The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-10
A rerrib1e Tragedy.


John q. Parker. was recently tried
for murder In vt! Louis. Tor years he
had borne an evil reputation. He was
arraigned to-day to stand trial for the
murder of Michael Payton, q baker,
whom he had stabbed in a drinking sa.
loon, on the night of August 20, 1881.
stabbing. Parker's subsequent arrest
was not his first acquaintance with the
law. -Four or five years before a young
man named Thompson was stabbed at
o danco in his own house and died Of
the wound. Parker, who was known
as Johnny" was accused of the crime,
tried and acquitted. Public opinion,
however, never was agreed upon the
point Of his innocence. 4.
Nellie Parker, his young wife, was a
slight, pretty and delicate little woman.
Though her family is not wealthy, her
social position was 80 much better than
her husbands that their marriage about
two years ago made quite local sensa.
ton. Her devotion to the man of her
choice, rough and desperate as he was,
was known long before the tragedy OF
to-day. Ever since Parker's arrest, tho
frail form Of the young wife has been
constantly seen about the jail, and the
sympathy OF all employed about the
Jail was hers.
The court was crowded. The young
wife, Nellie, was there, her baby boy
in her arms. With her were two of
Parker's sisters. They seemed calm and
even cheerful, and rs soon as she could
manage it crossed to the barred cage
where he was confined, and leane
against 1t talking to him through the
grating. The attendants mado way
for her. aud noticed tho afeotionate
nature Of her greeting to him and the
gentleness with which he replied to
her.
While they were conversing Gov.
Charles p. johnson, his attorney, rose
in the court and asked permission to
consult with his client in the jury room.
Permission was granted. An officer
took the man from the cage. Nellie.
with smile, handed the laughing baby
to her sister-in. law and walked beside
her husband across tho court, the law
yers, Gov. johnson and Presley N,
Jones leading and tho sisters following,
The spectators gazed at the little pro-
cesslon with some interest, but, save
the wife and husband, no one knew that
it was procession to death for two of
them. Yet such it was. TO the rough,
desperate fellow it was the way to de-
liverance, oven through the grave. But
to tho little creature by his side it was
such test of will power that it can
hardly be measured. She knew that
he was gong to kill her she had ageed
to die ut his hands. He had the wea.
pon of fate deftly concealed.
Clinging to her husband, despairing
ut heart. but calm of face, she passed
on with bin and entered the jury room.
Life closed upon her rs the attendant
locked the door whereby they had en-.
tered. Husband and wife sat down Oh
a bench together. Not sign of fear
was upon either. She sat with her hand
III his. He talked earnestly with his
lawyers. Governor johnson arose and
left the jury room with q grave face.
Presby Jones sat near by writing.
Neither lawyer suspected that the whole
affair had been the ruse OF o desperate
man and woman weary of life.
The door had closed behind Gov
johnson and the occupants of tlle room
Parker, his wife and the busy attorney
excepted-were Watching in q dumb
way the attendant who was shooting
the bolts. At this moment it was that
Parker swiftly drew his pistol and, put.
ting the mazzle against the back of his
wite's head, pulled the trigger. The
report rang out and brought ali to their
feet as the young wife tumbied forward
III heap TO tho foor-dead Before
any one could take step toward tho
murderer Parker had fired again, the
bullet thus time piercing his own brain.
He Tell beside her-not dead, but soon
to die. CONSERVATION was on every face.
Court officials rushed in and doctors
were summoned. In forty minutes
Parker brouthed his last. The tragedv
was over. The murderer left q letter
to his sister saying "See that am put
alongslde my little boy Morris and give
our bodies to my old friend, john p.
Mullaly. The Knights OF Honor will
take Care OF my sweet, loving wife.
Give my love to all, and especially y Tom
Callahan,