The New York Herald Newspaper, March 15, 1873, Page 4

é NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. HANGED IN CHICAGO. A Divorced Husband Kills His Wife in Presence of Their Children. THE STORY OF THE DEATH DEED. Comforting Words to a Fellow Murderer in the Jail. Affecting Farewell Between the Con- demned and His Children. A Temperance Lecture Un- der the Gallows. Rum in the End Leads to All That Is Ruinous. PRAYER, RESIGNATION AND THE NOOSE, CHICAGO, Il,, March 14, 1873, To-day another of Chicago’s murderers was {aunched from the gallows-tree into eternity, there to confront at the awful bar of Eternal Justice the spectre of his murdered wife. THE STORY OF THE CRIME. The story of George Driver's great crime has already been told in the columns of the NEw York HERALD, and need only be repeated here briefly, He was a man of thirty-five years or thereabouts, and had been married for some mfteen years to Ann Driver, a comely, honest and industrious woman, who had borne him tour children—William, aged fourteen; Mary, aged thirteen; George, aged eleven, and Belle, aged nine, Their mar- ried life was not @ happy one. Driver drank freely at times, and when in liquor treated his wife with great brutality, kicking, beating and abusing her, so that, at last, she was compelled to institute proceedings for adivorce. This the Court awarded her, with the custody ef the four children and possession of the house in which she lived. Alter the decree Driver was frequently at the house of his former wife, where, indeed, he occasion- ally boarded, His love for liquor continued, and in his drunken sprees he would beat and abuse Mrs. Driver, ‘“‘as if she were still his wife,’ to use the naive expression of a witness. When out of money he would bother her for what little she had, al- though, as she told him, the whole family was de- pendent on what scanty wages she and her eldest boy could earn, So things stood on Thanksgiv- ing Day, last November, In, the evening the family all took supper together. Driver was @ little intoxicated, and, as usual, reinforced bad language by abuse, kicking his divorced wife, Next morning, Friday, November 30, he came to the house somewhat under the influence of liquor, but not so drunk as to be unconscious of what he was doing, and went inio a bedroom off the kitchen, Here Mrs. Driver followed him, remain- {ng about ten minutes, during which time some words are understooa to have passed between them, she telling nim to get up off the bed and leave the house. According to the daughter's story Mrs. Driver, when he reiused to get up, slapped him in the face, At any rate, about ten minutes alter entering the bedroom they came out into the kitchen, where one of the boys was lying | on the lounge. Mrs. Driver went amd stood be- hind the stove. The altercation was re- newed; Driver again asked for money, which she refused him. He drew some- thing from his pocket. Mrs. Driver cried:—Do got stab me.’ The weapon, however, was nota knife, for in a second a fash and explosion followed and, with a ringing shriek, the unfortunate woman fell to the floor, shot by her husband in the pres- ence of their children. The bullet had passed be- tween the ninth and teach ribs on the right side, traversing the liver and lodging in tue spine. The wounded woman survived only a couple of days, Driver was arrested at the house to which he had returned later in the day, On being asked why he had killed his wife he answered:—‘That is my business.” To the sergeant who searched him he said that he had shot her because she had refused to give him money. He seemed somewhat drunk when arrested, but not so drunk as to be ignorant ef his actions or irresponsible for them, His mouth was somewhat bruised and swollen, although another of his children declared that Mrs. Driver had not struck him, as another sister alleged. The trial took place early in February. Applica- tien tora change of venue was at first made and granted; but as country jurors had just found two other Chicago murderers—Perteet and Rafferty—guilty on short notice, the defence un- dertook to risk their chances in Chicago. The prosecution was conducted by Charles 4H. Reed, State’s Attorney, and the defence by Mr. John Mason. The prosecution brought up the three children of the prisoner, who witnessed the shooting, and several meighbors, who testified to the repeated ill-usage by the prisoner of his wife. One woman heard Mrs, Driver say the night before she was shot that he had threatened to shoot her, but dared not de it. The defence claimed that the shoeting was accidental, and un- dertook to plead drunkenness; but the latter plea was thrown out, under a decision of the Supreme Court thi while the judge might consider the prisoner’ irunkemness in fixing the penalty, the jury could mot in decid- ing on his guilt or innocence. sence the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and fixed the prisoner’s puniskment at death, When he subsequently came up for sentence tke prison- er’s counse] tried to obtain a new trial to intro- duce additional evidence, which was refused, and the judge passed sentence on Driver, fixing his execution jor to-day. This was on the 19th ult., go that only twenty-three days intervened be- tween the sentence and its being carried into effect. Another objection was made on the ground that when sentence was passed the judge only med the day ei execution, but fixed no hour, aiterwards adding tothe sentence “between tne hours of sunrise and sunset.” This objection, too, came to nothing. WHAT THE CONDEMNED HAD TO SAY. Driver was frequently interviewed in his cell by the HERALD correspondent, and w Iways found willing to talk freely. At first he persisted that the jini ‘was entirely accidental, and that he changing his pistol frem band to hand, when it had gone off accidentally, Killing his wile, He inveighed bitterly against his children, whom, he said, they (his enemies) had taught to sweat After @ short ab- his life away. He said that it was at his wile’s quest that he had gone te live at the house alter their separation, so that he could aid her in supporting the children. He her of his mone: indeed, on which they had dined Ly ving Day had been purchased by him. On the jay that he was found guilty the prisoner said that ne wite had provoked him and taunted him. He had asked her to get his breakfast and put him up some lunch, as he wished to go to work, when she told him to get his breakfast where he got his whiskey. Then she struck him in the face, knock- ing out one ef his teeth, and was lifting a chair to repeat the blow, when he said, ‘Look what you are about,” pulled out his pistol and was changing it trom one hand to the other, when it exploded. At his sentence Driver made yet another statement, in the following words:— THE MURDERER'S STATEMENT BRFORE SENTENCE. “Your Honor, sir, all [have to say is I did not intend to shoot that woman any more than | do to pee i aad Tre a little trouble _ mic stoi that Thad put im m: et. I pu this haud In my pocket—that is, think Tdit—and as I remember well enough, it caught my left band and went off. I went into the bedreom to look for my comforter, and I saw the little boy and girls 10 the ether reom, and 1 went out to look at them, and she looked at me and did not speak, nor I, I went up Bine Isiand avenue and, thinks I to myself, | may have shot her—I did not knew—L will ge home. “AS soon ax I did | saw two or tires ‘women in the house and two men. [did net know what it was and stayed looking, and by and by @ policeman took hoid of me aud says, “You shet your wife,” or something like that, and I was walked of, Idid not intend to shoott yvomman or do anything with her. From the day we were marr' until then Ido not think I lifted a hand on her. may have set her down or scolded her, but I ne struck that woman, That is all I have got to say. A TERRIBLE SURPRISR. Farly this week the prisoner's counsel, John Mason, made the customary application to the Supreme Court for a writ of s \ pre. venting the irrecularities Wa tue Wid! wiready ae ’ r yuded to, and alleging that the defence had addi- tional testimony to Fyeeece, discovered simoe the trial, which would throw new light on the tragic ailair and reduce the crime to an inferior grade of homicide, Here occurred one of the most sin- gular incidents noted by your correspondent in & long career, wherein he has witnessed many convictions and executions. The api ication for & su] leas was made to Judge McAllister, who on Monday returned the record to Mr. Mason. with @ decision refusing the writ. Mr. Mason claims that the language o1 the Judge when he first exam- ined the record was suctras to leave ab indubitable impression that he would issue the writ, As soon us Mr Mason recelved the parcel—so sure was he of having succeedcd—he mailed it unopened to the Clerk o! the Supreme Conrt at Ottawa, to notily him officially, and wrote a note to his client, the Sherif and the Jailer, informing them that the Su- preme Court granted the writ, and informed the city press, Which published the news, ‘To the sur- rise of every One, especially of the prisoner and his lawyer, When the Clerk of the Supreme fourt at Ottawa opened the parcel he found, not @ writ of supersedeas, but & decision refusing one. REASONS FOR REFUSING THK WKIT OF SUPERSEDEAS, The points made by Judge McAllister were of an interesting character. He overruled the first ob- jection, and declares that the Criminal Court was justified in admitting proof of threats to murder his wife made in 1869, inasmuch as the evidence afterwards adduced showing a cruel and bar- barous disposition towards the woman from that time wll her death was relevant to the question of malice, and, 5s clearly admissible. The second point was the newly discovered evidence that the wounded woman, be- fore dying had said that unless her husband had been drunk he would not have shot her. As to this the evidence showed conclusively that, while Driver Was somewhat under the influence of liquor, he Was still able to walk and talk, and the Illinois statutes had expre: adopted the common law rule that voluntary drunkenness was no excuse for aerime. At best the evidence of Mrs, Driver was only cumulative and the refusal ofa new trial by the inferior Court was not an irregularity, Lastly, as to the point raised that the murdered woman had struck the prisoner a blow in tho Jace, and that he had killed her in & promentary passio alse, without malice or deliberation, Judge McAl- ister helds that the evidence shows clearly that the prisoner did not resent the blow, even allowing that any was struck at-the moment, but that some considerable time elapsed ere he killed his wife. ‘Then there was no earthly law to say that a man in an abject and besotted condition who resented a slap in the face with that disproportionate weapon, a revolver, and shot down & woman, could plead consequent mitigation of his offence ‘to mere manslaughter. In conclusion Judge McAllister says:—The state of mind of the doomed man maybe imagined. On Menday night he heard that respite had been granted him and his life was safe till August or September, He was 80 excited with jey at the prospect of the eoRy, shadow of the gallows being remeved from im that he could not sleep. On Tuesday, at noon a cold blast from the tomb smote on his hopes an they withered like the gourd of Jonab, He said nothing and was calm, but the calm was that o! hopeless despair.” THE PRISONER'S COUNSEL. Mr. Mason, his lawyer, had ‘been in ill health up to the time ot his fatal error, and its terribie con- Sequences so affected him that he was progtrated utterly and fears of his life were entertained, No one could see him but his phreiclen and ciergy- man. He, however, 1s understood to say that Judge McAllister’s remarks were of such & char- acter when the record was first presented to him that the possiility of the writs being reiused never entered his mind, NO HOPE FOR LIFE. To-day, in the corridor of the county jail, in the presence of legal witnesses and surrounded by the felons upon Whom the law has laid its heavy band, the supplemental act of the same tragedy trans- red, and the murderer has met his doom at the ands of the hangman. ‘The Governor yesterday telegraphed, “I cannot interfere,” and from that hour the doomed man abandoned the hope that had given him strength during the period of confinement. THE DQOMED MAN’S FAMILY AROUND HIM. The Rev. Mr. McLanghiin was delegated to bear the sad news to him whose life was at stake. Dri- ver was not to any extent affected; was prepared for the message that cut off every avenue of escape from death. Gathering his childien caressingly under his arms with broken accents and with tears in his eyes he addressed them a few warning words, With all the earnestness of a dying man he admonished the boys to shan liquor as they would the poison that kills on the instant. “Never drink a drop,” he said; “never look at it; never enter a saloon. Read the Bible, ie to church and never Fs to bed without praying, I want every one of you to grow up Christian men and women.” The scaffold was completed this morning about three hours previous te the hour at which it was needed. Kev. E. R. Davis and Rev. James McLough- lin, the clergymen to whom Driver has looked— and not in vain—ior spiritual consolation, were at first undecided as to the propriety of adminis- tering the sacrament; but the earnest appeal of the doomed man could not be denied. He stated that he could not bear to have his poor old mother doubt that he died firm ia the faith, She had taught him when a child, and that it would ease her mind to partake of the wine and bread emblems of the bleod and body of Him who died an isnominious death upon the tree nearly nineteen hundred years ago, The ceremony was very impressive. Driver was mise- rably atfected. but his hand did not tremble when it conducted the sacred fluid to his lips; and h yoice, fervid and deep, had in it no element of fear, as he responded to the utterances of the devout and kina to srerzpeny, Whiskey yi maxe he best man mad. a8 good a wife ye has now, and if I hadn’t been drunk 1'4 never here, is ue wiikey, Bay it. wiiskey. brought. “me “to thik 1 had that pistel in my _ pocket, » and when enraged me I caught it in my right hand, In changing it to my left it went off and shot her. It ‘was the poisonous drigx that was in me that did not let me see what I Wus doing, Oh, avoid liquo! let me say to you ence more, That when I shot my wife I didn't know what I was until the thing was over. Then it occurred te me that I mis have hurt the poor thing, so I came kK, and the constable told me what 1 had done, and he arrested me for it. My last words are to ye all, look at my position standing on this gallows; let it be @ warning to every one to keep from getting in the same trouble and meeting the same bad end. May God in His mercy receive my soul.”’ THE END OF HIM. The rope was then placed about his neck, the shroud wi sdinater she white cap was ed above his head, and the laps were tied go that his body was completely shrouded in the ghastly suit of white, He continued praying still, but never trembled a particie. At twelve minutes past two o'clock Driver advanced a single step, uttering as he did so in a loud voice, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my soul! Great God, have mercy upon me! God, take me to thy kingdom!’? The last word had scarcely left his lips when the trap went down, and witha sullen sound Driver's voice was checked forever. His neck was fairly broken, and he died almost Without the semblance of a struggle. LITERARY CHIZ-CHAT. POETS ARE NO LONGER Born, but made. There is hardly @ young lady now-a-days but can raise flowers from the seed stolen from Mr. Tennyson's garden and pass them off for fine poetry. THE ANNUAL OATALOGUE of Harvard College now makes a large volume of 318 pages, and is not dis- tributed gratuitously, but sold at fifty cents. In A REOENT SALE by Puttick & Simpson, London, a fine copy of Captain John Smith’s “History of Vir- ginta,” folio, 1627 (the dedication copy to the “Duchesse of Richmond and Lennox”), after akeen competition was knocked known to Asher & Oo., booksellers, for £146, THE MAGAZINES now in course of publication in England, including the quarterly reviews, number 630, of which 253 are of a dectaedly religious char- acter, representing the Church of England, Wes- leyans, Methodists, Baptists, Independents, Roman Catholics and other Christian communities. AN ENTIRELY NEw series of the Hornet, the best cheap comic paper tn England, has commenced. There will be several new features, notably ‘Mrs. Brown’s Papers,” by Mr. Arthur Sketchley; special notes and gossip of society, the drama, literature, music and art, PROFESSOR SFELBY has a class of over three hun- dred ladies for his history course on the reign of George IIL at Brighton. M. Louis ViaN has been preparing a new and complete edition of the works of Montesquieu. At the time when this bold writer lived the censure was touchy, not to say intolerant. Hence the best editions of his works are fall of suppressions, interpolations and mistakes not to be found in the MpS. M. Vian Is intent oa correcting these errors. ACCORDING TO THE LONDON “Newspaper Press Directory for 1873” all England has only eighty-six daily newspapers; Scotland, twelve; Ireland, twenty-four, and Wales, two. Yet this is a large increase over 1s63—ten years ago—when the United Kingdom issued only seventy-two daily journals, against 126 ten years later. EMILE GABORIAU’S novel, ‘The Le Rouge Affair,” has been translated from the French and published by J. R. Osgood & Co. In JAPAN &!whole crop of newspapers is begin- ning tospring up. The Japanese are also learning something about the irberty of the press, as many of the papers have been already suspended by the government. THs “DICKENS DicTIoNaRY,” produced in America by G. A. Pierce and W. A. Wheeler, and prohibited in England by the holders of the novelist’s copy- rights, is paralleled by a “Dickens Concordance,” by Mr. W. F. Peacock, of Manchester, whose work, now in the press, is said to have occupied five years in its compilation. A Revisep, ImproveEn and much abridged edition of the large Sanscrit Dictionary of St. Petersburg sin course of issue, in parts, by H. Grassmann, under the title of “Woerter—buch zum Rig— Veda.” The author hopes to complete it in six parts within the year. Tus Margulis or Hatirax, who figured in the reign of James II. and William and Mary, was a great favorite with Macaulay, who thought his divines, He slept soundly last night, and partook of a hearty meal at abont eight o'clock this morning. He breakiasted on coffee, cakes, steak and other edibies with the relish of @ healthy hungry man, HIS MOTHER, He wrote to-day an affecting letter to his motter, a woman of more than seventy years, who has never left her native Scottish house across the sea, A HERALD reporter read the letter after it was written. He did not, in the letter, either shield him- self or the woman he murdered. He explained the provocation, the bloody deed, the trial and gave the whole history of the tragedy briefy. Though the language was illiterate it was not the less fer- vent and touching. He closed By appealing for her forgiveness and expressing the hope that he would meet ner in heaven. A Catholic priest this morn- ing attempted to convert the fated man to Cathol- icism, but Driver pushed him away aad declared his firm faith in the Presbyterian principles incul- cated by his father and mother. A FAREWELL TO ANOTHER MURDERER, Kote Dee Ratferty, the murderer of police e@fMicer O'Meara, occupies a cell in the jail where the execution took place. At abont noon to-day Driver visited his jellow murderer, andin the interview he said, “You have but a short time to live, Chris., and the time for repentance is short. God is the Judge, and not Gary or Williams or any other man, You must get ready to meet Him, You have plenty of fends and plenty of money; but they will do you no good at the last. Look at me, Chris. Iam ready tego now and jump upon the scaffold and meet my God. I heard them nailing up the scaffold yesterday and this morning; but it did not make me shudder. for [have made my peace with God. You de the same. Seek tor mercy above and you will die as happy as [ am now. Goodby Chris! I hope we will meet in heaven.’”’ Rafferty could not be heard te speak, but ne nodded assent as Driver uttered his religious views and was consideraoly impressed with the fervent appeal of his fellow culprit, so soon to die. They shook hands as they parted for the last time. THE LAST PAREWELL TO HIS CHILDREN, The final farewell between Driver and his chil- dren was one of the most affecting scenes ever witnessed within the contines of any prison. The giris groaned in the most intense mental agony, weeping and ane in @ heart-rendin: manner. There were few beholders who did mot shed tears ef sympathy, and pity dwelt in every heart. The boys were at first kissed, them the smaller girls, and finally the oldest danghter, who fell upon her father’s breast and lingered ina last, loving embrace, Driver's courage lett him as soon as kis children and friends were gone, It seemed that the presence of his beys and girls and the neighbors with whom he had associated had given him a nerve that his weak frame couid not sustain when the prop was gone, and had it not been for the support of those standing near bim he would have fallen to the stone floor. A chair was provided, cold water was applied in cepious quan- tities, and in a very short time, though somewhat pale, George Driver was himself again, THE MARCH TO THE SCAFFOLD took place at two o'clock, At the start from the cells which he had occupied during the two moss eventiul days of his life not @ muscle quivered, and his tread was as firm and solid as that of his attendants, The two clergymen, Messrs. Davis and McLaughlin, were also on either side, ready LT bd such spirit- ual comfort as the occasion should demand. he approached the implement of death Driver gazed at it with a cant stare, and it was thought he ‘Was not equal te the emergency. Bracing himself, however, with a powerful effort, he seized religion a8 @ sure support, and shouted, ‘ ip me!” Continuing, he repeated many times, “Oh, Lord, haye mercy on me! Ob, God, help me in this hour! Ob, merciful Jesus, have on me |’? HE ASCENDED THE SCAFFOLD without evincing a perceptible shudder. His ap- pearance was painful to witness, First gazing steadily at the formidable array of witnesses, then, turning his eye to the ugly frame, with its peadent rope apd Knot, and from there looking with faith to bis Gospel counsellors, his face was expressive of many and varied emotions. dently he was not afraid to die, but no mortal with such sur- roundings could remain firm, like a dum brute, aud witness the scene in silence. Aiter the prayer and the reading of the death warrant the doowed Driver spoke as follows:— A WARNING VOICH FROM THE GRAVE TO DRUNK- ARDS, “T haven't very much at all to say, Mr. Sheriff, but will remark before I go that I hope ye all here before me see Where | am standing now. ‘Twas drinking Winiskey brought me to this, Only tor it I wouldn't be tu this place now. Do ye see this | repe, all of ye around me here ft” The doomed | man'caught the noose in his hand and held it up. | “Ye do well when < drink that bad Whiskey to think of this rope that is going to end my life.” | This apostrophe produced evident sensation among the auditors; many blanched faces were visible and the coolness of the peor fellow won the respect of ali present:—"in five minutes [ll be where none | of us can tell where, We can say only, to trust in the goodness of God. In tim | put my trust this writings admirable for literary merit. In his little treatise, “The Character of a Trimmer,” Halifax took up in pride the name thrown at him in deris- jon, and vindicated the middie way philosophically, historically and practically. “If men are together in a boat,” he said, “and one part of the company would weigh it down on one side, another would make it lean as much to the contrary, it happens there is a third opinion of those who comcelve it would do as well if the boat Wenteven without endangering the passengers.”’ He was a free thinker in religion; he did not pro- feas to be a saint and was not a hypocrite; and he pleasanuly replied to Bishop Burnett's professional admonitions that he hoped God would not lay it to his charge if he could not digest iron as an ostrich did, or take into his belief things that would burst him. THE BEAUTIFUL Bay of Paranagua, in Brazil, is the subject of an entertaming and instructive book by a learned German (and in German), de- scribing the natural history and climatic charms of a region, “picturesque, enchanting and adorned with verdure aad mountains.” Lorp Lyrron was fond of publishing works anonymously, but he usually avowed the author- ship after @ short time. It ts said that the reason he so strictly concealed the fact that he wrote “The Coming Race” is that it contains a profession of his faith, a profession he always shrank from making openly. His ideal race believe, it will be remembered, ina Supreme Being, the All Good, but hold go other dogmas and use no religious rites, HORSE NOTES, On Wednesday evening last a bet was made of $2,500 a side between Tubman and Annie Bush, bota to start for the great four-mile heat stake at Long Branch, A match has been made, to be rua at Ottawa, Canada, May 24, between the brown colt Carleton (formerly Legan Bruce) and the chestnat horse Hampten, the stake being $1,000 and the distance one iile and @ halt, The fine race mare Aureola, the property of Ma- jor Thomas, of Lexington, Ky., met with a serious accident on Friday, 7th inst. While waiking in the Jot at the race track @ nail penetrated her foot. ‘The nail was extracted safely, but fears of lockjaw are entertained. ‘The directors of the Cleveland Club offer purses amounting to $30,000, to be trotted lor at their July meeting, Which commences on the 29th aud con- tnues four days. TROTTING IN CALIFORNIA, AGRICULTURAL PARK, SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 1873,—Trotting; mile heats, three in five, eed P, Farrell entered Pactfic...... T. McClellan entered Ragpicker. 22 33 3 G. W. Dickey entered Ethan A)len, B. Rice entered Belle Time, 2:51 THE GRAND MASONIO FAIR, After great preparation and considerable activity on the part of the General Committee the great fair in aid of the “Hall and Asylum Fund” will open this evening at Apollo Hall, promising at the same time to be as fine an affair as the exhibitions held two yeare ago, remembered as the great French, German, Catholic Orphan Asylum and Hebrew Charity fairs. The exercises will be opened with an a/ldress by Right Worshipful Elwood B, Thorne, Deputy Grand Master of the State, and other im- posing ceremcaies. The following Masonic lodges participate in the fair and have tables in the hall:—Atiantic Lodge, No. 178; Greenwich Lodge, No, 467; York Lodge, No, 197; Prince of Orange Lodge, No. Copestone Lodge, No. 641; Manha' tan Lodge, No. 62; Knickerbocker Lodge, No, 642; Zerubbavel Lodge, No, 329; Concord Lodge, No. 50; Templar Lodge, No. 208; Harmony Lodge, No, 199; Puritan Lodge, No. 339; Constitution Lodge, N 241; Eureka Lodge, No, 243; New York Lodge, Ni 330; Ancient Lodge, U. D.; Atlas Lodge, No. 31 Putnam Lodge, No. 338; Silentia Lodge, No. 1% Lodge of Antiquity, No. 11; Amity Lodge, No. 32 8 +2 di ; Daniel Carpenter Lodge, No, 643; Corinthian Lodge, No. 488; Neptune Lodge, No. 317; Mount Neboh Lodge, |No, 267; Metropolitan Lodge, No. 27 Ocean’ Louge, No. 156; Howard Lodge, No. 353 Evangelist Lodge, No, 600; Columbian Lodge, No. 484; Girard Lodge, No. 631; Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 27; Adelphic Lodge, No. 348: Aurora Chapter, 0, BE. S.; Delta Chapter, 0. B.S.) Aluha Chapter. day. Give up drinking whiskey, young men, and | all of ve, Give it ap, or ‘twill bring ye to hart sume day, Be solv, aud be gyed Wagar Wales OES. LAW VINDICATED. Execution of John M. Osborne at Knoxville, Ill. THE STORY OF HIS CRIME. An Unprotected Woman Brutally Beaten to Death and Her Throat Cut. MRS. MATHEWS’ CRUEL FATE. The Arrest, Trial, Sentence and Execution of the Wretch. A STRANGE CONFESSION, Osborne Declares That He Was Hired to Put Mrs. Mathews Out of the Way. Gaessurg, Mll,, March 14, 1873, As your correspondent writes these words Illi- nois 18 less populous by two than she was a few minutes ago, for legal hemp has cut short the career at almost the same moment of the same mild March day of George Driver, of Chicago, a brutal wife murderer, and @ still more heartless wretch, John Marion Osborne, who to robbery added rape, and sought to cover both by murder. No eye but the eye of Him who sees all beheld the scene of horror, the piteous appeal for mercy, the crime which followed and the criminal’s flight, but dumb witnesses rose everywhere from the foot- prints of the assassin as dragons are fabled to have sprung from the spilt blood in mythological fable, and in eloquent silence denounced him, and handed him bound hand and foot in circumstan- stantial toils which he could not break to the un- relenting minister of justice, TUR CRIME AND HOW COMMITTED. The crime of which Osborne was convicted just @ month ago was characterized by fea- tures of peculiar atrocity. Its victim was Mrs. Adelia Matthews, ® married woman, who lived with her husband near Osborne’s house, not far from Yates City, in this county. Osborne was also married, and had worked with and for Mr. Matthews, so that he knew the latter's habits and the ways of the house. On Monday, the 5th of August last, Mr. Matthews left home early in the morning, leaving his wife alone in the house, in- tending to return in the evening. When he came back he was surprised to find the house showing no signs of occupation. The blinds were drawn at all the windows and all was silent. On opening the door he could neither see nor hear his wife. The table was set for two and the teapot stood on the stove in the kitchen, which latte was an unusual circumstance, as neither Mr. Matthews nor his wife used tea. Prosecuting his search further, Mr. Matthews descended to the cellar where his eyes fell upon a sight that froze his blood with horror. On the earth floor of the cellar lay the lifeless corpse of Adelia Matthews, his wife, her clothing terribly torn and disordered and the clay around her soaked into a bloody mire by the life-current that ebbed from her throat and skull, and with its peculiar oder tainted the sultry August air, There were numerous marks iu the soit clayey floor, which showed that a struggle had taken place, Two deep indentations marked the spots where the murdered woman, resisting vio- lently the wretch who sought her honor and her life, had been dashed to the earth, and NUMEROUS FOOTPRINTS, all made by one pair of beots, and very clearly de- fined, were visible, affording, possibly, a clue tothe assassin, Mrs, Matthews’ person had been vio- lently outraged, her legs and body were cov- ered with blood, her underclothing was soaked with blood and torn into tatters, and her skirts were thrown over her head and face. When, how- ever, composed by decent hands a more ghastly sight was revealed, for the woman's skull had been beaten in and her threat cut from car toear. On searching the house some money was found to have been stolen. Footprints corresponding with those on the cellar floor were discovered without, in the soil of a cornfield, leading towards Osborne's house, This faint clue was reinforced by one still sllghter—the presence of the teapot on the stove; for Osborne, who was just recovering irom an at- tack of illness, had been ordered by his doctor to drink tea, THE MURDERER TRACKED. Mr. Matthews at once gave the alarm, and ar- rangements were made to beat the country next day in search of the murderer. Early next morn- ing (Tuesday) he proceeded to Osborne's house and knocked. Osborne came to the door and asked what was up. ‘Are the horses out in the corn ?”” he asked, in apparent surprise and uncon- cern, “Worse than that,” said Mr. Matthews. «My wife has been murdered.” ‘Pshaw, man,’ said Osborne, “that can’t be. You must either be crazy or drunk,’’ and he laughed nervously. Mr. Matthews reiterated his statement, and asked him to come to his house, This Osborne promised to do if he felt well enough. He was there by half-past six, and offered to join in the pursuit, He would not enter the house and look upon the corpse. The eye of the murderer could not meet that of his victim, which would, like the crown of the blood-boltered Banquo’s is- sue, sear his eyeballs, TELL-TALE MARKS. Meanwhile Mr. Matthews had communicated his suspicions to other neighbors, and one gentleman, Mr. Craig, had atan early hour hidden behind fence at Osborne’s house, and from his conv ment seen Mrs, Osborne washing out 7 colored shirt, Then he had secured one of 0 boots and tried it in some twenty or thir’ footprints left by the murderer 1m the ¢ and in the slouga without, The boots + and fitted exactly into the tell-tale 1 seemed to warrant Osborne's arre: upon Osborne a little south of Mar hailed him to stop and said :— “Osborne, I arrest you. You & otart plied Mr. an,” said Os- hh he could not repress, ‘For the murder of Mrs, Why, I am out looking borne, suddenly becoming ‘Thus the law Jaid its han THE TRIA’. took place in the second week of February, at Galesburg, in the Grand Opera House. An im- mense audience was present throughout, and the ‘utmost excitement prevatied throughout the com- munity, even the school children playing truant in whole squads to see the murderer and hear the disgusting evidence. ‘The prosecution conducted by the Count Attorney, a Tunniciiff, and ir, A. M. Craig; the defence by Mr. Humphrey and Mr. G. W. Kreitsinger. The evidence for the prose- cution was entirely circumstantial, but conclusive, The defence failed signailyin an attempt to ac- count for the prisoner’s time on the fatal day, and fell back om the safe line of attacking circum- stantial evidence on general principles, reading the sensational cases in the law books, &c. The speech of Mr. Kreitsinger was passionate and pa- thetic, probably the most poweriul appeal to a jury ever delivered in Illinois; but the verdict of “guilty,” after a long trial, was rendered, and Osvborhe was doomed to expiate his great crime on the scaffold, -u the murderer, THE EVIDENCE adduced for the people showed that at eleven o'clock on the day of the murder Mrs, Rhodes saw Osborne pass her house, proceeding in the direction of Mr. Mathews’ residence. He was in his shirt sleeves and wore & light-colored shirt. She had sold him the boots which he wore, They fitted the tracks exactly, aw Osborne pass her house y: Miss Cora Kendall about three o'clock. Mra. West saw Osborne between three o'clock and half{-past three, on the day of the murder, He came in a direct line trom an unoccupied house (the Corbin house) some eighty rods distant, and asked for a drink of water, He drank some and youred three or four cps on his hands and wrist- bands, which he washed and rubbed, He seemed agitated and looked pale. ‘Mr. Craig saw Osborne on the Monday afternoon at the depot, near Mrs, West's house, about hatt- past three P, M. He was walking on the platiorm, and seemed agitated. When Mr. Craig approached him he tucked up his shirt sieves. Mr. Craig oner when he was arrested. His pocket handxer- chief was bioody; he said the blood had come from & pimple on his nose, but Mr. Craig could see no pimple there, Osborne was anxious to recover the handkerchief, ‘then Mr. Ci i aenet: him for his knife, He said it was lost. ‘Where,’ said his captor, significantly, “ is the knife you had on Mon- day? “That,” replied Osborne, “was my wile’s."” ‘borne told Mr. Craig and Mr. Swan that he had been down to the “Corbin” house on Monday, in- tending te rent it, Mr. Craig at once went there, and found part of the stolen money, which was identified, "Mr, River, another neighbor, found near the murderer's trail some pieces of the paper which had been wrapped round the money, and saw the Jootprints, into which Os»orne’s boots fitted exactly. Messrs. Swan, Craig and Enochs asked Osborne where he was on the day of the murder, between eleven and three. He could not say, and an- swered, “Mr. Swan, you nor no other man can fac where he had been yesterday at any certain jour, Such were the main links in the chain of circum- stantial evidence which was wound #0 closely round Osborne, like some huge serpent throwing beni coil {nexorably round him, to press out al le. THE BEARING OF THE PRISONER. Throughout the whole trial Osborue bore himself ci id stolidly. For any expression in his tenance the whole preceedings might have concerned anybody bnt himself; indeed, he seemed utterly unconscious that he was in Court, defend- ant in a suit where his life was at stake. After the verdict had been rendered and sentence passed upon him the prisoner’s fortitude broke down utterly, and he betrayed the utmost physical and mental anguish and weakness, His counsel did not present their bill of excep- tions tothe Supreme Court until the 11th inst., when it was submitted to Chief Justice Lawrence and Judge Walker. These gentlemen, after care- A Surtber toathded aa ve Wag BiMbemaGInty OL EUG Diba: LTO spun gear cene ese suamnanerenrernet fully reading it, decided that there Was no ground for interferin ap et the writ of supersedeas prayed for. is adverse decision was conveyed to he prisoner about ten o'clock on Tuesday night, when he was found with his spiritual adviser, a Baptist clergyman, en; ed in prayer. Osberne heard the death knell of hix hopes with ap- parent unconcern, but he ceuld not sustain himself and gave way toa paroxysm of fear and wild lamentation. Osborne has been confined in this city since his sentence, Though strongly urged to confess he has persistently retused until last evening, when he sent for his attorney and spiritual adviser and made a clean breast of the matter. He wasin con- ference with them during the night till four A. M., when he was removed to the County Jail at Knox. ville, where arrangements had been made for his execution, THE MURDERER’'S CONFESSION. Some time in July last a stranger came tome who represented himself as an agent tor a patent harrow. He inquired of me about J. H, Mathews, He said he knew where they lived, He requested me to walk out with him, which I did, He knew had been at work for J. H. Mathews, We walked out by the railroad coal house and sat down in the shade. He told me of the litigation between Mrs, Matnews! father and others, ‘e talked awhile, when he asked me if 1 would take $500 or $1,000 to igs @ certain person out of the way. I told him “No,” and asked him who it was and what he wanted. He said he would not tell me until I agreed to do it, I thought I would draw him out and then have him arrested. I wish now I had; but he refused to give any name until [ told him I would. He said, “Listen to reason.” Oh, that I had, and 1 would not have been here now! He asked if I would do it if tae sum named were doubled, I said, “No.” He then offered me $6,000, and said that he had arranged with another for a much less sum, but he had failed him. He said HE BELIEVED I HAD THE NERVE to Coit, Lasked him who it was he had arranged with, but he retused to tell me untill had agreed to do it, I then agreed to kill the person, but did not know who it was. He then told me it was Mrs. Mathews. I started back with horror, and would not doit. He told me that she had heard a con- versation, and was to be a witness for her father, and must be put out of the way. Iasked him who he had engaged, and he said it was Ive Perry. [ asked him if he had told Ive he was coming to me. He said “No.” He then agreed to meet ine any- where {desired and pay me the money when tie deea was done, I saw him again a few days before the murder. Perry saw me and told me he knew all. Ithen thought I could not back out, or Perry would do it and then charge it on me and he would get the money. On the Monday I was at the depot at about eleven o’clock A. M. I then went to my house and took a lunch and left a little before twelve o'clock. I went south to Mrs. Wood's pasture and then crossed over into the cornfield, id not then intend to go to Mr. Mathews’. I went into vhe cornfield to look for melons. I then went to the fence and sat en the gate and looked over towards Mr. Mathews’ house, and then thought I would walk over that way. Did not know certainly that the Mathews were gone, as they thought on Saturday that they might not finish their own grain. not think of hiding Py, tracks or of doing the deed until I strack the Farrington road. I then looked up and down and saw no one. I then crossed into Mathews’ field and went on to the house. As 1 went to the pump I saw Mrs, Mathews at the door, I was weak and fatigued. She asked me to come in, as she was all alone. She gave me a drink and asked me to sit down. MY HEART FAILED ME. It was too warm in the house, as was washin; and had a big fire. I then went an tin the baci door, Was sitting there when Mr. Kanable went by. He could not have seen me, Iwentin then, She closed the iront door and put down the blinds her- Self; said she would get me some dinner; so then flashed throngn my mind that she would ge down into the cellar and it would be my best chance. J. N, Mathews swore truly when he said there was but one knife, tork and plate on the table. She went into the celiar with a plate and knife for butter. Foran excuse [asked her if all the water was out of the cellar. She said yes, but it was muddy. I was at the cellar door and passed down, remarking I wanted to see. HOW THE AWFUL DEED WAS DONE. 1 went down and talked with her a little, and as she stooped down I picked up a brick and struck her on the back o1 the head. She started to run, and Icanght her by her dress and part of her drawers, That is the way her drawers were torn, and [ pulled her back and struck her again, when she fell. I then picked up a small board and struck her in the side of the head. She groaned, and I thought it was done. I then went up stairs, and to make a false motive | rummaged the drawers and found the money. I thought I must take it, to prevent the true motive from being discovered, I put part im each of my pants pockets, and then thought I would go down and see if she was dead, I saw her eyes looking atme. I went up to her and, bending over her, said, ‘‘Adela.”’ She raised her eyes and looked at me. I said, ‘Do you know me?’ She made no reply. I asked her again, and she said, “I do.’ I asked her who | was, and she said, ‘Mr. Osborne,” and reached out her hand to me and said, “WHY DID YOU DO THIS?” I dropped her hand and turned away. I looked at her again a moment, and felt I would give the world to have her well again. I then took my knife and cut her throat. She never moved or shuddered. I then went uP, stairs and leit, I then put the money in the old Corbin house. I had on a coat, and got a drep of blood on the sleeve. I washed it off while on the hunt the next day atone. I did not ravish her person, as God is my witness, Miss H. testified truly. She saw ° v the north door of the hot The knife I used I th: \ning between Enoc’ ards the east er .vund was not my 4 have now finish ALY UP. acu the Mathews family, 1 @, a8 1 feel God has, Ihave .s God is my witness. I might vi the evidence, but have not time. vents I shall be in eternity, and [call is the truth of this statement, i4th day of March, A. D. 1873, at request. « anted him to write it asI stated it last night to the officers of the Court, and to my attorneys and others L bid @ last and eternal farewell, and may Goa receive my spirit. JOHN M. OSBORNE, Witnessed by M. D. Cook and J, J, TUNNICLIF, PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION. Great excitement prevailed througheut the coun- try, a8 Was manifest by the arrivais vy train aud teams from all directions which kept pouring in until the number had reached nearly ten thousand, Immediately aiter arriving at Knoxville the pris- oner went with the Sheriff to examine the gallows on which he was to expiate his crime. He looked well and seemed to have no fear of death, The jail yard was guarded by twenty-five men, armed with Enfleld rifles, with fixed bayonets, At one o'clock he was BROUGHT TO THE SCAFFOLD and ascended with a firm step. When he reached the top he shook hands cordially with the officers, his attorneys and spiritual advisers, bidding them goodby. ‘he Sheriff agked him if he had anything to say, When he replied, iia lew but firm and dis- tinct voice, “My full statement 1 have left with Rev. Mr. Griffith, and it will be published in due time, just as I have made it.’ He then shook hands with the Sheriff and said he was ready. He listened unmoved to the reading of his death war. rant, after which the Sherif proceeded to bind him and adjusted the black cap. LAUNOMED INTO ETERNITY, At fifteen minutes past one o'clock the drop fell, The neck of the guilty man was not broken by the fall, He trembled and drew up his feet, opened and shut his hands convulsively, struggied, and gradually ceased to struggle. At four minwtes aiter the drop tell his pulse was at ninety and he still breathed, At twelve minutes his pulse was still; even his heart had stilied, and Drs, Hamiltun and Hensley pronounced him to be de OOMPTROLLER'S RECEIPTS, Comptroller Green reports the following amounts received into the city treasury through collection of taxes, assessmcuts, & is NIVER OF TAXES, Prom taxes and interest and Croton water rent.... $5,608 WUGPAT OF ARREARS. From arroars of taxes and interest... 6.0.0.9 From arrears of assessinent and intetost and Croton water arrears ‘ AURYAT OF CITY REENOR. From market r ot From assess other work. ies YACHTING AMOTES. The sebooner*gacht Clio Pili be faunched from the yaré of Messrs. Poilion Brothers, {vot of Bridge street, Brooklyn, this morning, about nme o’clock, The Clio t» the property of Messrs, Asten & Brad« hurst, and will be added to the New York and Brooklyn clu fleets, The schooner yacht Fleur de Lis, Be. J. 5. Dicker- son, 18 still lying in her Winter quarters, at Essex, on the Connecticut River, but the work of throughly overhauling her will soon: be com- menced. The schooner yacht Viking, Mr. Mahton Sands, N.Y.Y.C., ts lying alongside of the Fleur de Lis, The schooner yacht Magic, Mr. Rufus Hateh, ts lying at New London. Im a short time alterations of an important character will be made that, it us surmised, will add much to her well-known rej tion as a capital pleasure craft, aa The schooner yachts Fleetwing, Mr. George A, Osgood; Columbia, Mr, Lester Wallack, and Phan- , tom, Messrs, H, & C. H. Stebbins, are also at-New London, ‘The schooner yacht Eddie has been purchase@ by Vice Commodore Monsell, A.Y.C., and will be lengthened aft bejore the season opens. The Eddie is lying in the harbor of Greenport, L. I. At the late annual meeting of the Atlantic Yackt Club the following officers and committees were elected for the ensuing year :-— . Commodore—J, Rogers Maxwell. Vice Commodore—John A. Monsell, Rear Commodore—Henry A. Gouge, Recording Seeretary—Jonn B, Morgan, Treasurer—H. Herbert Hogins, Measurer—Christopher T. Lippitt. reo esc, Be Pesem Ee 1a mittee—J. L, Marcellus, B. E. Valen- £8, Ae Knowles, William B, Davenport, George The election of the Board of Trustees wi poned until the next regular meeting, The tee. of the annual regatta was fixed as Tuesday, June 10, the course to be the same as last year. The Kastern Yach¢ Club, of Boston; recently elected the following officers for the year :— Commodore—David Seat Vice Commodore—Stanton Whitney. Rear Commodore—onn Jettries, Jr. Secretary—Heury B. Jackson, Treasurer—Addison Chiia, Measurer—Frank D. Omid, ‘The first regatta ef the season will take place on Wednesday, June 11, olf Marblehead. OBITUARY. Charles Pcttit McIlvaine, D. D. Kight Rev. Charles Pettit McIlvaine, D. D., Bishop of Ohio according to the rite of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church, died at his temporary residence in Florence, Italy, yesterday evening. The fact of his demise was announced by cable ta his sister, Mrs, Harris, of Philadelphia, and te other friends of the deceased prelate during the day. Charles Pettit McIlvaine was porn in Burlington, N. J., on the 18th day of January, in the year 1798, and had, consequently, passed the seventy-fifth year of his age. He received an excellent prelimi- nary education, and graduated at Princeton: College with honor in the year 1816, He studied in the divinity class and was admitted to deacon’s orders on the 4th of July, in the year 1320, He was appointed tn 1825 Protessor of History and Ethics at West Point Academy. ‘Chis position he resigned in the year 1825 on being called to the pastorate ot St. Ann’a church, Brooklyn. In the year 1832 he was solemnly consecrated Bishop of Ohio. He entered on his pastoral duties with great zeal, and his constant, continuous efforts in the fold were blessed with abundant fruits. As Bishop of Ohio he exercised a large amount of influence over the American branch of the Anglican Church, He labored per- sonally and with unceasing assiduity among the flock which was first given to his care in Ohio from the moment oi accepting the charge until his recent departure jor sojourn in Europe for the benefit of his health. In the year 1853 Bishop Mclivaine re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Canon Law from the University of Oxford, and, in 1858, that of LL. D. from ‘the University of Cambndge. His work, “Oxford Divinity Compared with That of the Romish and Anglican Churches,” is well known to the controversialists and literati generally. His lectures on ‘fhe Evidences of Christianity’ have hopes through thirty editions. In the year 1862 ishop Mclivaine visited Great Britain for the pur- ose of explaining the position and policy of the Jnited States with respect to slavery and emanci- pation to the statesmen and people of the United ingdom. He was well received and was very suc- cessiul in his effort. While in London the Bishop resided at a ublic brerkfast given reemason’s Hall, February 22, to celee brate the anniversary of Washington’s birthday. During his stay in the mother country he was in- vited by Hon. Arthur Kinnaird to meet a few clergymen and make a statement relative to the American crisis. The venerable Bishop said, as re- garding the North, the war was not estensib! against slavery, but against rebellion, the Soutl being, on the other hand, avowedly fighting tor sla- very. Although the liberation of the slaves was thus not the positive object of the war, it wouid, in the event of the success of the North, be its certain result. He drew a distinction between the ‘“abo- Iitionists” and the friends ofa gradual and wise emancipation, declaring that the feeling in favor of the latter was growing every day, and that the slaves in the districts occupied by the Northern (arenes ferces showed themselves to be fully informed of the true bearing of the war on their own freedom. Bishop Mclivaine’s health failed rapidly of late under the advance of years, and yesterday his spirit passed away from earth under the sunny sky of Italy. CATHOLIC EDUCATION. Pedobear Mth Lecture by the Rev. J. L. Spaulding at the Cooper Institu The lecture hall of the Cooper Institute was densely thronged last evening by Catholics of every position, whe came to hear a discourse delivered by Father Spaulding, under the auspices of one of the circles of the Catholic Union, The reverend lecturer, in presenting the claims of the Church to educate her own children, refuted, in a style both animated and forcible, the oft-repeated charges of ignorance made against the Catholics, The greatest minds of the world belonged to her fold; she threw her mantle of protection over the arta and evoked the noblest efforts of genius. Never- thelesashe impresses upon all the principle that it is not the genius nor the hero nor he of worldly renown that is the greatest man, but he who, spurning the wealth and pleasures of life, devotes his talent, his energies and his whole being to God. Hence it is that she proclaims religion to be the most im- portaut part of education. A popular orator had averred that INTELLECTUAL CULTURE Merely was the measure of greatness, of progress and of civilization, The arms of Prussia, it was said, had won success because her soldiers knew how to read and write. How futile to propound such a theory! Does not every historian know that those very nations who were most terrible in war, carrying the power of their arms to the centres of ancient intellect and — genius, were comparatively ignorant—in fact, barbarians ? What were tie Macedonians and the Huns? The Romans who conquered Greece were far more ig- norant than the Grecians, Education that is merely intellectual, then, 1s not the criterion or the cause of human progress. Still less isit the handmaid of human liberty. Itis not the scholar that loves liberty most—it is the man who has jaith in nis heart. All the GREAT BATTLES OF LIBERTY have been fought and won by men who struggled im the name of God and their faith. In this way did the mightiest warrior of modern times, who pa his brothers on European thrones, receive is first deathblow from the ignorant peasants of Catholic Spain, who fought shouting “God and fatherland.” And yet a large section of the Ameri can people wish to give our children an education without religion—to take them from the parents and give them up as SLAVES TO THE STATE, like the pagans of old. New England, par excel- lence, lavors such a system, She was the first to inaugurate it. The balerul effects thereof are visi- bie in the gradual extinction of her people, who, from want of religion, learned to commit crimes that never see the light, but silently sap @ people’s vitals. Make a nation irreligious—tell tl there is no God, that this world is the sole sphere and the end of Sat and, you will find that the discontented classes will seek re- dress in violence, in revolution and in anarchy. A race of infidels never brought happiness. to # peo- ie, Columbus discovered America in the-name of esus, Posterity will be convinced that Catholics, in, fighting this battle for a system of religious education, tight one of the greatest batties of human liberty that ever were known, ‘The speaker was frequently interrupded, by out- Durats of applause. AOCIDENT AT OOMMUNIPAW PERRY. Shortly after dark lass evening, as. the ferryboat from Liberty street was approrchiag the dock on | the Jersey side, the passengers were startled by | the cry of “A man overboard!” A rush was made | for the front of the boat, when an elderly and well- dressed gentleman Was found crushed between the be. prow of the boat and the bridge, He was extricated irom his porous position by the passengers and | his mjuries examined by a geutioman who repre- | senred bimself as a physician, His wounds were | found te be serious, aba the man, who gave his naine John Le-¢is ling with lus son in Fliaabetn ctiy, 1 bal al NeWalae ently sent vo the hospt was,