Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-06
FOUL MURDER.
ESCAPING WITH A v1UrlAs WI

FOUL MUkDER.
WITH A vIUTIMy WIFE.
james y. Cross Asssilod BY Charles H'ghley
near Camden and Left alone to Die
in Ditch.
Although ten days had elapsed and the
victim had been buried il was not discov-
cred until Tuesday, and then only through
the evidence adduced at a cOrOnGr's in
quest, that murder had been perpetrated
at the Threshold of farm house within
few miles of Camden. Several farmers who
drove along the Marlton pike. few miles
outside of Camden, on the 2Sth of May
noticed the figure of man apparently
deeply intoxicated. They took no pains.
however, to discover the real condition of
the pitiful object beyond presuming that
the man was some worthless tramp, sleep
ing off the effects of drunken debauch !;
and thus for thirty-six hours James T..
Cross lay, within sight Of passers-by with
a mortal wound, dealt by a quondam
friend, who had fled with the victims
wife. The attention of Justice Miles, of
Stockton township, was finally called to
the insepsible condition of the man, and
DR.. p. w. Beal, finding evidences of vio-
lence, made an examination of the wounds
which he pronounced to be of very
serious character, aud ordered the man to
DO removed to the Blackwoodtown hOspi-
tai. The man did not recover conscious
ness while at tho hospital and died on
Saturday last and was buried on the fol-
lowing day.
DR.. Ireland, tho county physician of
Camden, having heard from Steward
Haines, of the hospital, of the man 8
death and of the circumstances surround
ing his discovery in q helpless condition,
determined to institute a searching inves
tigation into the affair, and on Monday,
having ordered that the body be exhumed
proceeded to make post-mOrtem exani-
nation. 1t was discovered that the mans
skull had been fractured, from the effect
of which death had cnsued. On the same
day note was received by the steward of
the hospital from a woman who represen-
ted herself to be the wife of the deceased.
Steps were Immediately taken for her ap-
pTehenson, and she was arrested Tuesday
in Camden and Immediately incarcerated
in the county Jail as a witness and will be
compelled to remain in custody until tho
October term of the criminal court.
At tho inquest held by tho coroner on
Tuesday her testimony threw very little
light Oh tho antecedents of the parties in
volved, but was sufficient to explain tho
circumstances Immediately preceding the
crime and led to the Identification of the
murderer and his subsequent arrest. She
stated that the deceased was her husband,
with whom she had beeu living at Seventh
and Lombard, Philade lphia, and that on
May 90, accompanied by Charles Highley
they had crossed over to Camden and
started out Federal street TO Stockton
township, short distance from Camden,
in expectation of securing employment at
strawberry picking. They were given
shelter and lodging at the home of G. w.
Buthings, on the farm of S. Middleton, on
| the MarltOn pike, four miles from Cam
| den. Close by tho house was barn, and
during tho forenoon of their arrival the
husband started up tho road. leaving his
wife and Highley sitting on the steps. Or
his return difficulty arose between tn {
men, in which Cross accused High
Icy of undue intimacy with his wife
The alteration grew violent, when
Highley, seizing a large hickory stick
lying near, dealt Cross a terrific blow
across the head, telling him to the ground
and crushing his skull. Alarmed at his
conduct and fearful of the consequences
Highley fled, accompanied by the wife ol
the man whom he had struck down.
Cross had only sufficient vitality left to
crawl short distance up tho road to the
| spot where he was afterwards found.
| Mrs. Cross declares that her husband had
severely beaten her that day and that
Highley had only attempted to defend
her from the brutal jealousy of her hus
band.
At the inquest ono of the witnesses tes
titled that Justice Miles had been notified
of the condition of the wounded man 2S
hours before he took any steps toward
relieving him or ascertaining the causes
| which subsequently led to his death. In
giving his testimony the justice said he
| did not think he was the ono whose duty
| it was to take action in such a case. The
jury, who were out only few minutes
returned q verdict that tho deceased came
| to his death from violence at the hands OF
Charles Highley and censured Justice
Miles for not giving prompt attention t.
tho condition of the wounded man, with a
view towards saving his life and ascer
tanning tho name of his assailant.
Highley was arrested Tuesday nine miles
outside of Camden by Constable Mayer.
His record is said to be of an uusavOry
character, being generally known rs a
tough character.
The Mammoth Canvas Destroyed Almost In
aFlash-The Animals UDirjured.
At Chicago, at 2 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing q fire broke out in Barnum's circus,
consuming the main tents, dresses and