The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-02
JOHN GADDIS OF ARCTIC.
How He Rode to His Death on
Saturday Afternoon Last.
RHODES CORNELL'S RASH ACT.
Only Mrs. Cornell and Mrs. Elizabeth
Reynolds, Her Sister, Know AuGht of
the Crime-Are Their Lips sealed?-
Rhodes Cornell Under Arrest.

the rough, hilly street in Anthony, lead
ing to the home Of Mrs. Rhodes Cornell
Fate, in the human shape of Rhodes
Cornell, lay sleeping in one of the rooms
of the house.
The sun went down TO call up the night;
Il came, and softly threw the drapery OF
darkness over the earth, pinnlng IL on
with stars Then there went down the
rough street. John Gaddis-deboniare no
longer-dead helpless, with an lnscruta-
BILE silence upon his lips, ana devoid Il
soul. which was then doubtless busy
answering before the Great Tribunal
Rhodes Cornell had shot HIM, lniilcting
"a wound from which he died from hemor-
rhage within two hours of the act. There
Is to-day one, possibly two persons, who
know the moral rights OF the case. lhey
may never divulge them. The two are
Mrs. Rhodes Cornell and her sister Mrs.
Elizabeth Reynolds.
Cornell, who is greatly addicted to liquor,
came home ON Saturday noon drunk and
uuarrelsome. The two women assert that
he talked most abusively, and made an
assault upon Mrs. Reynolds, after which
he went down into the village. After
short time he returned and went To sleep
ON the bed in the sleeping room. About
this time John Gaddis called. Cornell
arose, went into the kitchen, ana III
is said engaged in an alteration
with Mrs Reynolds, the outcome OF whlch
was that he struck her, whereupon Cad
dis attacked Cornell, threw him to the
floor and held him down till he was power
less, then lot him rise. Gaddis, realizing
himself To be unprotected, was a>ut 10
leave the room, when Cornell reaC.S Tor
a gun, with which he, a moment after,
fired, the charge hitting Gaddis IN the
right side, iniilcting mortal wouha;
Cornell made no eiiort 90 escape, or AVOID
the CONSEQUENCES OF his terrible act. DIR.
Minsor was summoned, and later DIR.
Smith of W ashington was called IN con-
sultation but medical skill could do
nothing TO avert death. Gaddls brother
James and his mother, Mrs. Hay were
sent for, and.arriyed in time 10 receive the
farewell Of the dying man. Rev. Father
Kelly administered divine consolation IN
accordance with the rules of the church OF
which the victim was communicate
Cornell was placed under arrest by oili-
Ger Gibney, who, with constable Moses
Ieclerq took him to East Greenwich, and
placed him in jail there.
An inquest was held on Saturday evening
by Coroner Charles Andrews, the verdict
OF which is "After hearing the testi-
mony and reviewing the same on the
death of John Gaddis, find and certify,
that the said John Gaddis, on the 3lst day
of October, 1891, at Rhode Island, came To
his death by gun shot wound in the
right side OF the abdomen. | further find
and certify that the gun shot was found,
and the said death caused by the said
Rhodes Cornell, on the 3lst day of Octo-
ber, 1891, who did then and there felon-
iously slay, and wound said John Gaddis."
The autopsy showed that the wound
was caused by charge of No. 3 bird shot,
and all the shot passed through the intes-
tines and were fiattened on the backbone.
"A segment of circle was taken out of
the coat and the vest pocket was carried
AWAY Sa close WAS the range.
Rhodes Cornell was seen on Sunday by
n NEWS reporter at the Kent County Jail
at East Greenwich. He had slept through
the night. When first seen he sat in the
space outside the row of cells. At his ex-
pressed desire he had been allowed to stay
there rather than in the close confines of
his cell. He was wearing his hat, and was
SO deep in thought as To neither hear or
see the persons who were looking at
him. lie is "A man below medium stature,
Cornell" said the jailor, Mrs. Smith.
But he neither saw or heard. Raising
her voice, she repeated" Cornell |" lie
looked up quickly. There is someone
here to see YOU" The man came up to
the barred door. If he had been accused
on cirCumstantial evidence only, any just
person would have sworn To his innocence.
His eyes were steady and honest his face
naturally calm.
How do you do" he said
Have you anything to say TO the press"
mo, not yet"
"Why gn
81 want TO sec my lawyer first"
I" Have you one ?"
Not yet"
" Have you any preference or idea
whom you will retain f."
" No, not now
"Did you sleep last night2"
" Yes, pretty well"
" Is there any one You want to see ?"
lfst.a !.
reporter for "A minutes time, after which
he said: II want TO see Ben Williams of
Crompton."
Cornell was shabbily dressed, and had
the look of one uncared for, He is in his
JOth year, and yet his face has sort of an
appealing expression. There were many
scratches and marks on his face, rs il he
had been roughly handled. During sun
day Mr.. Benjamin Williams was seen at
his home and given the message which
Cornell sent him.
Mr.. Williams was very rcticent. "Both
the victim and Cornell were friends of
mine he said. IL think it a most terri
ble affair" When asked about Cornell 5
character he said he was a carpenter by
trade, and one of the best, and before he
had been 50 Incorporate was one OF the
best of men, which he was always when
sober. When asked his opinion of the mo-
tive causing Cornells enmity to Gaddis,
he said; 81 have nothing to say"
Others have been less taciturn.
\ lady residing in Anthony village
stated she bad known Cornell since his
birth. lie was the son OF stephen Cornell
of summit, most excellent man. "Iou
would never know a better boy and young
man than Rhodes Cornell, !" she said. Gle
was married three times, and his last mar
riage proved happy for neither of the con
tracing parties
one OF the saddest features of the case is
this: Up on iarm, where for many
years she has l,..i her peaceful life, sits
today good, ntle woman, Rhodes Cor
nell's feeble, Ol O., widowed mother. In
whatever trouble NE has recently been he
has gone where heartsick men can always
find loving refuge, To his mother, and she
loved him, Tor he was her boy, God pity
her.
Gaddis was not married and was IS
years of age. lie had always
lived in the PawtuXet Valley and was
man OF cordial manners, aud
had very large acquaintance, being
lar among his contemporaries. He had
ALWAYS been greatly attached 60 his
mother, and his only expressed commands
previous TO his death were those concern
ing her future welfare. His body lies at
his mothers home at Arctic. " here ON
sunday unmbpra az tba frtapfa ~ tDo