Homer guardian., 1890-01-17
The Pettus Muroer.

since Nov. %, the day she killed
Stevens L, Pettus, died this morn.
ing at G:l5. This ends, and ends
well, some think, as sad, drama.
tic and unusual q murde. story
as has been told IN New York for
several wears. 1t possessed all
the points OF 4 strong, sensational
novel. The man who was mur-
dered Was we'll known even in a.
great and big city as New York,
and the woman who murdered
him was beautiful, young and,
some said, terribly wronged. 1t
would have been a celebrated
case-a case that would have
divided the city on two sides-but
now, since this morning, the in
dictmentagainst Hannah b. South.
worth has been quashsd by n
higher court. Ever since she
entered the Tombs, nearly two
months ago, Mrs. Southworth has
been steadily failing. From time
to time the papers told ofher fail.
ing health, and the busy outside
public, 10 whom che had beon a
more than nine days wonder,
guessed what the end would he.
Since the first Of the new year her
death has been expected at any
hour.
Acute bronchitis. pneumonia
and a chronic trouble, which lat.
ter she attributed to Stephen L.
Pettus, have dragged her down;
the mental trouble has helped the
physical ailments, and the sur
rounding presence Of the prison
walls has not tended to give her
the strength or the will TO bear up
against it. At 9 o'clock last night |
DR.. Chetwood, the city prison
physician, told her mother, Mrs. |
Martin, that her daughter could
1.-Two but short time. Mrs. Mar.
TIN telegraphed for her sons, viii.
liam B. Martin and GEO. Martin.
They reached the Tombs at 1920
and remained with their mother
until tho death. Mrs. South.
worth's cell was in the corridor of
tho female ward, IN which. at the
present time, there are twenty.
i've other inmates. They have
III shcwd an lntercstin the young
though she had held no
Intercourse with her frail sisters
IS they hung over the rail.
ng and peered through the cell
loors to catch glimpse of what
Tas going on at 50 late an hour,
Tho two brothers entered the
ell and sat down, one at the head s
nd one at the foot of the bed.
here was no talk between thom.
nd save for the Kissing Of a sim '
lie gas jet, turned on at full head, a
here was absolute silence IN the q
ell of tho dying woman. The o
My other occupant of the cell U
as one Of the prisoners, a girl I
allied Blanche Cunningham, who S
as nursed Mrs. Southwortl, with a
reat affection and patience dur :
g the last days of hor life with
lc fdelity Of an old friend. The ;,
ri came and went rs did the doc. =,
n, but the family sat still and r
aited. About 10 o'clock Mrs,
outhworth rallied, and with the
sistance Of Blanche Cunning.
I'm was raised up on the couch.
lrning to ller mother she said: y
know I'm going to die, and I'm ~ ~
Hing to. l am perfectly resign al
toit and would not exchange c,
now for health" Then she 1t
ked her mother to come closer, ~ -
d the mother bent over the bed. h,
Mrs. Southworth threw her
ms around her mothers neck,
Il resting her head on her P,
oulder whispered that she would ye
o to pray. Her spoken prayer
9, as we'll, her last spoken
rds, and 1t had no reference to s' :"
suffering, her crime or her Gu
St life. She repeated simply iii
prayer that IS taught TO little 81
Ildren, and which is so we'll
own that it has almost lost its ro,
nificance. It was. nr