Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-05-03
DUNHAM HUNG.
The Murderer of Mrs, Handle
Pays the Penalty.
The Drop Falls at 1929 o'clock.


Gloucester County has been enacted
and George McC. Dunham, the
murderer of his mother-in law, Barbara
Handle, of Monroeville, has paid the
penalty.
The crime of Dunbam is still fresh in
the minds Of the people. 1t was a
most atrocious, cold blooded affair,
and little sympathy has been shown
the unhappy wretch since his convic-
ton. 1t will be remembered that the
community was shocked on the morn
ing of Friday November II, 1887, when
two farmers of Monroeville found the
body of Mrs. Barbara Handle in a
corn field on her own farm. Her skull
crushed and her clothing covered with
blood. The instrument used was an
old gun, and this, with stock broken
was found hid in some corn stalks.
The gun belonged to George Dunham,
and he was arrested and given a hear
ing before the Coroner who had him
imprisoned Wednesday morning, No
vember 18th, 1887, the body of the
poor woman was consigned to the
grave in the cemetery of the Friend
ship Church, near Pittsgrove. One
week later Durham was given a final
hearing before Justice Livermore, of
Woodbury. and the prosecution was
conducted by Prosecutor Belmont
Perry. The result of the hearing was
that Durham was consigned to the
care of Sheriff Ridgway, in the Wood
bury Jail to await trial. t
Dunham all the while protested his
innocence and R. S Clymer, a young
lawyer, of Woodbury., offered to take
his case. The trial commenced before
Judge Alfred Reed in the handsome
Woodbury. Court House on Wednes-
day, Feb, 1st. The trial continued
four days and it was late Saturday
afternoon when Judge Reed delivered
his charge. A few minutes before
midnight of the same day the jury re-
turned verdict of murder in the first
gree. On the following Friday Judge
Reed sentenced the prisoner to die
upon the scaffold on Thursday, March
Goth. This left him seven weeks to
prepare for death.
In the meantime his counsel. Mr..
Clymer, brought the case to the at
tention ofthe Board of Pardons, but
they did not interfere with the sen
.tence. Later through the efforts of
Mr., Clymer, the Governor, who had
seemed to take a keen interest in the
case interceded and reprieved him for
a month fixing the day of death for
April 26th.. ~ -
The sun shopes bright aud clear upon
the jail at Woodbury. Thursday mbfns
ing, and as the rays of light streamed
through the bars of the cell in which
Dunham has been -confined,@.i it found
him awake. What his thoughts were
nobody can conceive. He had taken
his last nights sleep On earth and in a
few hours his soul would be with its
maker,e and the strong healthy body
All Woodbury. was awake, early.
The trains brought crowds of curious
people from other points who could
only at best, hope to see the outside of
the enclosure in which Durham was
to pay the penalty of his crime. And
while scores of people came, many left
the place, they being members OF the
Society of Friends who do not believe
in capital punishment, and who re-
fused to remain in town where
murder, (as they believe) WAS to be
committed. The PIONEER reporter
who was present, heard little else
talked of but the hanging. AS the
hands of the big clock upon the, Court
House neared ten o'clock those
permitted to witness the execution ar.
rived at the Jail. The names of these
persons are as follows:
By the Court: Wilson T. Jones, of
Franklin; Samuel Mead, of Clayton;
David L. Devault, of Greenwich; Chas.
Starn, of South Harrison; DIR. Clarence
G. Abbott, of Woodbury.; DIR. Geo. E.
Reading, of Woodbury.; who is the
county physician, and is designated to
make the examination of the body
after the execution; Joseph T. Sickler,
of Mantua, Charles b. Platt, of West
Depford; Charles b. Leonard, of West
Depford; Clarence q. Eyre, of Wood
bury; Francis A. Campbell, of Clayton
(who died soon after being selected)
DR.. Albert Trenchard, of Mantua.
By the Sheriff for Deputies: James
White, of Harrison; DR.. John F. Mus
grave, of Woolwich; George w. Cat
tell, of Woodbury.; Henry G. Louden-
slayer, of Greenwich; William Moore,
of Woodbury.; Belmont Perry, of Wood
bury; Daniel j. Packer. of Woodbury.;
Robert s. Clymer, of Woodbury.; DR..
Joseph B. Roe, of Depford William F.
Dawson, of Logan; James West, of
Logan; DIR. Samuel f. Stanger, of
South Harrison. b
Press Reporters: For the National
Associated Press, Matthew Whildin;
kl1<> III H. = l. \ - -