The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-20
Murder Will Out.

M uIooI III OuCs
There is one murderer wanted in thi
section who will be executed without an,
expense to this county. He is Thoma
| Cromwell, colored, former resident o
Mount Holly, now under sentence of dealt
at Lebanon, Pa, for the murder last MAJ
of Jacob Schmidt Cromwell was con
victed under the name of George Clarenc'
Washington. On Friday he was visited
by colored man named George Lockley
to whom he confessed his crime, stating
that his right name was Thomas Crom
well, and that he had a mother living in
Mount Holly and sister who resided in
Burlington. Lockley was requested tc
write to his mother telling her all about
his troubles.
Cromwell is the man for whom the au
thorities of Burlington county spent q
large sum of money in the futile attempt
to effect his capture. He was indicted
for the murder of old John Henke, which
crime took place in Burlington in August,
1896 The victim, German, who kept a
store at the corner of st. Mary and Green
streets, was supposed to have had consid-
cradle wealth in his house. Cromwell,
who was well acquainted with the premi-
SEES, and being assisted by companion
whose name was never learned, broke in
to the place, and while searching for
money they were discovered by Henke,
who attacked the robbers. He was over
power, d, however. and choked to death
with a piece of rope that was placed
around his neck and twisted with a stick
When the lifeless body of Henke was
discovered the two colored men had disap-
peared. Later the Board of Freeholders
offered reward of $500 for their capture,
and with an additional reward of $500.
pledged by the late William E. McNeal,
then Mayor of Burlington, several per-
sons started out to find clue, and num-
Der of suspects were landed in Jail in va
rious parts of the country
| Finally word was received that the fu-
gitives had been seen in the pines near
Indian Mills and also near Writings sta
ton. To that vicinity Prosecutor Eckard
P. Budd dispatched number of consta-
bles and special officers, who patroled the
pine district for a month, during which
period it was alleged that the suspects
had been seen and fired upon by Consta-
bles Miller and Lamb. The men seemed
to have hao but little difficulty in eluding
the officers, and it was thought for time
they were being aided by men of their
own color.
Mrs Blanche Cromwell, who lives on
West Washington street, says she has not
heard from her son for eight years. She
knew nothing about the Henke murder
except what she read in the newspapers
but she always believed that he was guilty
of the crime. In this respect she was not
mistaken as Cromwell's confession will
show. He said:
There is reward of $500 in Burling-
ton for me just now, but don't care
whether they hang me here or in New
Jersey. I'm telling you this now because
there's no help for me and | want to die
happy But l want you to catch that man
who helped to kill old Henke the miser.
He is a SMALL slim, coal black boy, weigh
ing about 100 pounds; was about five feet
six inches in height, and has thick, pro-
jecting red lips. He goes by the name of
John Brown and John Williams
"The Henke murder was committed
during a robbery. 1t was Williams plan
We waited until late at night, and after
gaining entrace to the store used the
buck and gag Williams strangled the
old man while | held him. tied the feet
and l wanted Williams to loosen the rope
about Henke's neck as we were leaving.
but he would not, declaring there was no
time, so we fled with $3.50 worth of plum
der, and, although pursued, we escaped
to Jersey City. From Jersey CITY we
went to Newark, and then went to Phil
adelphia. There we decided, as it was
winter we would surrender ourselves to
be sent to the House of Correction at
Holmesburg. There we spent the winter
until released. l received great shock
while there when a man sitting beside me
was taken down to the City Hall, in Phil
adelphia. In my presence the Detective
said the fellow was wanted for the Henke
murder. 1t was close call for me-
The authorities at Lebanon consider
Cromwell to be a very dangerous man,
and since his confession he has contin-
ually raved, threatening to kill any one
who comes near him.
Prosecutor Atkinson, in company with
a person who knows Cromwell. will go to
Lebanon to make the prisoners identifi
cation complete, and, if possible, to learn
something more concerning Williams.