Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-02-13
A Romance Of Crime.

A Romance OF Crime.
PARTICULARS OF THE ST. LOUIS DOU
BILE TRAGEDY THE RUsE OF A DEs-
PERATE MAN AND A WEARY BUT
LOVING MOUNTAINEERING DEATH
CHEERFULLY-THE LETTER OF THE
MURDERER AND SUICIDE.
Monday of last week. in the court
room at st. Louis, John c. Parker, on
trial for murder, shot and killed his
wife, and then sent bullet through his
own brain. The New York Herald's
st. Louis special gives the particulars
of the tragedy, the motive that led to
it, and the circumstances surrounding
it, are as follows:
John G. Parker, the murderer, was a
moulder by trade, and for years had
borne an evil reputation. He was ar
raigned to- day to stand trial for the
murder of Michael Payton, baker,
| whom he had stabbed in drinking
saloon, Fifth street and Christy avenue,
on the night of August 20, 1881.
THE DEVOTED WIFE.
Nellie Parker the young wife,
whose body now lies at the morgue
was slight, pretty, and delicate little
woman. Though her family is not
wealthy, her social position was so
much better than her husbands that
their marriage about two years ago
made quite local sensation. Her de
votion 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 the frail form of
the young wife has been constantly
seen about the Jail, and the sympathy
of all employed about the Jail was hers
Every moment that the regulations per-
mitted she spent in his company, often
bringing their infant with. her. The
murderer's affection for the devoted lit.
tie creature seemed unbounded, and it
was noted as his only redeeming feature.
IN COURT.
His trial, as has been said, was set
down for to-day, aud he was brought
into court with several other prisoners
The court was crowded. The young
wife, Nellie, was there, her baby boz
in her arms. With her were two of
Parker's sisters. She seemed calm and
even cheerful, and as soon as she could
manage it crossed to the barred cage
where he was confined, and leaned
against it talking to him through the
CRATE. Attendants made way for her
and noticed the affectionate nature of
her greeting to him and the gentleness
with which he replied to her. While
they were conversiDg, Governor Charles
P. Johnson, his attorney, rose in the
court and asked permission to consult
| h u in hn
mission was granted, An officer took
the man from the cage. Nellie, with a
emile, handed the laughing baby to her
sister in law and walked beside her
husband across the court, the lawyers.
Governor Johnson and Presley n.
Jones, leading and the sisters follow.
ing.
THE RUsE.
The spectators gazed at the little pro
cession with some interest but, save
the wife and husband, no one knew
that it was procession to death to two
az them. Yet such it was. To the
rough, desperate fellow it vas the way
to deliveraDce, even through the grave.
But to the little creature by his side it
was such test of will power that it
can hardly be measured She knew
that he was going to kill her; she had
agreed to die at his hands. He had the
weapon of fate deity concealed Cling
ing to her husband, desparing at heart,
but caiEi Of lace. she passed on With
him and entered the jury roam. Life
closed upon her as the attendant look ed
the door whereby they had entered
Husband and wife sat down on bench
together Not sign of fear was upon
either She sat with her hand in his.
He talked earnestly with his lawyers
Governor johnson arose and left the
Jury room with crave face. Preshy
Jones sat peaf ny writing. Neither
had been the ruse of desperate man
and woman weary of life.
THE DOUBLE DEATH.
The door had closed behind Governor
Johnson, and the occupants of the room
Parker, his wife. and the busy attor
neg egQeEteG-vere EatGhinG in dumb
way the attendant Who was shooting
the bolt. At this moment it was that
Parker swiftly drew his pistol, and,
putting the muzzle against the back of
his wife's head, pulled tn trigger. The
report rang out, and brought all to their
feet as the young wife tumbed forward
in heap to the floor-dead Before
any one could take step toward the
mqrdeTer PsrkeF had fred again, tne
bullet this time piercing his own brain.
He fell beside her-not dead, but soop
| to die.
THE TRAGEDY ENDED.
CONSERVATION was on every face
Court officials rushed in and doctors
were summoned. In forty minutes
Parker breathed his last. The tragedy
was fYef: >
| THE WEAPON.
The story runs that Mrs. Kraft; one
of Parker's sisters, it was who supplied
him with the weapon. She is said to
declare that she gave the pistol to her
brother to defend himself, because she
had been told that the brother of Pay
ton, for whose murder Parker was to
have Teen trieq, hsq threftaneq to kill
on sight:
TIE MURDERER's LETTER
The following letter, in the hand
writing of the murderer, since discov-
cred, shows that this idea was started
by Parker himself, and that the object
of killing himself and his wife was
steadily adhered to all through:
ST. LOUIS CITY, February t. 1858
Dear Loving Sister Mary and Dear
Friend Frank ! have tfied to avoid
this terrible death, bnr it looks impossi
bic. am firing Of seeing my poor and
devoted wife getting any more abuse
and suffering. and it is more than 1 can
endure. Oh, love is terrible! l hope we
will be better off in the next world than
in this wicked one. See that am put
alongside my little boy Morris, and give
our body to our old friend, John R. Mul
lally. The knights of Honor will take
care of my sweet, loving wife. Give
my love to all, and especially Tom Cal
Ishan. This is hard, but determination
is still harder / am determined to carry
out my plan, aud / have to do it mighty
sick. You will see that for yourself
The party who gave me the pistol is ig
norant of what l am about l have to
| eli him so many lies to accomplish my
| desire, but cannot help it. Hive Mr
| Obey Owen his overeoat it is his, and
may God bless him. Kiss my little boy