The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-11-17
REJOTCES IN MURDER
Naval Apprentice Wise and
His lIeinOus Deed.
THREW A FRIEND OVER A CLIFF.
Both Mere Boys Who Were Serving on an
English Training Ship

The Murderer Confesses and Alleges as
His Motive that TIe Wants to be Hanged
Treats the whole flair as n Joke aud
is TlcISled ut the Prospect OF Meeting
Death at the Ropes End.
LONDON, Nov. 1.-THE town Of Wey.
mouth has a sensation which is a mat
ter of general discussion among the
regular inhabitants Of the place and
among the large number of persons
who owing to the salubrity of its cl-
mate, spend the autumn and winter
there
The excitement was caused by the ar
rest Of youth named Wise, who is only
II years of age, on the charge of MUIR
der.
The case is peculiar in many of It's de-
tails in that there was seemingly no mo-
tive for the crime, and that the muir
derer displays neither fear of the couse-
quences nor remorse for his action.
The fact Of the murder would perhaps
have been unknown to the authorities
for some time, and the identity of the
murderer might never have been estab-
lished, had it not been that Wise, in a
cold blOoded, uudemonstrative way,
pleasure in relating all the horrible de-
tails
Wise is one of the apprentices be-
longing to H. NJ. training ship Bosca-
wen, sixteen guns, Commander 6. A.
Primrose.
The Boscawen recently visited Wey-
mouth and is at present anchored of
that port.
Among those who were given liberty
were Wise and another youth, who,
when they reached the shore, started
for a stroll on the cliffs They pro-
ceeded, laughing and chatting and en-
joying themselves in the manner Of boys
ashore for a lark.
Finally they reached a point where
the cliffs stand 20 feet above the narrow
stretch OF shore beneath. Here the two
boys stood looking out seaward, still
talking in the most friendly manner
when, suddenly and without provoca-
tion or warning, Wise placed his hands
against his companion, and, eXerting all
his strength, showed him over the edge
Of the precipitous cliffs.
With a shMek of terror the doomed
lad clutchej al the air in vain attempt
| to save himself, and then fell with
| frightful velocity upon the rocks at the
| base of the cliffs.
Entirely unconcerned at the terrible
| crime he had committed Wise weuded
his way back to the town and subse-
| Quently returned to his duties on board
the Boscawen.
When Wises companion did not re-
| turn at the expiration of the time al
lowed to him, the officers Of the ship
made inquiries, and when they ques-
! toned Wise the latter told them that
| ha ho1 IaI I'm, + I,n a1i
An investigation was Immediately
! made, and on reaching Il spot on the
shore beneath the point indicated by
| Wise in his confession, the officers found
| the body of the boy. His skull had
been fractured by striking on the jagged
rocks and he had received other terrible
| injuries. He was alive when the search
ers found him, but he died in a short
time.
Wise was Immediately placed under
arrest, but he takes the whole affair
nonchlantly, and laughs and jokes as
though he had no heinous crime upon
his conscience.
In fact, death rs a punishment for the
murder of his friend seems to have no
terror for him. On the contrary, he
discusses the question of being hange d
| with avidity, and appears to be over
joyed with the prospect Of meeting his
death by rope on the gallows.
Before he murdered his friend he had
often, in the course Of conversation with
other boys on the ship, expressed "a de-
sire to be hanged.
Some time ago Wise made a confession
that he had murdered a boy, but no be-
lief was placed in what he said, as there
was no evidence to support his state-
| ment.
The prisoner has hitherto borne a good
character.
I As the case stands at present the only
possible reason that can be given for the
heartless murder is that Wise is afflicted
with morbid desire to obtain notoriety,
or that he is mentally Irresponsible foI
his actions