Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-04-17
BRUTAL
Murder In a Coun.
ty Jail.
Henry Cross Cut His Wife
Almost to Pieces.
A Demons Desperate Deed at
Washington Court House.

Washington c. H., O.. April H.
Henry Cross and his wife lie dying at
the Fayette county jail. She Is literally
cut to pieces. and he has inflicted upon
himself fatal wounds. The crimes were
committed by Henry Cross with bar
low knife whetted to a razor edge.
At o'clock last night Mrs. Henry
Cross. accompanied by Hon. d. [.
Worthington and Ice Rankin. attor
neys for Henry Cross, who has been in
jail here since last February. awaiting
his trial for the murder of little nine
year-old Ralph Thompson. went 10
the county jail to see Henry Cross. 10
secure the signature of Cross and his
wife to deed for property owned by
Cross which was to be turned over in
part to his attorneys for defending him
in the Thompson murder case.
The names of Cross and his wife
We're secured to the deed, and the at
torneys left. Gross asked Sheriff Phil
lips If his wife could not remain with
him. The Sheriff answered mo" but
said she could remain one hour. Then
turning to Mrs. Cross, the Sheriff ask
ed: do you want to stay with your
husband an hour?' "Yes, would like
to-" was her answer. The Sheriff then
left the Jail for his apartments, the
Sherffs residence and the Jail being
under one roof. He left Mrs. Cross in
the cell with her husband.
| In about 40 minutes the Sheriff heard
the prisoners making desperate eff
, fort to attract his attention by shaking
the Jail door. He ran to the door anu,
learning what was the matter, he ran
up stairs and found Mrs. Cross lying
| face down on the floor, while Cross
was over her with his knife in his hand,
stabbing her in the neck and back
as fast us he could move his arm.
The Sheriff was armed with a po-
liceman's billy, and, rushing up to
Cross. he struck him two terrific blows
across the side of the head before he
could move him. The Sheriff with the
assistance of one or two of the other
prisoners. attempted to drag the bleed
ing woman along the corridor in the
|
cells to the iron stairway leading down
to the corridor and cells below. Cross
made an attempt to stab the Sheriff,
but the officer lodged and hit him three
blows across the head to beat him
back. He fell partially over the stair
railing, but caught himself by his leg,
and thrusting his hand into his open
shirt where he had concealed his knife
Cross made another desperate attempt
to lacerate his wife.
Pulling his revolver from his pocket
Sheriff Phillips aimed it at Cross, and
cried: stop, there. YOU black demon,
or Ill blow your brains out" This had
the desired effect. Cross got down from
the stairway and stepped back. while
the Sheriff. assisted by several prison
crs. carried the woman to the Sheriff s
apartments She will die.
Before Cross had been thoroughly
examined by the physicians he asked
his comrades in the Jail If he had better
finish himself, and they advised him
not to. 1t was found that he had cut
his throat, but did not sever the jugular
and had stabbed himself in the breast
several times. There is a chance for
his recovery.
Henry Cross is a demon in human
form. Last February he killed Ralph
Thompson. aged nine years, he having
secured the boy at the Children's Home
He is charged with beating, burning
and freezing him to death He was
indicted for murder in the first degree
and is now in Jail awaiting his trial.
Today Judge Newby was to arrive here
from Hillsboro to set the date fol
Cross trial in the Thompson case, and
last night his attorneys We're arranging
business matters connected with the
case when the last tragedy occurred
| nao 1t,Io