Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-01-29
A BADLY ABUSED CONTRACT
Offered in Evidence in. the ROwell
Murder Trial.

Murder Trial
BATAVIA, n. Y. January 2S-The first
witness this morning in the Rowell case
was John Mclaughlin, a boy who was
clerk in the grocery, who swore when
Rowell bought pepper on the evening OF
October 60 Witness said that the pris.
oner bought half pound of black pepper,
and that his hand trenbled when 1t was
poured into his coat pocket. The register
OF the Powers House in Rochester was put
in evidence. johnson J. Lynch was regis
te' ed there August 2, 1883, and
on the next page. is written Mrs.
Z. u. Potter, Albion" in what is said to be
Ars. Rowells handwriting. The two were
Il ere to tea but we're assigned TO different
rooms. Cyrus +. Starks, OF Batavia, identi-
tied marriage certiscate offered bip,' was
tie same one hanging in Mrs. kowelIs
bedroom the day after the tragedy. The
certificate shows that Jennie Luce, OF Clay
Vile, was married to f. \. Rowell, OF Utica,
September 8, 1879, by Dr. Goodrich, rector
of Calvary Church, tuca. The photographs
of the parties are on either side. }. j. Flan-
gan, city editor of the Utica Observer,
swore TO DR.. Gooarich's signature. The
certificate was offered and received in evil
dence, the people oblecting 20 the photo
graphs being shown " the jury. The
Court, however, allowed the jurors to see
the document, pictures and all. Mr.. II. A.
King, a malstsr, OF Batavia, swore that at
5 o'clock on the day Of the tragedy he
called for his wife at The Rowell House:
Mrs. Rowell invited him to take tea aud
spend the evening, suggesting card party.
He declined, and took his wife home.
10 a representative of the Spirit OF the
Times Mrs. Ro1ell made the following
statement to day: First, all the so called
interviews that have appeared from time
to time in the daily papers, here and else
where, are entirely untrue and the senu
nents expressed IN those interviews, as at
Iibuted to myself aud mother are utterly
fslse as q whole and in detail. ! have lived
in Batavia but short time, and have many
warm personal friends. | had not been
here three months, and during that time
conducted myself q, a lady, brfore stories
we're circulated derogstory to my
character" Mrs. Rowsll, in contin
uing the interview; applied the most
oppTobious epithets TO Palmer. She
c aimed that while be pretended to be his
partners friend, he circulated stories
against her character He mad, she said,
prosecuted her because he could not sup
plant Lynch. According to her statement
oil Pslmer's conduct was dStated oy his
vengeance against herself and Lynch, and
not for sympathy for bis partner She
closed the interview as follows: II no not
undertake to extepuste for my sin, for
know and feel have done a great wrong to
nv husband and family, and God knows |
am sorry, but that does not restore the dead
to life nor bring back innsoenee TO my heart.
NV determination in the future is to lead
virtuous life, for heaven knows ! have
reaped the reward OF sin, and hencefUrth !
shall endeavor TO atone for my past errors"
During the delivery OF the statement MRS.
Royell rose from her chair and with
clenched hands assumsd>sn sir that could
not fail to insp, s.tbe listener with awe.
In speaking OF Palmer she became excited,
and her mother frequently spoke chidingly
to her. In speaking OF her past sin and oil
her future course, the tears again began 10
flow. and as she ended in a wall OF anguish
SIZE threw herself on a. couch and soobed
violently.