The Penn's Grove record., 1884-11-01
SULLIVAN 1.

The trial of Howardt l.. Sullivan,
the murderer Of Ella wa1ou came of
on Friday of last week. A large crowd
of persons had filled every available
part OF the court room when the pris-
oner was led in about ~ O'Clock, and
seated beside his counsel. Messrs. STRAIT
ton and Mecum. All during the day
lie sat with his head bent down in d
most stupid manner lie is a very
youthful looking in appearance. being
not over eighteen, slender built mu-
latto color; and small lead.
Prosecutor Shape opened the case
for the defense. He exhibited a map
OF the neighborhood where the crime
was committed.
Geo. Watson, the father of the muir
dered girl. was nearly the first witness
called. His features bore traces of
grief. In identifying Elias clothing
he broke completely down and Elias
mother who sat neal him cried out as
though her heart would break. He
testified to her having been sent to
Yorktown with poultry and eggs and
that she did not return when expected
80 he visited the n~eighbars. Not find
ing her he went to yorktown. She
had been there, done her erraud ard
started home. Visited Charles Sick
Ter who had seer her on her way home.
Made Il search with lantrens and found
the dead body along the road side uD-
der some bushes in a huddled position.
Charles Seeker and others testified
tofinding the body and tracing the as
sassin.
DR.. L. A. d. Allen described tile ter
rible wound made by the club ana the
finger marks and bruises on the body.
He exhibited a small piece Of bone
from the wound in Elias temple which
was sufficient to cause her death.
Thomas Smith, Jr., Ella Wa'sou's
brother-iu-law, told how Sullivan acted
when he found the club. lie trembled
like a leaf when talked to about the
murder and exclaimed my God how
| tremb,ed when l found the club"
Others testified to seeing Sullivan
spend money and to identifying his
clothing and tracks.
The most important testimony Tas
reached in the afternoon when CHARLES
Robinson, a colored Pinkerton detect
i've re lated SullivaLs confession as told
him when they were locked in the cell
together. Robinson was taken for q
genuine prisoner. Sullivan talked
constantly with him and on the second
night they were together they made a
voluntary confession to Robinson while
laying on the bed. He told the route
he took from Yorktown; he sneaked
up behind her and struck her two or
three times with a cane; dragged her
across the road into the bushes, where
he committed a heinous assault upon
her. In her resisting attempt she
raised her head and said: 80, i know
you" Then Sullivan clutched her by
the throat and choked her until a shud
der ran through her frame when ne
know she was deed. He then took til e
handkerchief with the money in it and
ran towards Yorktown. He wiped the
blood from his hands with the hand
kerchief and then threw it away. He
said he did not intend to kill her but
only ravish her. He was very quiet
in the day time but talked readily at
night all aboht the murder.
Sheriff Coles testified that the pris-
oner had made several confessions to
him. In his confession before Squire
Casperson he denied outraging the dy-
ing girl but afterwards confessed it.
After tie other prisoners were sem
fenced, Sullivan was called and order
ed to stand up. When Judge Reed
asked him whether he had anything to
say why sentence should not be pre-.
nouuced he said No. The sentence
was then solemnly pronounced. After
a full examination the court decided
that lie should be punished in the FIRST
degree without the slightest palliation.
He dwelt upon the grief caused by his
devilish deliberation and heartlessnesS.
Continuing he said: ga few more
days your life will pay the penalty you
need not hope to escape it; therefore
try to purge your soul Of the guilt.
And now the judgement of the court
is that you be taken from this place to
the Jail and there kept in confinement
until the first Tuesday Second day of
December next, and on that day, be-
tween the hours of 10 e. m, and 3 y.
NJ, you be hanged by the neck until
you are dead, and may God have mercy
on your SOUL"
During the trial and sentence he
seemed DO be indifferent and uncon-
cerped, showing indications Of not a
very bright mind. He broke down
though when he reached his cell but
showed very little repentance.
The court has appointed a Jury of
twelve men to witness the execution
which will take Place in the jail or in
an Enclosure in the yard adjoining.