Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-04-03

that JEFF had treated her we'll when he
was her husband; that she did not
leave him because of any quarrel with
him, but simply because her mother
did not want her to go west, and that
subsequently when Jeff. again asked
her to marry her she was really willing
but refused out of contrariness of
spirit which she seems to have regret
ted. Jennie denies bitterly that Ess
Cant was ever her lover. She does
not think him her equal in any respect.
She says he was q suitor for the hand
of her daughter, and that when she
came here from Kansas City she and
Ess were not even upon speaking
terms, because of her having intercept
ed letter from Ess to her daughter
Annie. She says that she has letters
from the two that will prove this, and
thinks great injustice is being done her
in the way that her name is coupled
with that of Cant. We do not know
what evidence there is upon this point,
and give her the benefit of her state
ment.
So much for the personnel of those
principally concerned in the tragedy
of 1884, whose denouement will occur
to-day in the death upon the scaffold
Of Jefferson Wilson. a man who of his
race and in his walk in life had as good
opportunities as are often met with.
While not generally bad, nor rough,
nor vicious, but rather politeland kind
ly, yet the reflection is forced
upon all who read, that from
unbridled passions a crime has come
which cuts off two lives. It is unneces-
sary for us to moralize upon it; it
teaches its own lesson and writes in
the hearts of all who come in contact
with its result the words: beware
for the way of the transgressor ia hard.
Following is the
EVIDENCE.
BLOODY MURDER-JEFF. WILSON KILLS
HIS MISTRESS.
From the Lexington Intelligencer, August
2, 1884,
Our city was considerably shocked
Thursday morning by the report that
JEFF. Wilson, the well-known colored
cook at thhe Laclede hotel, had shot
and killed Jennie Sanford, his mis-
tress. The colored people were par
ticularly interested, and many curses
were heaped on the head of jeff, who
was, by some, pronounced cold blood
ed murderer. The Intelligencer re-
porter started to the scene, and though
he knew nothing of the location, he fol-
lowed the crowd, and soon found the
place. s|' .-- H.....
The house is two story frame, with
brick basement, located on Vine
street, at the intersection of South
street. The two upper stories are oc-
cupied by the family of Mr.. Graendorf,
and the basement by the family OF
drives Shacklett's delivery wagon. In
q small room in the basement we saw
the ifeless form of the victim. She
was bright mulatt0, and was much
finer featured and better looking than
the majority of her race. There was
some blood on her, but it seemed q
small quantity when we looked at the
murder0us wounds on her person.
One wound, evidently the first one
inflicted, showed powder burns on the
right cheek, and that the bullet had
touched the point of the jaw, cutting
the skin for an inch, then skipped the
neck and entered just at the base of the
neck, in front, and ranged down and
back, and had lodged under the skin,
about three inches below the left
shoulder blade. As the woman was In
bed when the first shot was fired, it is
evident that she was sitting up, and as
the pistol was pointed at her, she bow
ed herself forward, thus bringing her
face nearer the weapon. How she
could escape past the man, run through
the house and jump over q paling fence
after receiving such q wound, lis mys-
terry. One shot grazed the fleshy part
| OF the right thumb, then entered the
wrist couple of inches from the Joint,
and passing under the flesh lodged in
the elbow. The third entered the back,
between the seventh and eighth ribs.
passing down toward the pelvis. DR..
Russell says that either of the body
| shots would have produced death.
DIR. Russell, the coroner, summoned
the following jury:-Jas. Peak. Jacob
A. Price, Jos. B. Shelby,J. E. Bascom,
Thos. E. Austin and VIM. NJ. Mills.
Mr.. Basc0m was made foreman. The
following evidence was taken:
Matte Jones sworn said 81 am ac-
quainted with Jennie Sanford; she
lived with her aunt, Irene Sanford; for
awhile she staid here; she staid here
all night last night; Jennie was not
married; ! live in this house; am mar
ried; my husband ia in Jail now; have
known JEFF. Wilson for five or six years :;
| was sitting at the door when Jeff
first shot; Jennie called to Rosa john
son; that was about z 80 this morning;
early; JEFF. inquired for Jennie; l told
him she was in her room; he went in
to her room and closed the door. He
said to her, "Get up and go up town."
she said she would not. He said "Now
Cd d-n you, have got it in for you.
Now am going TO do you up" She
called to Rosa before the firing Firing
Immediately after; did not hear any
other conversation; Jennie came out on
the porch; she came first; she ran by
me; don't know where she went; did
not see any blood on her; jeff. follow
ed right after her; don't know what he
had in his hand; he shot two shots out
of doors; l was sitting ON the porch at
the side OF the door; Jennie has been
here about week: jeff. did not say
what he wanted; had just gone out,
and saw her lying in bed; Jeff. had
been in her room fully half an hour be-
fore Jennie ran out; heard no hard
names; saw him wiping the barrel of
pistol on his coat or handkerchief; saw
pistol plainly in his hand; he shot three
times; saw him shoot on the porch;
he shot twice on the porch; she scream
ed. Saw her body lying outside.
Rosa johnson swOrn:-"I live here;
was here last night and this morning;
saw JEFF. come this morning. He said,
'"Where is Jane." He calls her Jane;
the door was open to Jennie's room; he
went in and pulled the door so could
not see; he said "Jsne, get np." She
said al won't do it," This was repeat
ed three times; be said Cd d-n
you, amt going to tell YOU any more,"
then he shut the door; afterward he
told her he would fix her, and put his
hand in his pocket aud pulled out a
pistol, and Jennie hallooed for me, and
said "Oh, Sis;" he pushed the door to
and held it till he shot her; after he shot
ran out, and Jennie was running
right after me; he shot her again; after