The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-14

There Is little need to refer to the
case Of Palmer, who poisoned not
merely John Parsons Cook, his init
mate friend. but was also suspected
on very good grounds Of having COM
mitted other murders In the same
way.
The case of Pritchard illustrates
equally the extraordinary depths of
moral degradation into which an edu-
Gated man may fall. The whole his
tory of Edward William Pritchard,
carefully construed, indeed forces one
to believe that he must have been
born with moral twist.
Not Much to Commend Him.
He was, apparently, from the first
Of his career what. In the language Of
the sporting fraternity. would be call
ed wrong 'un." In his early life he
was q rowing blade to a certain ex-
tent.
Admitted member of the London
College of Surgeons in 1886 he served
as naval surgeon until- 1850. In
that year he married Miss Mary Jane
Taylor, daughter Of highly respect
able silk merchant residing in Edin-
burgh. The meeting took place at the
house of the lady's uncle on the moth
er's side, DR.. David Cowan.
This gentleman had also been in the
navy. and had settled at Portsmouth.
From financial point Of view the
marriage was not one to commend it.
self to the brides friends. Pritchard
seems to have had no means, but we
find him in March, 1851, starting prac-
tice at the little village of Humanity,
in Yorkshire.
We are told that even during his
Yorkshire residence, which lasted un-
til 1858, or so, Pritchard had gained
gentleman who did not lie with diff
Guilty.
Straws Show How Wind Blows.
On the contrary. as described by
one person who knew him, he seemed
to be ian improvisor of fiction by
mental constitution and by habit"
Straws show which way the wind
blows, and SO we find strains of the
kind mentioned cropping out in the
early history of the man, pointing
very clearly to the existence of that
moral twist which in its further evo-
luton converted him into the notori-
GUS criminal.
Prttchard was an attractive man,
and, having the good sense to cult
vate a certain urbanity of manner,
became an undoubted favorite in
quarters where possibly little criti-
cism was passed upon the real meas
ure of his attainments.
The lower part of his face was en-
veloped in a huge beard, over the care
OF which even in his last days, or, at
least, during his confinement before
his trial, he was most solicitous-an-
other trait characteristic of great
criminals. They never lose an ORR
ginal instinct of the dandy.
That which is interesting in the
study OF the character of Pritchard is
the fact that apparently there was lit
tie or no restraint was placed by him
upon what, to use as mild an express
sion as can be employed. may be call
ed his amorous propensities.
Servant Burned to Death.
An ugly story found its way into
the Glasgow Herald on May 6, 1868,
which related that a servant was
burned to death in the house of DR..
Glasgow.
The servant, named Elizabeth Nc
Grin, was found in the bed dead, her
body being charred mass. The story
of her death as told by DR.. Pritchard
was that she was in the habit of read
ing in bed and that the gas jet ignited
the bed-hangings, thus setting the
room on fire.
Some difficulty occurred in connec-
ton with the payment of insurance
money. 1t was boldly asserted that
the girl was murdered by DR.. Pritch-
! ard to avoid a scandal. This occur
renee, 1t is notable. took place in the
absence of Mrs. Pritchard and the
other servant, whilst it is said that
DR.. Pritchard came to the door Dress
ed. only after the policeman rung the
bell. the doctor having admitted that
he had been up for a considerable
time before the warning had been
given.
Another report asserted that the
girl had first been stupefied by the adj
ministration of some drug and that in
consequence any effort to save her
self was thus rendered impossible.
Pritchards villainy did not end with
the murder of Mrs. Taylor, his moth
er-in-law. Her death occurred on
February rs, 1866.
Previous to that date Pritchard had