Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-26

After his wife and chHd left him yester-
day Ford gave himself wholly up to re-
ligious meditations. hiss, spiritual adviser,
the Rev. John Roberts. being assisted by
the Rev. w. ]. Howardl colored Baptist
minister, and by the Rev. John C. Gutridge
Of ST. Paurs A. M. f. Church, by whom
Ford was baptized several days ago. One
or more of them remained with him
throughout the day and night, Mr.. Roberts
passing the night In an adjoining cell. Be-
tween and 10 o'clock last evening Ford
threw himself down on his cot. and in a
comparatively short time had fallen asleep.
He slept quietly and peacefully until few
minutes after o'clock this morning. when
knees in prayer Mr. Roberts Immediately
Joined him, and later the other ministers.
From that time until the march to the
scaffold was taken up. they prayed with
and then. he Joined. and read the Scrip
lures to him, encouraging him IN every
way possible. He bore up wonderfully
well. although at one time this morning
when speaking of his wife and child, the
murderer broke almost completely down,
sobbing like a child for several minutes.
His most pervading thought was of his
wife and child, and he expressed himself
time and again as being exceedingly anx-
ious that they should never suffer for what
ne had done. He was also anxious that
despite the admission attributed to him, it
should not be thought that it was his pur-
pose to assault his victim. To that end he
dictated the following statement to Mr.
Roberts. for publication in The Star:
His Last Statement.
Il express my sorrow for the murder of
Elsie kreglo, and say I am innocent of any
attempt on my part to commit rape or out
rage. l attribute it all to drunken fit, and
say l had no intention whatever to out
rage Elsie. Being under the influence of
liquor. / did not know what 1 was doing
l had no motive whatever for the crime
ask the forgiveness of the entire country
even as God has forgiven me. 1 feel to be
at peace with all mankind and have moth
Ing In my heart against any one Warden
Leonard and his officers have been very
klnd to me, and for these last favors 1
heartily thank them. Rev. John Roberts
my spiritual adviser, has been the same
as brother to me. He has given me good
advice. counseled me. and done all in his
power to comfort and cheer nv decIininp
days. To him give my heartfelt thanks
ana trust the Lord will reward him for all
his trouble. l also desire to express nv
great appreciation to Rev. w. ]. Howard
and others for their kindness to me. want
to say to the public that there is nothing
SO dangerous as red rum. 1t is that, and
that alone that has led me to the scafYold
can the liquor seller say that he is innocent
OF Elsie Kreglos death? No, no: he. too
will have to answer in judgment with me
for the crime committed. l ask the public
not 10 condemn my wife and child or bear
them any ill-will for what have done, for
Will soon be gone, and they will be left TO
the cold charities of an unfriendly world
! am prepared to die for my crime. I have
been forgiven by my God and am only
Walting Tor the law to be carried out. /
ask the forgiveness of all my enemies and
trust to meet all in heaven; in that Mace
where sickness, sorrow. pain and death are
1elt and feared no more. l have been asked
a. What tlme left the woods after COM
mitted the crime did not leave the woods
until O'Clock the next morning. Then I
lert and came up to Takoma Park. want
further to say did not have anything to do
a % :. nan murder. l know nothing
ABOUT II, Tor was never guilty of any crime
DeIore. make this confession to Rev. John
ROBERTS. and authorize him to publish II
l ask. therefore. a column in the daily
know i,n the real facts. desire this to be pub
iished in The Star on the day of nv exec,1-
.ion. frlday. June ~, 1885,. My spiritual
ADVISER. Rev John Roberts. for the last
-FOUR weeks has given me to understand
there was no hope for me, ahd that I must
hang: l therefore gave up all and prepared
myself to leave this world I am ready and
willing. l bid you all goo1-bye"
The History of His Crime.
The crime for which Ford paid the ex
IRENE penalty Of the law today will ever
be known in the criminal history of the
District as one Of the most brutal and I'M
provoked. The victim was simple coun-
try girl. Just entering womanhood, and her
young life was lost In an attempt to pre-
serve that which is most sacred to women
her honor. go
With her parents. people in very humble
circumstances, Elsie Kreglo lived nesr
hhngle Ford. short distance from the
northern boundary Of the Zoo and east of
the Chevy Chase railroad. Shortly after 3
O'Clock on the afternoon Of Monday the
4th Of last month, the girl left her home to
at
done, she was on her way home when she
was accosted by Ford, hose purpose the
child quickly OWNED. Struggling in the
grasp OF the 1egro. she screamed for as
sistance. and the struggle continued down
a wooded snd rather steep hill to little
stream which flowed at its foot The girls
cries were heard. and her mother and
others ran to her assistance. A colored
reach her. and when he did he was horri-
ned to discover her lying in the little
stream. with blood flowing from cruel
gashes in her neck. The boy also saw. as
man running awey through the bushes.
The youngster was too much terrified to
render the poor girl any assistance. and he
ran away from the horrible sight, crying
and picking her Child up, she tenderiy
carried her to the bank Of the little stream.
where the poor girl died in her arms before
she could tell of her assailant.
Hunting for the Murderer,
The girls screams had attracted the at
tention of others. and soon the news of the
crime was flashed to police headquarters
Detectives Horn and Weldon were not long
in arriving at the scene of the murder, and
an examination Of the girls wounds dis
closed the fact that she had been stabbed
several times in the neck, one of the cuts
severing the jugular vein. Her body was
removed to the moIgue and the police au-
thorities at once commenced a diligent
search for the unknown murderer, soon
concluding that he was a negro. A few
feet away from the spot where the girl was
found was discovered a loaded revolver,
and evider ces Of the heroic struggle which
the child had made to defend herself were
also discovered; that a felonious assault
had been attempted being made manifest
by the torn and disarranged condition of
her garments.
That night and the next day several col
ored med were arrested on suspicion, but
not until the second day after the murder
did the police authorities become aware of
the name of the murderer. Upon the re-
volver found near the iscene. Of the crime
was discovered the trAAemArk of a local
dealer. Upon an investigator Of his books
1t was ascertained that months before he
had sold 1t to a negro who save the name
OF Irwin Ford. Ford, it1was at once learn