The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1868-04-18 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF A HIRED ASSASSIN.  A New York "rough," named John Ward, was recently hanged at Windsor, Vermont, for the murder of an old lady, Mrs. Griswold, near Burlington. in the month of August, 18tki, The general incidents of the murder are, that a young man of a character by no means reputable, named Potter, married the daughter of old Farmer ( risw4old. The mot her (Mrs. Griswold) was worth shout 20,000 dollars in her own name, and when it was known that she had in her will bequeathed it to her daughter, her eon-in-law, Potter, was active in conceiving how he could get early possession of the property. It was shown at the trial that the services of this John Ward, one of that numerous class of roughs wlm, for a hundred or two 44 dollars would undertake to furnish the decapitated bead 44 any man within twenty-four hours, were secured. The following facts were developed in the case :  Potter came to Vermont, ant was followed in a day or two by Ward. The two met in the neighbourhood of Williston, and proceeded to the residence of Mr. Griswold. Ward then went to Witmoski, a few miles distant, it having been agreed upon that the murder of the old woman should take place the bight following. In order to establish his innocence of participation in the crime, Potter in company with his wile aid Mr. Griswold, drove over into Canada to spend the day and night with some acquaintances, leaving only Mrs. Griswold and a boy at home. This was on a Sunday, and on Sunday night Ward perf,rmed his terrible part in the tragedy. Ile visited the house early in the evening, and knocked the old woman seneelese. Ile then seized the boy, and a ter tying him hand and foot, locked hits in one of the chambers. Turning his attention amin to Mrs. Griswold, he gave her two or three blows neon the head, and thee with sonic sharp instrument very skilfully laticed thejugular vein, and in a few inomeets her like blood had flowed lie then dragged the Inatiimate form to a barn near the house, and very coolly dumped it into a hog pen and covered it up with straw. tic then went back to Winooski, and ou Monday left for New York. There was, of course, the wildest ex,:ite. meet when the murder was diecovered. Tile aheenee of Potter with his wife and Mrs. Griswold diverted all suspicion (rem that quarter, and there had bees nothing about the movements of the stranger at Winooski to Indicate that lie bad any knowledge of the tragedy. After an absence of a month or au in New York, during which time the officers engaged in working up the case worn all the while on the wrong track, Word became sufliclehtly emboldened to return to Vermont V, receive the amount which Potter had promised him. tefortunately for the assassin, an express messenger on one of the Vermont railroads, who saw him on him return to New York alter the ' murder, saw him on his return to Burlington or Winooski, and something seemed to indicate to his mind that he was the murderer. lit announced his suspicions to 011icer Flanagan, of Burlington, who followed the suspected party only a few days until he had found himself On the right track, mid in possession of evidence similar to the above statemeuts, which at length secured his conviction. titter was tried for the murder at the same time as Ward, but in tits case the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. After c lemnation Ward became penitent, end confessed his guilt. lila behaviour on the scaffold was in etrange contreat with hie past life. As the rime was being adpisted, his eyes eeemeit to li l with tears, WO a. lie bade the officers of the prison good-bye, one by one, he gave utterance to the most ,gonising greens, in which were tunneled snores; fel exclamatione of "oh, dear," "Oh, el," Ac. The black cup was then drawn ever his face, and the light et Heaven shut out for ever. The prisoner was all the while giving uttetatice to the most sorrowful and touching cries. The officers then stepped mum the fatal spring, the trap gave way, and the body of 'Ward dropped some four feet and his soul was ushered into eternity, lie gave a few twitches an Instant otter the fall, but evidently suffered no rani, as it was ascertaiued that hie neck was broken.  A