The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-02-10
DOOMED WOMAN GONFESSES
MRS. EDWARDS ExoNERATEs
THE NEGRO GREASoN.

She Alone Committed Crime for Which
Both Have Been Condemned to Die
Next Thursday--whoIe Matter to Go
Before the Hoard Of Pardons Which
Meets the Day before That Fixed for
the Double Hanging--Extraordi
Efforts to save Woman.
Reading, Feb. 9.-Mrs. Kate Ed
wards, who is under sentence to be
hanged with Samuel .Greason on Thurs
day next for the nnurder of her hus-
band, made statement to her counsel
to-day in which, it Is said, she exoner,
ated Greason from complicie in the
murder. The statement will not be
given to the public until it is presented
to the board of pardolis, but the infer
ence is left that she alone committed
the crime.
Mrs. Edwards and Greason, who is a q
colored man, were convicted Of the
murder of Edwards, and since the death
sentnce has been pronounced extraor'
binary efforts have been made. to save
them from the galloWs. The board OF
pardons has hitherto refused to inter-
fere, and the state supreme court has
affirmed the lower courts verdict.
Mrs. Edwards confession, it is
thought, will place the case in an en-
tirely new aspect before the board OF
pardons. The board will meet at Har-
risburg February Is, the day before
the day fixed for the double execution.
If the woman's statement is accepted
by the board, it may save the man $
life. IL the woman is spared 1t will
therefore be on entirely sentimental
grounds, as strong pressure is being
brought before the board to not per-
nit the woman to be hanged. In the
trial much testimony was presented
to show that Edwards was dissolute
character, that he drank heavily and
that he treated his wife in a brutal
manner. 1T was shown that Edwards
was killed while he lay drunk at his
home. s- &
1t is expected that the execution will
at least be postponed in view Of the
statement of Mrs. Edwards. 1t is said
Mrs. Edwards conscience has been
troubling her since she has been re-
ceiving the spiritual ministrations OF
her former pastor, Rev. Stephen
Schweitzer, and that to-day she could
restrain herself no longer. That she
has not made statement before is,
it is believed, due to the fact that she
desired to shield her daughter, Mary,
and that to spare the daughter she
shifted the blame to Greason.
Mary Edwards, the daughter, was
tried for completely in the murder, but
was acquitted. After her acquittal
she went to st. Louis to live.
Another development in the case to-
day was the receipt from st. Louis Of
an affidavit signed by Mary Edwards,
the daughter. This affidavit, which is
now in the hands. Of John Rothermel,
counsel for Greasof, is as follows:
'.I wish to state that was very an
cry at Samuel Greason for what he
did to my mother, but he had nothing
to do with the killing Of my father that
know of, and therefore, he should
not be hanged for that crime. I GER
tainly wish they would not hang my
mother"
Mrs. Annie Kutz of this city also
made an affidavit to-day in which she
stated that after Mary Edwards had
been acquitted she informed her (Mrs
Kutz) that her poor mother had
struck her father on the head while he
lay drunk, causing his death, that she
Mary was present at the time; that
Greason was not there, and that her
story in court about Greason was not
true.