The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-06-10
Plot to Murder Frustrated.

Plot to Murder Frustrated.
A conspiracy to kill family of six per-
sons residing between Waverly and New
ark was unearthed last week by Prosecu-
sale murder was to have been committed
six years ago. but fell through owing to
the arrest of the conspirators. One of the
plotters is to be hanged in Lebanon county,
Pennsylvania on the oath of this month.
The other man is still at large and is sup
posed to be residing in Newark.
The story was first discovered by Prose
cutor Atkinson, through the arrest in Lee
banon few months ago of Thomas Crom-
well, wanted in this county since August
IA, 1896, for the murder of John Hencke
in Burlington. Cromwell was arrested in
Pennsylvania for another murder, and af-
ter his trial and conviction, he stated that
he was the man who murdered Hencke.
Prosecutor Atkinson was notified of the
arrest and went to Lebanon where
Cromwell made a confession duplicating
murder
At the time of the Hencke tragedy
Cromwell and Williams were at once sus-
pected of the murder and large reward
was offered by the Burlington county au-
thorities for their arrest. 1t was thought
that they hurried to the ''pines" and
sought refuge among the hawkers of that
community. Searching parties were in
stituted and for many weeks almost every
person in the neighborhood was on still
hunt for the murderers. They were never
found, however, and the affair was drop
ped and forgotten.
According to the confession secured
from Cromwell it was shown that he and
Williams became acquainted while work
ing together on the docks at Newark.
Both of them lost their positions and start
ed at once for Philadelphia expecting to
secure work there Cromwell had relatives
in Burlington and the two men decided to
stop off and visit them. 1t was while on
this visit the murder was committed.
Continuing the confession says: "After
we found out that we had killed the man,
Williams and decided to go back to New
ark at once. We got there the next day
and secured lodgings from an Italian sa-
loon keeper on River street, where we
stayed for several days. With the money
we got from Hencke we took trips to
Coney Island, Rockaway and other places,
and finally finding ourselves nearly out of
money we purchased revolvers and decid-
ed to make another strike
II knew no one whom we could rob
but Williams said he knew a family near
Waverly for whom he had worked at one
time, who had lots of money He declar-
ed that he was on the outs with them and
asked me to go with him and rob and kill
them. did not like the idea of killing
them, but was willing to go into the matter
if he said so. Williams said there was
husband and wife and four small children,
and that the husband had robbed him of
two months wages, he could not get along
with the wife and the children hated him,
so he was for going there some night and
killing the whole family.
II told him we would surely get caught |
if we did and he said the man was unarmed |
and we could easily make away with them |
We started for the house one night but |
were arrested by the police as suspicious
characters and sent to Caldwell where we
were detained for several months After |
we got out of there we separated and |
have not seen Williams since"
Williams is described by Cromwell as
being five feet six inches in height, weight |
1876 pounds 80 years old and a native of |
Norfolk, Virginia. He has also been |
known as John Smith.
Detective Ellis II. Parker is at work on |
the case trying to lecate the colcred man,
and has notified the police of Newark to |
be on the lookout for the man. A reward |
of $500 is offered by this county for his ar
rest and another reward of $3.50 is offered
by Camden county for his apprehension,
where he is wanted for indecent assault |
on five year old white girl.