The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-08
Man with Whom She Lived Hi Her with
a Hatchet.
SHE is SERIOUSLY INJURED
House in Which the Crime Was Com
mitted Is Located at 9Os Jackson
street--woman Is " hite and Has
Been Consorting with Him for Up-
wards of a Year--She Formerly
Lived in Plymouth and Came Here
Eight Years Ago.

semi-conscious state, suffering from |
wounds inflicted upon her early yes |
terday morning by the man with whom |
she consorted. His name is George |
Matthews. and he is colored. The in |
jured woman may and may not die,
her recovery depending upon circum-
stances so far as complications are
concerned. Her murderously inclined
assailant has not yet been apprehend-
ed.
The house in which the almost mur-
der was committed is a three story
tenement at 90S Jackson street, owned
by the Cohen estate, and occupied by
motley gang Of Italians, Huns and
Poles. The characters of the probable
| tragedy resided in the basement part,
consisting of four small rooms. The
| place was once used for shop pur-
poses and a few board partitions
| changed it into living rooms.
| George Matthews and his consort,
Mrs. Roberts, alias Mary Jane Morris,
alias May Matthews, have occupied the
| squalid home but a little over two
months. This period of time, accord
| ing to neighbors, has been q pande-
monium. Carousals by night and fight
ing by day. Matthews was not an
| extremely bad man. He was employed
| as a driver by Carlucci Bros. and his
pay was always at the command of
the woman. But a disturber in the
person of Charles Jackson, also colored,
but not SO much so as Matthews, ap-
peared several months ago upon the
scene and since that time trouble has
brewed. 1t reached the boiling point
about o'clock yesterday morning.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
1t seems that Matthews was at Dali
ton for several days before Christmas
but returned to celebrate. Jackson was
at this time boarding with the couple,
and though Matthews did not want
him around, he staid. Fights between
the woman and Matthews We're fire.
quent up to Thursday night, when
she went across the street and told
a Mrs. Myers that Matthews was 60
ing to kill her. She, however, went
back home and it is supposed the reg
ular debauch was begun.
When seen by a Tribune reporter at
the hospital last night, Mrs. Roberts
declared that everything was all right
until about five O'Clock yesterday
morning, when he awoke her and an
nounced his intention of fixing" her.
She says she got down on her knees
and begged for mercy. He only seized
a small hatchet from the sink nearby
and dealt her a blow. She still cried
for mercy. He struck her several
times after that and she lost conscious
ness.
Just before this happened, according
!, to the story of both Jackson and the
woman, Jackson had left the house.
, He did not return until about seven
o'clock and found her lying in a pool
of her own blood. Matthews had dis
: | appeared Jackson aroused her and
l put her on the miserable cot. which did
: duty as a bed, and then notified the
. neighbors and police.
. DOCTOR SUMMONED.
Some one summoned Dr. ]. p. Walk
= er, of Broadway, and he applied band
= ages and gave her some stimulants
e A few minutes later. or about eight
h o'clock, Patrolman Gurrell and a cat
= from Prices livery and the injured wo
Y man was taken to the West Side hos
e pital.
= Here the staff discovered that she
was not dangerously wounded. Hel
s | wounds consisted of several Jagged
e cuts about the back and top of tht
n head from which the blood had freel!
i flowed. Matthews struck her with thu
g head instead OF the blade of the hat
= chet or the tale would be of differen
II telling. 1t is not thought that thu
i skull is fractured, as she rallied al
q most too easily for that. but anothe
1. investigation will be made this morn
n ing when she has better recovered from
the shock.
Jackson, the boarder, told all h,
knew to Chief Robling, Lieutenan
Davis, and Detective Moir, and step
F. were Immediately taken to capture
=, Matthews. He is about 45 years of age
m coal black negro and a Virginian b,
r birth. His mothers name Is Edit
re Ford, and is supposed to live at Pou
se plin City, Va, as he often wrote he
ot there.
or The couple have been In trouble be
q = fore. The first time March l, 1897, o.
ar a charge of keeping disorderly house
s. while residing in Kelly's patch, oi
n- Scranton street. Again Septembe
t. II, 1897, while still residing at the sam
place. The charge was harboring
ten-year-ol white girl. Matthew
oi promised at this time to quit the wo
|
az docket record reads. 1t was just fol
tv lowing this arrest that Jackson com
menced to board with them and short
Iy afterward the green-eyed monster
n jealousy, seized Matthews.
of
tn CAME HERE FROM PLYMOUTH.
US The injured woman is fairly goo
&C. looking and was once respectable, re
oh siding on Swetland street, where sh
es came from Plymouth about eigf
IN years ago. She, however became dis
solute and refused to reside with
married daughter, who has since move
as away from Scranton. She has consor'
70 ed with Matthews for over year.
It was rumored that Matthews ha
boarded Bloomsbury division COZ
train and was heading for Virginii
of The following letter from his moth'
he was. found among his effects.
re Pouplin City, Va, Dec. 6, 1897.
Ill MY Dear Son
18, Your letter to hand a day ago and
in was glad to hear from you ana your VIII
n Glad to hear that you all was well al
n doing well and hope when these few lin
-, reach you it may find you well and @
va joying good health. l am afraid to sci
ne YOU that thing / told you had becau
no | am afraid l will get caught up with
rd / would rather you would come and
ch 1t yourself and carry 1t with you ba'
he home. / am afraid to trust 1t with q
nv mail people, they are so curious the
ma days.
ne You ought to come and see me al
then you could carry II back with "
and II II is so you can bring your wi
| lxaTlth /