Year: 1876

HANGED AT JOLIET FOR THE MURDER OF HIS
w1FE-THE CRIME AND PRovocAT1oN-coN-
FEss1oN OF THE MURDERER


JOLIET ILL.,, Jan. 81 1876
Henry Jacobs has the last of earth. His exit
made by way of oft used gallows, for in addition 10
our own murderers-and somehow the proximity Of
the Penitentary, mayhap, has given more than
share-wc called upon 10 do away with several Of
Chicago's bloodicst. AS county Joins Cook many
a change OF venue brings the metropolis in Its
form to door and hangman. Jacobs killed his
wife SIX months ago he was atolerably well to do
farmer residing not far from this place About that
time his wife missing. 1t known to the rural
neghbors that Jacobs and his wife had not been Of late
upon the best terms and suspicion was aroused that
all was not fair and well As even plausible ac-
count was gwen by Jacobs of the disappearance Of the
woman search made high and low, and was re-
warded last with the finding of the body II was
buried in field not far from the house. and the grave
had been carefully ploughed The body bore un-
mstakabe evidence that death caused by violence
Tho usual inquiry followed and crcumstantial evi-
dence strong against Jacobs that he held for
trial This followed speedily before the Circuit Court
Of this county, and though he ably defended the
prisoner was convicted and sentenced TO death.
Jacobs has been hopeful that he would receive par
don; but, though he made every exerton possible





terfere.


have not given you the circumstances OF the crime
they developed the trial. for tho that
Jacobs has made what he calls full confession Either
he has given up all hope Of escaping the gallows and
has therefore determined to make clean breast or
find many believe, he has given such coloring to
the Of his crime he hoped would create feel
ing sympathy for him that would gain him the CON-
mutation he had sought


innocence and persisted that declaration until
January 10 last About that time OF Jacobs
went to his fathers lawyer Major Mann, and inquired
his father had made confession The reply In the
negative whereupon the son made full statement OF
the stated TO him by his father Counsel there
upon went 70 the condemned and informed him that
his had made disclosure without telling him what
Il was and insisted upon his telling the whole story
Jacobs refused at hrst but after persuasion, made
having come from him. II was substantially fol-
ows:-


For n long time JACOBS had suspected hts wifes
crmiua. intimacy with young man in the neighbor-
hood. About midnight before the day sne was last
seen alive he heard window raised In her Their
differences such that though the same roof shell
tered them they did not hive together Going out and
creepIng around 20 the window he looked Ia and saw
man on the bed with her Leaping the window he
alarmed them and both sprang from the bed, MRS.
Jacobs placing herself between the parsnour and the
enraged husband. He caught her fcrcey by the
throat choked her and threw her back upon the bed
After pounding the woman until HIS passion cooled
JACOBS retired 70 his own ROOM In the morning tnc
wife complained Of feeling sck and lame, and declared
that she would die from the choking and pounding she
had received She declined 70 have doctor, saying
she preferred death the disgrace Of exposure and
wished TO die Finding her dead the next afternoon,
Jacobs was greatly alarmed fearing that the neighbors
would lynch him, as they knew Of bis domestic troubles
ana would certainly suspect foul play To conceal his
crime ne threw her body In the well that night The
next day Il the surface and he threw some hay
! over IT. and that night removed Il TO Geld hard by
burying u and ploughtng over the spot


Jacobs asserted that concealed the facts from his
counsel because be dared aEv one and be-