Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-11-25
Special by United Pres, W,r,

opcCfNt OV u CHtteu ffSS5 Wtfe
Trenton, Nov. 25:-John Sears
confessed this afternoon that he
murdered Rev. A. l.. Armstrong and
his wife at their home at Dutch Neck
to get part of the estate that was
coming to him in the preachers Will
Sears took the prosecutor to the
scene Of the murder and showed him
where he had hidden the stolen
watch. He declared he had had q
quarrel with Mr.. Armstrong Wednes-
day afternoon in which Armstrong
struck him. He planned to get re-
yenge and decided to kill both Arm
strong and his wife, believing that
his mother, the only other occupant
Of the house, would not inform on
him. He shot the wife first and then
killed her husband.
When 1t became known that Sears
who is half-breed negro, had con-
fessed there was intense excitement
at Dutch Neck, which is a little vii
lage near Hightstown on the Tren-
ton-New Brunswick Fast Line troll
ley.
Sears was placed under arrest
early yesterday morning by County
Detective James Kirkham and taken
to Prosecutor Crossley's Office In the
court house. The prisoner was put
through a severe examination by the
prosecutor, who secured sufficient
evidence to have him held on the
double charge.
Late last night Justice of the
Peace William 8. Mills was summon
ed to the court house, where he made
out commitments charging Sears
with the murder of both the aged
pastor and his wife The prisoner
with long, straight black hair, like
that of an Indian, sat on q couch
while the complaints were being read
to him. He seemed Indifferent as to
what was going on and only rolled
his sharp, black eyes and stared al
the prosecutor,
Then he was led down stairs to a
steel cell in the Jail, where no one
will be allowed to talk with him un-
less he receives an order from the
court.
Think Mystery Is Cleared.
The authorities now believe that
the great mystery is cleared up.
About / O'Clock yesterday morning,
the authorities learned, Sears In
formed some Of his neighbors that
burglars had visited the house and
killed Rev. Mr. Armstrong and his
wife. He said his mother told him
SO,
The authorities also learned that
Mrs. Rachel Sears, the mother of the
prisoner, was upstairs at the time of
the horrible tragedy and that young
Sears was about the premises when
the murders were committed.
Acting Sergeant Fitzpatrick noti-
fed the authorities about 2 o'clock
yesterday morning, and Prosecutor
Crossley, Assistant Prosecutor Piper.
Detective Kirkham and Coroner
Grore left Immediately for the place.
The authorities forgot rest and
food until they were satisfied that
their investigation for the day was
completed. They remained on the
Job until II o'clock last night.
Earlier in the evening Prosecutor
Crossley called Chief Hiner and De-
tectives Clancy and Hartman into
the case and they rendered valuable
assistance.
The authorities were informed
that Sears had told some friends
that he thought some day he would
be one of the heirs OF the property
of the Rues. who were the parents
of Mrs. Armstrong. The Armstrong;
had no children and he therefore be-
lieved that he would be benefited
financially upon their death.
DIR. George H. Franklin, of Nights
town, who was one of the first to
arrive on the scene of the tragedy,
made a close examination of both
bodies. He found that Mrs. Arm
strorg had been shot In the lung.
There was no outward discharge of
blood and she therefore died the last
Of the two. The internal hemor-
rhage caused her death.
The aged pastor had been shot In
the breast and death must have been
instantaneous. The doctor examined
the woman's body shortly after 8
o'ciock yesterday morning and found
taat she had been dead about six
hours. The crime, therefore. must
bave been committed between 8 and
8 O'clock.
Noah Noarhaus, of New Bruins
wick. was invited to spend Thanks