The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-22

tavern In the village of Jcnneryiile III,
was accompanied by man whose physica
description correspondent in every way
with that Of Goss
uduerSook felt that he was In trap
From tho time Of the trial no had beer
shauo~ed by detectives. He knew that
Goss was living and in hiding and liable
ct any tune to make his identity known
through one of his periodic sprees. The
nope OF gain was now lost sight of in fear
for his own safety, and he could not feel
sure Of that safety while Goss was living
and In the vicinity
Undertook claimed that his companion
was In Ill health, and SO no carried his
FOOD to him in his room. On tho night Of
the Fourth OF July Undertook and his
companion left the hotel in buggy. Just
ono week nfterward farmer residing in
the neigbborhood hnd his attention at
traotcd by number of buzzards assembled
In the woods about 100 yards from the
road. An examination of the spot led to
the discovery OF the body of u man scarce
" covered with leaves, dirt and branches.
The farmer notified the deputy corner, an
inquest was held, and this verdict was
given: THAT the man, name unknown,
came to his death on OF about the night Of
July 4, 1873, from wounds inflicted with n
dirk or other sharp instrument in the
hands Of William Undertook of Balti-
more, Md"
Already the intelligent farmers of Chcs-
tor county had learned through tho papers
OF Uddcrzook's connection with the Goss
trial in Baltimore. When he lived in their
midst, he had worn curious bloodstone
ring, and this ring was found beside the
body of tho murdered man, showing that
some resistance hnd been made.
the direction of Baltimore, was overtaten
and brought back to the county scat. The
news OF the tragedy spread through the
country, and representatives Of tho insur-
ance companies were at once OH the ground.
The body Of the murdered man was ex-
humed. A. 9. Goss, the brother Of tho
man supposed to have been burned in Bal
timorc, was brought before the corpse, as
wcro Others, and one and all declared the
murdered man to be Winfield S. Goss.
Even tho insurance companies were con-
WINGED that he was now dead s,ro enough.
But, though suspicion pointed strongly
against Undertook as the murderer, the
evidence was far from being conclusive.
Tho scene of the tragedy had changed from
Maryland to Pennsylvania.
On the 2lst Of October, In tho beautiful
town of Westchester, Chief Justice Butler
raigned for the murder of Winfield S. aoss.
A. Wagner, Esq, was tho commemorative
attorney, and among tho array of counsel
whom UddcrzoolK's mother aud friends Sc
cured for his defense was tho brilliant
Wayne MacNeaRh, son in-law Of Simon
Cameron, and subsequently attorney gen
ernl of the United States, and In this year
1896 American minister to Italy.
On the trial il came out that the murder
was of tho most atrocious kind. The VIC
TINS limbs wero severed from the body
and hidden many yards away. Yet, with the
strange fatality that follows nurderers who
try to conceal their work, the dead mans
face was but little married. An attempt
was made to show TINT tho body was not
that Of W. S. Goss, but without effect.
Witnesses were procured who proved where
Goss had been nc,giy every day from the
time OF his supposed cremation up to the
night of his actual murder.
Mrs Goss was brought on from Balti.
moro and denied emphatically that the
man whom Undertook was charged with
numbering was her husband. The prose
| cutiop was memorable, for it Ind double
| purpose to pcrform-flrst to show the con-
| spiracy to Iefraud and next to show a
motive for the murder OF Goss.
| Beyond all doubt the fact was establish
| cd that man who called himself A. c.
| Wilson In Newark, where he had been hid
ing, and the ono who had been murdered
In the Chester county woods were one and
the same person, and with equal certainty
1t was proved that this man was the W. S.
Goss supposed to have been burned to
death in Baltimore.
Tho trial created tho greatest interest,
not only in southern Pennsylvania, but
throughout the country There had been
| nothing like it before in tho history of
criminal procedure
Alter trial lasting two weeks--this
was Sunday, Nov. Z, 1873 = tho jury
brought in verdict of guilty of murder
In the first degree
"A motion was made for new trial,
out 1t WIS not granted. An appeal was
inauc TO the supreme court OF Pennsylva-
MA, hut without success Still the conn
sci for the defense did not give up. There
is court OF last resort in PENNSYLVANIA
Known as the board of partlons, which sits
at harrisburg on stated occasions. The
BOARD OF pardons refused to interfere.
Ihen nm unsuccessful appeal was made to
the governor.
Throughout tho whole trial Udderzook
manifested the greatest nouchnlancc and
arrogance and stubbornly protested his in.
nocehce' lie heard tho reading of tho
death warrant with Indifference and wa.
huhg' without any signs of fear or repent
ance' on tic morning Of Thursday, tho
18th of November, 1874.