The evening times., 1896-06-26

removed Elsie Kreglo's eyes and carried
them to the Army Medical Museum 10
determine whether the likeness OF the
murderer had been retained on the retina.
This test was without results, as the
ewes had commenced to decOmpose-
Thursday afternoon the public was no
titled, through the extra Times. of Mur-
derer Ford's capture at Harper's Ferry.
He was taken into custody by Mayor Thorn
as j Burleigh and Town Recorder w A.
Winters Ford broke from the mayor at
the Jail door in Harper's Ferry, plunged
into the swift-flowing shenandoah anu
tried to drown himself.
The mayor fired several shots at the
fugitive before he reached the river. Ford
was retaken haudcuffed, and placed IN the
lookup That evening Detective Poafdnlan
and Times reporter went TO Harper
Ferry Ford admitted hisidentity. Through
the ingenuity OF EoardinaD he was gotten
uuietly aboard train TO prevent lynchins
by the hardy mountaineers. and brought
TO Washington On the train Ford was hand
cufred TO Mayor Burleish and guarded by
Spetial Agent W Il. Cross, as well as De-
tectiye Boardman. Much excitement toi-
lowed he murderer arrivalin Washington.
and there was talk of lynching him on all
sides.
HIS TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
On the day following Friday, May 8 Ford
was terror-strc' in his cell at Lieut..
KeIly's station aud frequently expressed
the fear that mob would burn nm. About
noon he confessed the crime, first TO Mayor
Burleigh and MIR. Cross, aud then 70 others,
Including Chief Clerk Sylvester. Saturday
he made second confession to Lieut. heiiy
and one or twonore, and Observation-Disclosures
the motive OF tbe crime was criminal AS
sault.
The next day, Saturday, the inquest was
held, and Detectives Weldon and Horne
showed by their testimony that they had
sufficient evidence to convict without rel-
| erence to Ford's confessions. The coroner'i
Jury promptly held Ford for the murder, and
| then followed the wild ride to the Jail in
the Sixth precinct patrol wagon, in charge
! OF Lieut.. Kelly, with squad OF his blie'
| coats.
ON Monday. May IL, the grand jury in
dlcted Ford. WHO had been quietly brougat.
| from Jail. Ten minutes later tie wasDrougbl
| before Judge Cole nd arraigned. The muir
derer pleaded guilty, but the court refused
| to accept the plea and caused one of not
guilty to be entered.
Attorneys Donaldson and Peter were as
| signed to defend Ford. and District At
| torney Birney expedited matters ny caeirg 3
| the case for trial on Monday, May iS.
After considerable difficulty In securing
| a Jury, twelve men were finally impanneied
| nN tie UeSlliUOuS C''iitbCi'SSu. |hsc ~Ao~ =
| n. m. Wednesday May 20, Ford was found
| guilty nd the fact quickly beralded by e.s
| ira Times.
| ANXIOUS FOR THE EXECUTION.
| A motion for a new trial was made by
| LAWYERS Donaldson and Peter on May 26
and overruled by Judge Cole. Two days
| later. Wednesday, May %, Ford was
| brought into court and sentenced TO be
| hanged the date being fixed for June IS
| at Ford's request.
] Tothe clerk of the court he gave his M ne
| as Irving L. Ford, aged thirty-five years;
born at Staunton, Va: laborer by occupa-
tion; married and had one child; was
brought up a Baptist; height, six feet, one
| inch.
| Ford's wife and baby visited him at the
| jail, and Rev. Mr.. Roberts, a colored evan
celist. attended TO his spiritual needs. He
| prayed often and remarked several times
mat he wished the day of hisexecution was
at hand. as he was impatient to leave the
world He became stoical in jail toward the
last and expressed anxiety as to the future
| Of his wife and baby.