Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-12-05

THE CRIME OF
GILBERT MATTICKS

Il A
1t is but little time now nefore the
Grand Jury will be in session. and
that Inquest will formally charge Gil.
pert Mstticks with the murder of
James E. Oamm, the night watcbman
OF the South jersey Basket and Ham.
per Company, That Matticks will be
tried something in January is certain
and there Is little doubt that he will
be sent to the electric cnair in Tren-
ton.
Matticks realizes this. He is fully
aware of the enormity of his offence,
and he has little idea that he will
escape legal death at the hands Of
the law.
Matticks is in cell on the third
f1oor OF the jail, where were impris-
oned two other murderers who went
to the gallOws. Adjoining his cell is
another murderer. James Lovett, the
man who killed Ed. Crawford at
Maurice River. Lovett is much of
the time mentally unbalanced and his
wild delusionH have an effect of great.
ly annoying Matticks. The latter is
kept awake nights by Lovett, and in
the morning he is little less than a
nervous wreck.
Matticks, himself, is a model pris.
oner. He gives the Jail authorities no
trouble whatever. He is quiet and
tractable and quickly obeys every COM
mand made to him.
Unfortunately Matticks cannot read.
He spends long hours in the narrow
confines OF his cell and not word can
he read. He is passionateiy fond of
pictures, and has a number of old
magazines that he looks over and over.
and practically retains all of the pic
lures in his memory.
A Pioneer" reporter had an inter-
view with Matticks the other day.
He found the negro in a most gentle
mood. The man Is quite courteous
and polite. He has little of the brute
in his appearance, ami he never fails
to be careful in his language.
The prison pallor begins to show
upon the colored man. The contine-
ment has slightly reduced him in
weight. His hands are decidedly thin.
Constantly. as he talks, he will pick
at his fingers and his nervousness is
otherwise apparent.
Matticks seems to deeply regret his
crime. He has no hesitancy in ad-
mltting his responsibility for the deed.
He gives no motive. He says he can
not understand why he killed Camm.
He attributes his crime almost wholly
to drink. All that happened he recalls
only in dazed sort of way. He has
distinct recolleotion of all that hap
pened early in the evening. It is Ger.
tainly clear to him that he went to
Dan Clements and got quart of
whiskey Of him. Clements, he said,
went after the liquor. taking an old
prescription. Before Clements re-
turned with that whiskey he met AL
fred Demby. and Demhy wanted to
know Of Matticks if he wanted liquor.
Matticks said he would take some, and
Demby went off to an express Office
and returned with the rum.
1t was this drink that led up to the
horrible tragedy. Mattioks remem hers
going TO the basket plant. He remem.
bers Camm letting him In. He re-
members drinking there, and he says
there was quarrel. All of the rest
to him is hazy. He cannot explain
why he went out and got she axe an
committed the atrocious crime. He
remem bers, In an uncertain way, that
he did it. He says"he must have gone
away from the plant by going over the
fence. He does not distinctly remem.
ber. He will not admit that he tried
to rob Camm. He positively denies
that as motive. He will not admit
motive worse than that. although h
admits himself addicted to a habit
charged against him.
Occasionally Rev. J. L. Ewing calls
upon Matticks. The negro is always
glad to have him present. and listens
attentively to the teaching of the min
lister.
Killed Deer.
Last Sunday two gunners went ont