The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-18
WoMAN's LIFE AT STAKE.
Her Husbands Murderer Accuses
Her Of Completely I'm the Deed.


BALTIMORE, Jan. Is, 1S96.-The trial
Of one of the most remarkable cases in
the criminal annals of Maryland was be-
gun in the Criminal Court this morning
The defendant in the case is a woman
who was indicted iK the Charles County
Court as an accessory to the murder of
her husband. The most damaging testi-
nony against the woman may come from
a man who was convicted ef the murder
and on whom the death sentence has
been passed
1t is not thought that the case viii
long hold the attention of the court
Those conversant with the evidence to
be adduced say that three days will
serve to place the weman's fate in the
hand of the jury.
James ]. Irwin, farmer and OYSTER
man, was found dead in his home at
Aliens fresh. Charles county, on the
night of August 2, 1896. He had been shot
in the back of his head while asleep in
his bed. Part of his skull was torn away
by the shots and slugs with which the
gun had been loaded. The first informa-
ton of the murder was furnished by
Mrs. Irwin, who ran to the home of her
father-in-law, a hundred yards away and
said that she had been awakened by some
noise outside, and, reaching over to arouse
her husband, found him bathed in blood
The crime stirred the whole State be-
cause of its brutality and cold -blooded-
ness. Mrs. Irwin asserted that she had
not heard a gunshot, and knew nothing
of the crime, but in the early stage of the
investigation suspicion pointed to her as
an accomplice of George Matthews He
was an oysterman and lived at Rock
Point. Some letters were found which
nad passed between Matthews and Mrs.
irwin which Showed that there was very
great intimacy between the two.
matthew's and Mrs. Irwin were arrested.
Ihe man escaped from jail and was gone
month. He voluntarily returned was
tried for murder at La Plata was con-
victed and sentenced to death When the
verdlct, was rendered Matthews said:-"I
am satisfed. You can hang me- l am
guilty, but woman is at the bottom of
The day after his conviction Matthews
made detailed confession in which he
SAID that MRS. irwin and her sister, Mrs.
Bourne. swore to him that Irwin had de-
clared his intention of killing him MAT
thews) on sight. Irwin. thew said had
intercepted q letter from Matthews to
Mrs. Irwin which contained unrnjstalSa a f,le
evidence of their iason and he had
threatened to kill his wife and Matthews.
too. Matthews was urged by the women,
according TO his confession, to kill Irwin
The murder was then planned by the
guilty pair and committed two nights
thereafter
Matthews is now in the Baltimore iail
Since his conviction and confession he ap-
pears to have undergone a change of
heart The bitterness toward the woman
which manifested itself when he found
that his life must pay the forfeit for his
or me. has apparently disappeared, and tt
will not be surprising to find his evidence
doing little harm, if any There is some
speculation as to whether he will appear
against the woman at ell. If he does not
wish to do SO there is no way of compell-
ing him, as he Is under q death sentence
and the courts can go no further in the
way OF punishment.