but still no light was
thrown on the mystery.
In the meanwhile Mrs. Rusk tele.raphed
to her husband, John, who had gone back
J to Philadelphia, acquainting him of what
his brothers had said and done. He re-
turned to Trenton, saw the watchman who
had found the clothes, and identifying the
latter his worst fears were aroused. Ii.
visited tho water power and employee
Thomas AID William Ford to drag the
stream. They began at four o'clock aud
were rewarded for their efforts by finding
Williams body at half-past 6. Not more
than half dozen persons were present,
md tI,nc s,,k i
with the dead body On the side of ths
bank, the brother venting his rage agains
those whom he charged with having
driven the unfortunate man to suicide, t.ls
0 splashiug Of the oars in the water, with
= the two ghostlikc figures in the little boat
, all left an impression on the few specta
n tors which will not soon be forgotten.
The coroner viewed the bodies and or
4 dered them to be taken to the Morgue
g where they now lie. An inques5 vii! b;
8 held to day.
3, Chief of Police Givin sent dispatch t,
the Trenton authorities Oh Tuesday to tn
: effect that the Rasks had fed to that city
e and giving orders to arrest them. Tn,
4 efforts, if any, made by the Trenton polio
q to capture them seems to hayo been YER
feeble. The house where they stopped i
y near the heart of tho city, and any Oh
Q possessed of the least detective skill, j
n he tried, might have arrested then,
q They were rs years Of age, and ;iloir ap
, pearance while alive was anything but pre-
- possessing.
The news created great sensation il
tie neiShbcrhood where the Rusk brother
u lived, and especially at the Tentl distr;c
S police station, where information of til
$ suicide was received at an early hour i
:. the evening, but was at first discrcd
~ tied.
= Lieut.. Beale pooh-hooded the story 4
y they were not the kind Of men to XII
@ themselves" Information has been re
q ceived at the station house that th
:, brothers had taken q small row boat a fe,
" hours after the assault Oh Jarvis and s,on
s up the river, 1t was supposed on thoir GSa
o to Trenton. Steps were at once taken t
Is have that city closely watched.
Last night the foil owing message t. Il,
chief Of police in this city was sent TO tL
II lieutenant
e The Rusk boys have been in our cit,
It We hunted them So closely that the
# drowned themselves in the canal here
- We have found one of the bodies, and ez
:" pect to recover the other to night.
G. IL. McCHEsNEY,
It 'Cilief of Police. Trenton"
S Al No. 140 North Girard avenue, whe,
y the mother of tho boys and two sister
live, no news had been received carly i
. the evening except that which came iror
,. talk On the street. Mrs. Rusk aud he
= two daughters said that they could nc
II credit tho story, and did not appear to b
% very much excited over the affair. The
II said that they had no: seen or heard frer
tie boys since the evening before the as
). sault occurred.
The record of the two dead men is dis
n cceditable. They have lived Oh Girar,
,. avenue ever since they were born. Fo
years past they have been members OF, o
in some manner associated with, Il socia
o organization known as the "Whit
n Fawn," which until within year had it
Il headquarters at Nos. 1919 and 122
:, Mascher street. Eight months ago th
y club was broker UP, as the respectabl
= members refused to 60 on with it, and OF
. ganized the Howard and Girard avenue
# The effects OF the club were divided, an,
). it is said the Rusk boys and som
:. OF their companions retaining tn
u old name organized themselves, an,
y had occupied rooms on Girar,
n avenue, below Leopard street. Thes
c headquarters were given up, it is said, i,
4 order to get the money for the effects t.
defend William Rusk, when he was being
Z tried for an assault upon Officer Jarvis, o.
n June 4 last. In Februry. 1877, John Nc
It Cool was stabbed and killed at bal
I given by the American Mechanics, a
J, Fourth and George streets. The stab wa
:. intended for Officer Harry Deal, who wa