Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-08-31
8ARLITZ'S CRIME.
A History Of the Horrible Deed for Which
He Died.

He Died.
The crime for which Melvin O. Garlitz
died WEI the most atrOciOps ever commit
ted in Allegauy county. About 7:9O
o'clock on the evening of March Goth,
1889, on the streets of Cumberland, he
fred five shots from 32.calibre revolver
into his young and beautiful wife, killing
her instantly. So close was the weapon
held that the bosom OF her dress was set
on fire. After smothering out this fire the
uxorcide walked through the city, told his
father Of the murder and made good his es
cape on a freight train to Martinsburg, W.
Va, where he was arrested later that night.
Had be fallen into the hands of the Cum
berland people he would have joined Judge
Lynch's court.
Next morning, March %, he was placed
in the county Jail in the cell occupied by
Henry J. Spencer, now serving life term
in the Maryland penitentiary for the MUIR
der Of W Scott Dawson at Rawlings Ia
this county. That morning be confessed
to q press reporter, alleging his wife's in
fidelity as the cause Of the murder. He
watched her funeral as it passed the jail
with perfect stoioism.
AN EXCITING TRIAL.
His trial began on April 25th, wel con
tinued until the 29;h, when after six days
iur7 was obtained; the trial then lasteo
eight days, during which the sbleet coun-
eel appealed for him. After being out
two hours on the eighth day the jury found
MIN guilty Of murder in the first degree.
An appeal was taken, but on June 25tb,
the Court of Appeals sustained the Circuit
Court. and July 5th Judge Hoffman SEN
fenced the prisoner, who broke down for
the drst time since the murder, weeping
bitterly. Governor Jackson then named
Friday, August 30ih, as the day for his
execution.
Since his sentence Garliiz has repeatedly
asked for his child, and secretly, that be
might be buried by the side Of his muir
dered wife. Both requests have been re-
fused by the dead woman's father. On the
2lst of January, 1885, Garli'z, then
handsome fellow Of 81, son OF eXSherih
Basil Garlitz, ran away with Leah Eva
White the beautiful daughter Of Joseph
White, commission merchant Of this
city. They were married at Gretna Green,
Pa, but their married life was so unhap-
py that a separation ensued. A 0aby was
born. Garlitz worked for various rail-
roads while the wife returned to her
parents in this city.
CLANDEsTINE MEETING.
Occasionally husband and wife met
clandestinely to avoid the determined op-
position to her people. On the Saturday
night before the murder he met her near
the fatal spot and drawing knife threat
ened to kill her. On Sunday the wife
brought the child to the home Of brother
of the murderer, where quarrel ensued
On Tuesday afternoon she received q letter,
inviting her 10 a rendezvous, and at 1880
she went, accompanied by her sister, from
whom she separated after joining her hus-
band.
In his confession he claims to have
charged her with infdelity and upon her
forced admission be shot her down. In
the trial it YVES shown that he had been
untrue to her and filled TO support her.
An ugly temper, melted by jealousy, was
the cause Of the murder. Jack STearingen
was the last man hung for the murder OF a
woman-that was twenty-five years ago.