Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-05-08


a Fellow Prisoner.
CINCINNATI, o.. April 3O.-AlIeu
ingalls,, the negro. who with Ben
johnson, murdered Beverly Taylor,
wife and granddaughter in Avondale,
last winter and sold their bodies to
the Medical College, hang himself in
cell No. 2l at the Jail to-day. He was
found at 9 A NJ. At that time, Geo.
English and Sam Lake, prisoners who
were scruhhing the corridor IN which
the "burk-r's" cell is situated, were
asked by VIM. Wright a burglar, con.
fined in cell No. Is to see il Ingalls,
wanted him to write a letter. Lake
went to cell No. 81 and spoke to In
gals, but received on answer. He
called out loud. hut still got no reply
Then he peered through the bars at
the upper part of the door, and saw
ingalls, hanging against the grating at
the further end of the cell.
1t was found that the prisoner had
committed suicide In the coolest and
most desperate manner. He had torn
a strip from blanket and tied this to
a grating which is not more than four
feet from the floor. Then he had
fastened the other end about his neck
and drawing up his knees had calmly
strangled himself. He must have
been discovered soon after the deed
was committed. as the body was still
warm. He was at once cut down and
laid on the cot in the cell, awaiting
the arrival of Coroner Mustroff who
was Immediately summoned.
When the Dispatch representative
arrived. he found letter addressed to
Mrs. INGALLS,. 1t was opened by one
OF the turnkeys and it contained a
sheet of paper on which was scrawled
the following remarkable epistle:
"CENCINNATI. O.. Aprit 80, 1884.
"My Dear and Affectionate Wife
! take my pen in hand to write you
few lines once more, in order to let
you know that I am still alive, and
that is about all, for I am very weak,
feeble, and otherwise feeling very
poorly. But l do sincerely hope when
these few lines reach you they will
find you enjoying the very best of
health. This may be the last letter
that shall ever be able to write. and
as think of You and the happy DAYS
we have spent together. and which we
may never enjoy again. If such is
the will of God. l want to meet YOU
in Heaven, where we shall enjoy an
eternal, happy stay for ever and ever.
You have been faithful and true,
devoted wife to me, and leave you to
the care of Almighty God and at last
bring US to meet in that brighter and
better world where there will, be no
more sin nor sorrow nor parting. I
request you to marry again if you
wish to do so, but marry some one
who will do good part by you. If
anything should happen to me, please
don't fail to take me home. You have
my love and best wishes, for God
knows do sincerely wish you we'll
and all good luck. Please take good
care of yourself, and may God bless
you. Give my love to the children
and to all the rest, and remember me.
"Your humble and dear husband.
ALLEN INGALLS,"
In the rim of his hat the following
note was found.
Sheriff Hawkins-Please send my
body just as it is to my wife. She
will pay all expenses.
"ALLEN INGALLS,
1t was found that both the letter
and the note had been written by
VIM. Wright, colored burglar con-
fined in the cell opposite the 'burk-
er's.' He told the reporter that he
wrote the letter Sunday and the note
yesterday. Afterward he was ques-
toned by the jailer in regard to the
same points and he said that the note
was written week ago Monday. !
"And what did he tell you when he
wrote it.?' was asked.
"He said that Sheriff Hawkins was
going to hang him next month, and |
he wanted to give directions what to |
do with his body. He was fearful of |
the doctors cutting him up, and he
wanted to be sure that his wife would |
bury him."
The body was taken to Habig's
morgue and viewed by a thousand
people in an hour The news spread
rapidly and the excitement is great.
The general opinion is that the county
saves expense. if the gallows is cheat.
ed. johnson, Ingalls, partner, is
shaky and knew nothing of ingalls,
intentions. He said he supposed he
would be watched closely now to pre-.
vent the same deed. Both johnson
aud Ingalls, have been sick and nerv.
GUS since the riot. McHugh, who is