Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-09

surance companies led to an investi-
cation as to whether Goss had really
been burned to death, as the body sup
posed to be his was so completely con-
sumner as to be unrecognizable The in
surance companies insisted that the
body be exhumed but without any spe-
cial results.
The 9th of May was the dav fixed
for the trial against the New York
Mutual Life, which was made the test
case. The best legal talent of Balti-
more was secured for both sides. This
trial consumed un< June 6, 1873, when
the jury brough in verdict in favor
of Mrs. Goss for $52279S, that being
the full amount of the policy with in
terest This closed the first act in the
tragedy.
The second part Of the tragedy was
even more remarkable Goss had not
been consumed in the Baltimore build
ing, but instead, as it afterward ap-
peared he. was party to the scheme
Of William E. Udderzook, his brother
in-law, as the chief criminal Goss left
Baltimore the night of the fire and
under an assumed name located at
West Chester, Pa. Here he was infre-
quent consultation with Udderzook.
One day Goss and Undertook went
for drive in a team hired at Parkers-
burg. In the evening the latter re-
turned the team and Immediately left
the neighborhood. Goss-who was not
then known to the people of the vicin-
ity, was never again seen alive Sew
eral days afterward a large number of
buzZards were seen lowering around a
wood near Newport, and upon invest :
| cation the body of a man was found
| fearfully mutila ted. The murdered man
was recognized as the stranger who
| had recently come to the neighbor
| hood. Undertook could not be found
| The reason for the crime was that
| Goss had carried with him to West
Chester a large amount of money. I'd
! derzook was later arrested in Balti-
more and brought to Chester county
! Pa, where he was lodged in Jail
Mrs. Goss was evidently no acces-
sorry to the crime against the life In
surance companies, and when she
learned that her husband had not beer
burned in the house near Baltimore
| but instead had been murdered il
Pennsylvania, she directed her attor.
! neys to relinquish proceedings in al
the cases against the companies.
The trial of Undertook for the muir
der of Goss was begun in West Chest e
on Oct. 80, 1873. The first day wa
consumed in the impaneling of tn
jury and the hearing of witnesses as t
the finding of the body in the woods
In spite of every fort made by tn
eminent counsel who defended tn
murderer, which included Hon Wayn
MacFeagh the case from the frs
seemed hopeless for the prisoner. TIL
prosecution closed its case on Nov
3 and the defense Immediately opened
The trial was continued until Nov
9, when the jury brough in a verde
, of guilty of murder of the first degre
The jury remand out DIS hours befor
a verdict could be rendered. The frs
, ballot stood 6 to in favor of con
+ viction and it required IL ballots be
fore all the jurors were of on opinion
Undertook was later executed.
From the fire episode near Baltimor
the efforts of Mrs. Goss to collect tn
large insurance on her husbands 1if
down to his murder by his brother j
law and the latter's conviction, this
one of the most unusual crimes in til
history of the United States Grimm;
Court.