The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-06
A BURGLAR,s LETTER.
Showing a Criminals Horror of Dis
grazing His Wife.
From x Ne1r York World.

-
Showing a Criminals Horror of Dis
grazing Bis Wife.
From the New York World.
YOUNGSTOWN, o., May pa singular
story of crime, blended with love and mys-
terry, came to light here when man giving
his name as William Sherman, burglar, and.
it may be. murderer. was arraigned before
Mayor Montgomery. Sherman was arrested
hero few days ago on the charge of house,
breaking. John Foster and Matt Singer.
alleged ''pals' of Sherman, we're arrested
at the same time. Sherman is also charged
with shooting two policemen who are so des-
perately wounded that their recovery is
hardly likely.
Sherman pleaded mot guilty" to the
charge of burglary and he was remanded
without bail to await the result OF the po-
liceman's wounds. The other two men, 1t
is thought, will be sent to Cleveland, where
the authorities claim to have better case
against them than the officials here.
The Cleveland police say that they have
secured evidence enough to convict the
three men arrested of breaking and enter
ing at least three different houses in that
city.
but that which gives the case a roma ntic
coloring, suggestive of the premises of Gus
Thomas's play, 1.-The Burglar" is letter
which the unfortunate Sherman has written
to his wife. This letter is most remark
able document. While it is equivalent to a
confession of the crimes charged, it is a
piteous plea for the forgiveness of his wife
and clearly indicates that Sherman is not
his real name. He charges himself with
dragging her down to shame and claims
that rather than have her endure the dis
grace Of his trial and sure conviction he
will commit suicide. After charging him.
self with doing his wife an irreparable
wrong by marrying her. he writes:
"Could an angel wed demon and not
suffer? Assuredly not, l never meant to
drag you down, dear, and in these few lucid
moments that remain to me [ wish to beg
your forgiveness-to beg it as man stand
ing on the brink of the great unknown, as
a man who, in all his relations to you and
your relatives and friends, showed only til g
better qualities, the better impulses, emo
lions of his nature, and as a man who
would, had the opportunity presented itself.
have done all in his power to develop those
qualities Drag you down, darllngs No,
no, never meant to! You were to be my
good angel, the being who was to lift me
up out of the mud into an atmosphere
where virtue, not vice, reigned. And did
not desire 1t? Did l not hunger for a
chance to lead an honest life? Did l not
detest and despise the life was compelled
to lead?'
Then the writer refers to his frequent
letters to his unsuspecting wife as proof OF
his devotion and tells her that, as he is with
in three days to penetrate into "the mystic
rious beyond" and, as he believes, his spirit
''Lnay visit and be constantly near" those
that were dear to him on earth, he hopes
she will speak aloud her thoughts, so that
he may know of her forgiveness. Then the
letter continues:
Yesterday / was taken before photo
graphic camera and negative of the des-
perado, William Sherman. taken for a GER
tain purpose. This negative has been de
veloped and several copies printed. One Of
these Mr.. Cantwell has promised to give &c
you. He has also promised to extend thG
hospitalities of his house to you in the even
of your coming here. and to see that yoI
were treated courteously by all, and to hanC
you this letter, or if you do not come to SCI
that it reaches its destination through Mrs
William Cooper, No. 5 Hickox street, Cleve
| land, o."
He goes on to tell with what aversion he i
regarded by the people here, and confesse
| that he has no excuse to offer which nigh
palliate his crime He recalls his pleasur
| in his home life, Of their plans for the fut
| ure, and declares that ''every article abou
the house stands out before his minds eye.
His reference to his promised suicide is in
teresting. He writes:
"Shall you regard me as others do!
''Ah, it is the fear of this that forces MI
| to take the step am going to take tonight
Life is burden, death right So wrot
| one long ago, but | am young and death ia
away, so | must meet it half way. Th
world calls it sin. Yet whya Others sa,
| none but towards and madmen suicide. Asl
| the people with whom have come in con
tact if they consider me a coward. As TO
being mailman, no, am not, but the lin
| is so sharply drawn as to be almost indis
| tinguishable
You may, when you gaze upon my deal
form, feel some pity. You may not re-
proach me. So l will do it."
The letter then refers to the time of hi
| courtship, and the writer expresses wisl
| that she had yielded to her first impression
of him, las man to be avoided" Tha
| Sherman is an assumed name is indicated il
| the following:
| found guilty of burglary at least. l should
be sent to prison. and you would be the wifi
| of convict; it would be but a matter O.
| tune until the world, until your friends
would know you as such. There is a way il
which / can spare you years of sorrow anC
Illumination, way in which can right &
certain extent the wrong have done you
This means shall avail myself OF, 80 tina
in two or three years from now instead o.
being the wife of convict you may b.
loved, honored and respected by one more
worthy of your love than was; but remem
Der this, sweetheart, he can never love Oh
revere you as do.
81 desire for your sake to remain I'M
known. II you come here do not disclos'
your name or address. This is to shield
you, not me, for the dead dog feels not the
kick of man. l wish to be buried a.
home. If you will send the body to Billy
Cooper he will forward it on all right"
The letter concludes with another appea
for forgiveness and few messages for hi
sister and friends. Mrs. Cooper. in whose
care the letter is addressed, is related to
well-known city official of Cleveland.