Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-07
ST. louis SENSATION.
DETAILS OF THE VTFE
MURDER AND SUICIDE IN COURT
The Murderer's Wife Privy to the Plot-She
Bids Farewell to Her Friends Before Co
ing to See Her Husband-The Tragedy
Creates Great Sensation.

ST.. LOUIS, Feb. 6.-An investigation of
the case of John G. Parker, the murderer
of Mike Payton, who killed himself and
his wife in the jury room of the court yes
/ terday, elected such evidence as left little
room to doubt that Mrs. Parker went to
her death with full knowledge that it was
impending, and with such calmness and
courage as is seldom witnessed even in
cases of public execution. It was learned
that on Wednesday last, this sister of Par
ker who visited him more frequent than
his wife, because of the latter's close en-
ployment at laundry, went to the jail,
and Parker, desiring to obtain weapon,
told her that he was informed by his
attorney that the brother of the man he
had stabbed would be in waiting in the
courtroom to kill him,and hence he would
need revolver for self-protection. His
sister, believing his story, agreed to fur
she again visited him, when it was az
ranged that on his appearance in the court
room he was to receive permission to con-
| fer with her in the jury room about some
witnesses; that she should send him coat
which he would send her or throw into her
lap, and she should slip the revolver into
the pocket of the court and return it to
| him. When his wife called at the jail yes
terday afternoon he had an earnest talk
with her, and for two long hours, four
times as long as her usual Sunday visit, he
argued some proposition and coaxed her
to do something, she meanwhile protest
ing, weeping bitterly. Finally she con-
| sented, and, drying her tears, went away,
looking very pale. During the afternoon,
| at home,she said she had to die,and wept at
intervals as she carried her baby. wondered
what was to be its means of support after
her death, dwelling considerably on the
fact it would have $1,000 from the Knights
of Honor. This morning she was very
Quiet, but pale, as she left the home for
the court, and she took the baby with her.
The ruse the husband devised
worked well. The consent of the court
to his retirement to the jury room was
obtained. He entered it with his counsel
and sister, carrying on his arm an overcoat
he had borrowed from Obey Owen, the de-
fauiting bank cashier, who was a fellow
prisoner. The wife seeing him go into the
jury room, rose from her seat in the lobby.
kissed her baby, handed it to young sis
ter of her husband with the remark that
she would never sac it again, and then
walked calmly into the place where death
was waiting her; her small white figure not
betraying: by even the slightest tremor, a
dread of this greatest of all tests of courage
Parker arranged to have his wife sit
next to him at the jury table, and then
| tossing his coat carelessly to his sister, he
and the two women began to give to the at
torney list of names of witnesses he had
arranged, in order to furnish pretext for
his Withdrawal from the court room. The
sister, never suspectfng she was contribu-
ting to such terrible tragedy as followed,
slipped revolver into the overcoat pocket.
handed the coat back, and went on talking
TO Mr.. Jones, giving names and addresses,
while Gov. Johnson, finding his presence
unnecessary, walked back into the court
room, leaving the connecting doors
open. Jones was still writing, when.
Parker, sitting to one side a little
back of him, raised the revolver.
held it to his wife's head, just back of the
left ear, and fired the bullet for which she
was calmly waiting. She fell dead without
moan. Then. jumping up, Parker step
PED back against the wall to gain a second
ot time on an approaching policeman.
lie held the muzze to his forehead but it
slipped of. Then putting it back of his
ear he fired and fell, just as the officer
reached him, and died as stated above. |
Soon after, amid the greatest excitement, |
the bodies were moved to the morgue, |
when search Of Parker's clothing dis |
covered the following letter, sustaining
the above statement addressed to his sis
ter, Mrs. Kraft, and her husband:
Loving Sister Mary and Dear Friend !
Frank: L have tried to avoid this terrible |
death, but it looks impossible. 1 am tired |
of seeing my poor and devoted wife get
ting any more abuse and suffering, and it |
IS more than [ can endure. Oh, oh, love is |
terrible. hope we will be better off in
the next world than in this wicked one. !
See that am put alongside my little boy. |
Morris. Give our bodies to my old friend |
John H. Mullaby. The Knights of Honor
will take care of my sweet loving wife. |
Give my love to all, and especially Ben
Callahan. This is hard, but I am deter
mined to carry out the plan, and have to
do it mighty slick. You will see that for
yourself. The party that gave
me the pistol is ignorant
of what am about. I have to tell him so
many lies to accomplish it. Give Mr..
Obey Owen his overcoat. It is his. and
may God bless him. He has been a good
friend to me. Kiss my little boy for me,
and hope you may both be happy for
ever Give my love to all. 1 will bring
this to close, hoping to meet you in
better world. Good night, and may God
bless you both.
Signed JonN G. PARKER.
The killing of his wife may possibly
have been an afterthought, but the letter
shows conclusively that he intended suicide.
Details of the tragedy are as follows:
Johnnie Parker had been in Jail long
time, charged with numbering man
named Payton, Aug. Is, 1881. His case
was set for trial in the criminal court yes
terday, and Gov. Chas. p. johnson. his at.
torney, asked permission to see him in the
jury room adjoining the court room. They
went there accompanied by Parker's wife,
his sister, Mrs Kraft, and P. N. Jones. an
other lawyer, and after short conference
Goy johnson left. A few moments later
two shots were heard in the
court room, and investipa-
lion ch0und fbo4 d.