The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-14
WOMAN AND NEGRO TO HANG.
MRS. EDU iRDSS CONFESSION
DOES NOT SAVE THEN.
Pennsylvania supreme Court. by TO
3. Refuses to Grant New Trial 10
Grras0n. the Womnn's Paramour
Mrs. EdwardS's Child Taken Away.

bility for the murder of her husband and
duplicates her daughter Mary to save her
negro paramour, Samuel Greaion' inc
Supreme Court. sitting in this city to-day
handed down a decision refusing the pet-
ton Of Greason for a now trial GreSson
and Mrs Edwards we're found guilty OF
the murder and are under sentence 10 90
hanged on Thursday next.
The court refused the petition by
vote OF 10 3, justices Fell Brown ana
Mestrezat dissenting. While the Judges
we're considering the confession OF Mrs,
Edwards. Alma. the prisonborn CHILD oil
the condemned woman, was passing through
Philadelphia to Washington in charge OF
two Sister, OF Charity. The two were
bound. il was asserted, to Tuskegee to
Booker T. Washington's school. There ia no
confirmation. however. that Mr.. Washing
ton has agreed to care for the little one.
1t is practically certain that, despite the
thousands upon thousands OF petitions, no
respite will be given TO Mrs. Edwards.
Greason's lawyers will take his case
before the Pardon Board on Wednesday.
1t was because they knew this that the
prison authorities OF Reading decided TO
take Alma from her. 1t was the expected
woman's confession, caused the murder Of
Edwards.
Mrs. Edwards had been on intimate
terms with Greason, and fearing that the
color of the child might reveal her secret
she killed her husband.
READING. Pa, Feb. 13,-The news that
the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Phila-
delphia by vote OF four Judges 10 three
had refused 10 reopen the Edwards-(ireason
murder case was received here late to-day
and the officials decided to make preparations
at once for the hanging Of Mrs Kate Edwards
and Samuel Greason on Thursday there
being little hope placed in the Board OF
Pardons. which meets at Harrisburg on
Wednesday.
Early this morning there was a pathetic
scene in the Jail when Mrs Edwards had
TO give up little Alma, her four-year-old
mulatto daughter, probably forever. The
prisonborn child was taken away by one
OF the women Of the death watch. Mrs.
Edwards moaned and wept and in her
agony walled out that everything had
now been taken from her. all her children,
and soon her life would be taken. The
child also wept.
The child was driven to the Pennsylvania
Railroad station, where Sister of Charity
took charge of hor and proceeded south,
where Alma Edwards's identity will be
lost forever. After the little one had left
tho prison Mrs. Edwards fell PROSTATE
on her cot and sobbed loudly. and the pris-
onerS near by wept freely. as the child
had been the pet Of the Jail
Greason WINS informed late this after
noon that his petition for a new trial on the
strength of the sworn confession Of Mrs.
Kate Edwards that she alone committed
the deed had been refused by the Supreme
Court He drew himself up at full length
and said he thanked heaven that God had
placed it in the minds OF three pennsyl-
van:n Supreme Court Justices to be in favor
of him. and he would pray fervently that
the fourth Judge might think differently
between now and Wednesday. so that the
Board of Pardons might be inclined to view
his case on the side of justice. He said
Kate Edwards had now sworn 10 the truth.
Greason's lawyer William Sadler. still
has hopes that the favorable opinion Of
three Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judges
will have weight with the Board OF Pardons
on Wednesday
Mrs Edwards has not yet been told Of
the Supreme Court decision against Greason.
as she is yet in a most deplorable state Of
mind caused by the taking away OF her
child. Her correct sworn confession was
given TO the public here for the first time
this afternoon. The words are:
ION the evening Of July 3. 1901. her hus-
band came home under the influence Of
liquor and was in bad humor, that after
the rest OF the family had supper he tapped
the keg of beer, which had arrived that
day. and which deponent had ordered at
his direction. All members Of the family
drank Of the beer. and her husband became
intoxicated and lay down on the porch In
drunken sleep when deponent and her
five children went to bed. about o'clock.
Tho four Younger children went / o sleep.
and she and her daughter Mary then went
downstairs, when Mary stood on the side
Of the house around the corner where the
cistern was located, and deponent struck
John Edwards several times on the head
with his long handled hammer; that said
John Edwards raised himself to a sitting
posture and then rolled into the yard in
front Of tho porch. where deponent again
struck him with the hammer several times,
and her daughter Mary then came around
the corner from the side Of the house.
when deponent wrapped piece OF carpet
around tho head of John Edwards, and
they, deponent and her daughter Mary,
carried him along in front Of the porch
toward the end, where they crossed over
the porch. and as deponent got on the
stone steps. leading from the end Of the
porch down 10 the yard said John Edwards
slipped out Of her grasp and he fell on to the
steps. which were the next day found
marked with blood.
They lifted him again carried him to
the cistern and threw him in Deponent
and her daughter then washed the blood
of of the porch, but missed washing sew
eral blood marks thereon; that though they
washed the stone steps they missed washing
the blood on the side of the steps. They
also washed the ground In front Of the
porch where said John Edwards lay and
where deponent struck him; the washing
up Of the blood was all done that night
Mrs Edwards says Greason was not there
that night and had nothing whatever 10
do with tho tragedy; that she testified
falsely against GIeason TO convict him.
in the hope Of securing the Commonwealth
iuhtlencse TO saye herself from the ecaffold