Murder at Mansfield
Mrs. Effie Goodwin found by the roadside last Saturday nearly dead – she
expired in the Blossburg Hospital Sunday morning – arrest of her husband – the
inquest and the examination of Goodwin – evidences of a cruel plot and a
cold-blooded murder
Last Saturday afternoon there was a great sensation in Mansfield when it was learned that Mr. E.L. Palmer as he was driving into town had discovered the apparently dead body of a woman lying on the bank and covered with blood about 100 feet from the road on Sullivan street in the outskirts of the borough. Dr. W.D. Vedder and a number of persons went to the spot and found evidences of a struggle near the place where the body lay and blood trickling down the bank for a long distance. It was found that the woman was not dead, and she was taken to the house of Mr. S.G. Mudge, who lives nearest to the spot. Mr. C.J. Beach arrived and identified the woman as Mrs. Effie Goodwin, who had been employed as a domestic in his home for some time. A message was sent to the Cottage State hospital at Blossburg for an ambulance, and the woman was taken there that afternoon. She did not regain consciousness, and she died about six o’clock on Sunday morning. After her death the surgeons probed the wounds, and they found four bullets from a 32-caliber weapon lodged in the head. That the woman was enticed from the home of Mr. Beach and foully murdered there can be no doubt.
The Victim
Mrs. Goodwin was the daughter of Mr. William Copley, of Hill’s Creek, in
Middlebury, near the Charleston line, and she was 22 years of age. On February
1896, she made an information before Justice Brewster, in this borough, charging
Walter Goodwin with being the father of her unborn child. Goodwin was arrested
and brought before the Justice. The case was not tried, but the parents of both
parties appeared, and by agreement Effie and Walter were married by Justice
Brewster. It is said that their child lived only a short time, and it was not
many months after their marriage before Walter abandoned his wife entirely.
On May 31st of this year [1897] the young woman again appeared before
Justice Brewster and made information that her husband had deserted her. Goodwin
was arrested, and the next day he gave bail in the sum of $300 for his
appearance at the approaching term of court, his father, Mr. J. Wesley Goodwin
of Charleston, being his surety.
It is said the young Goodwin was very anxious that his wife should withdraw
her suit. Last Thursday night he called at the house of Mr. Beach, in Mansfield,
at a very late hour and had an interview with her regarding the matter; but it
is understood that she stoutly refused to abandon the suit, because she had
knowledge that he was running with a number of other girls and he was doing
absolutely nothing towards her support.
The Husband’s Story
When the young wife was found fatally hurt, suspicion was at once turned to
Walter Goodwin as a person who might have a motive for committing the crime. A
warrant was issued at Mansfield for his arrest, and the officers arrested him at
his father’s home on Hill’s Creek about nine o’clock on Saturday evening, it
having been learned that he had spent the day in threshing on a farm near Stony
Fork in Delmar township. Goodwin seemed to be quite unconcerned about his
arrest, and he claimed that he would be able to prove an alibi. He said that he
was 21 years of age, and he talked quite freely about his marriage and the death
of Effie, and he did not show any regret for her sad end. He told about his
marriage in 1896, and said he had not lived with his wife since last October. He
said that the last time he saw Effie was Thursday evening at Beach’s at 10
o’clock. He drove home, a distance of ten miles, arriving there at 4 a.m. on
Friday. He worked on the farm all day and in the evening went to Wellsboro. He
spent a portion of the evening with Gertrude Taylor and returned home, arriving
between 1 and 2 a.m. on Saturday. He wife arrested him for desertion so he went
to Beach’s Thursday evening to see if she was going to push the case in the
September term of court. He did not made an appointment to meet her again,
saying he would write to her if he had anything to say. He did not see her after
Thursday night.
C.J. Beach stated on Saturday afternoon to a reporter that Goodwin came to
his house, where Mrs. Goodwin worked, after midnight Thursday, and stayed with
her about an hour. About 9 o’clock Friday night he heard a door open in the
house and he did not pay any attention to it at the time as Mrs. Goodwin told
Mrs. Beach that she expected to meet her husband about that hour. He did not
know that Mrs. Goodwin was missing until her room was visited Saturday morning.
Walter was taken to Mansfield and placed in the lock-up until Monday, when
his examination was held and he was committed to the county jail.
The Inquest
The remains of Mrs. Goodwin were taken to Mansfield on Sunday afternoon, and
on Monday morning an inquest was held by Coroner C.W. Hazlett and a jury
composed of Messrs. H.F. Kingsley, Thomas Judge, Wayne Pitts, John Reese, John
VanOsten and L.H. Robbins. It was found that one bullet had struck the woman in
the right ear, another just under the left eye, the third on the right cheek and
the fourth nearly on top of the head.
Mr. Stephen Mudge stated that his wife had aroused him about half past ten
on Friday night, saying that she thought that she heard shots and a woman
scream. She started to light the lamp, but finally concluded it was the noise of
cats and went back to bed.
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Lewis stated that they distinctly heard four pistol shots,
and they made this statement to neighbors before it was known that there had
been a tragedy.
The inquest was not open to the public, and reporters were not permitted to
be present. It was not concluded until some time in the afternoon. The jury
decided that Mrs. Effie Goodwin cam to her death by gunshot wounds, and that
there was enough evidence to hold Walter Goodwin to appear before the grand
jury.
On Monday evening an examination of Walter Goodwin was held before Justice
Burr R. Bailey, District Attorney Dunsmore was present, and David Cameron and
F.W. Clark, Esqs., represented the defense. There was very little evidence
presented; but there was enough for the Justice to hold the prisoner upon the
charge. Sheriff Champaign was sent for, and Goodwin was brought to jail that
night.
On Monday there was another development in the case, when it was learned
that Miss Gertrude Taylor had been arrested at the home of her father, Mr. C.K.
Taylor, on Phoenix Run, near Gaines, and that she knew something about the
crime. She was lodged in jail Monday morning, and before night it was rumored on
the streets, and it was undoubtedly true, that she had made a full statement of
her knowledge of the circumstances connected with the case.
Miss Taylor’s Statement
Miss Taylor says she is only 14 years of age. She has worked as a domestic
at several places in this borough, and last week she spent some days at the home
of Goodwin in Charleston. She says that she went to Mansfield with Walter
Goodwin on Thursday night, and that she sat in the wagon and held his horse for
an hour while he was having an interview with his wife in Mr. Beach’s house. She
drove back with Goodwin that night, and spent Friday at the home of Mr.
Goodwin’s father in Charleston.
On Friday evening she drove down to this borough with Walter to attend the
band concert. There being no concert, they left here about half-past eight,
after she had procured a sack of her sister and, Goodwin had got his laundry,
and they drove directly past the Goodwin place and to Mansfield. There she again
held his horse, but it was not in the same part of the town as the night before.
She saw Goodwin meet a man some distance from the wagon; not long after that she
heard three shots. A moment later Goodwin came running to the wagon, jumped in
and drove off. Just out of the borough a man in a road-cart drove up behind
them, and she heard Goodwin ask, “Well, did you do it?” The man replied, “You
bet I did!” Then Goodwin made some remark about his being a free man again, and
then said to the other man that he had better be “getting out.” To this remark
the man said that he was “getting out” as fast as he could.
Goodwin and the girl drove rapidly past the Goodwin home again and directly
to this borough, where they drove leisurely around two or three squares. Goodwin
did not get out of the wagon and finally started back home, and they reached the
Goodwin place just as it was getting daybreak. Here the man and the road-cart
again appeared, and the girl heard the stranger tell Goodwin that his wife lay
dead on the hill at Mansfield. She was so nervous over these strange occurrences
that she could not go to sleep, and she insisted early in the morning that
Goodwin should bring her back to this borough. He did so, and she found her
father here looking for her, and she went with him to Phoenix Run that morning.
This is the substance of the young girl’s story as it is told on the
streets. It certainly has a strong bearing on the case, and her testimony will
no doubt be thoroughly sifted on the trial.
Family Life
The murdered woman’s maiden name was Effie Louise Copley, and she was 22
years of age on the 14th of August. She attended the Mansfield Normal school in
the fall of 1891, and was afterward employed in the hotel there and also in a
private family as a domestic. Then came her intimacy with Goodwin, her trouble
and the forced marriage. The young couple went to the Goodwin family home in
Charleston to reside, and it was there that her child was born. She had often
expressed the belief that the child was put out of the way by some one, as she
asserted that she had heard it cry after it was taken from her room, but never
saw it afterward. The couple separated last October, having remained on the farm
of Goodwin’s father until the separation. When she left, the elder Goodwin gave
her $50 and stated that it was understood that this was to end all relations
between her and the family, although Goodwin’s mother has stated that she did
not know that her daughter-in-law was to leave until she came for her clothing.
Last April Effie went to Mansfield and was employed in the family of C.J. Beach
until her murder.
Another Young Man
While the couple resided at the Goodwin homestead a young man named Bert
Ogden, a tramp cigar-maker, who had been working at painting in that vicinity,
was also staying at the house, and when asked the reason for his extended
sojourn, replied that he had an object in view – to get young Goodwin out of
trouble, probably meaning to separate him from his wife. The wife often remarked
that if is had not been for Ogden there would have been no trouble.
An Interview with Walter’s Father
Walter’s father, J. Wesley Goodwin, in an interview, stated that he had
furnished Walter with the $50 to give to Effie, and had also bought her a new
dress. When asked about Ogden, who stayed at hid house so long, he said: “Ogden
was a tramp cigar-maker, and I considered him a bad man, but he liked Walter,
and so he remained there some time after he finished painting the church. The
only quarrel I ever knew my son and his wife to have was while this man was
there.”
The reporter asked Mr. Goodwin if his son was not in the habit of keeping
company with dissolute women, and he answered:
“Well, we have had girls to work for us, and he has taken them to parties on
one or two occasions; that’s all there is in that.”
“Walter’s wife had said before her death that she believed that her baby was
murdered soon after its birth. Do you know anything about that, Mr. Goodwin?”
I’ll tell you all about that. She would not have a doctor, so my wife and
the wife of another of my sons attended her. The child was a monstrosity and
breathed only a few times after its birth, and we thought it best that she
should not see it. That boy thought everything of that woman and would not hurt
her for the world. Recently he had been talking of bringing her back home; but I
said I would not allow it, as she had taken $50 to stay away from us, and if he
lived with her they could not live in my house, but it they desired to keep
house elsewhere I would do as much for them as I had for the other boys.”
“Where was your son last Friday night?”
“Well, I’ll tell you. We had a girl, Gertrude Taylor, who had been at work
for us a week, and we were through with her, so I told him to hitch up and take
her to her aunt’s house in Wellsboro, where she said she wanted to go. About
midnight they returned, and when I asked him why he had not taken her home, he
said her aunt was not at home, so he brought the girl back. In the morning I
told him to hitch up and take the girl to Wellsboro, and then go on to his
brother’s where we were engaged in doing some threshing. He did so, and worked
with us all day.”
Wellsboro Agitator, October 6, 1897, p2
Goodwin Guilty of Murder
That is What the Jury Said Yesterday – Substance of the Testimony Given
in His Case – Remarkable Evidence Showing How the Accused Gave His Case Away
The trial of Walter Goodwin for which the jury was impaneled last week
Tuesday closed yesterday afternoon with a verdict of murder in the first degree.
In some respects the case was a remarkable one – remarkable for the almost
direct evidence of the crime in effect procured and furnished by the accused
himself and remarkable for the paucity and light character of the evidence for
the defense.
Last Wednesday morning District Attorney Dunsmore made the opening address
in the trial of the case of the Commonwealth against Walter Goodwin, charged
with the murder of his wife Effie Copley Goodwin. The prosecuting officer spoke
some forty minutes in outlining the evidence that the Commonwealth expected to
introduce and upon which the jury would be asked to find the defendant guilty of
murder in the first degree.
The defendant when brought in by Sheriff Champaign took his seat back of his
counsel and his father occupied a seat on his right while his mother and
brothers seated themselves close to him just outside the bar railing. The
defendant seemed wonderfully cool and indifferent when he took his seat. He
cautiously took a little looking glass from his vest pocket and holding it in
the palm of his hand looked at himself admiringly and arranged his hair, putting
back a lock here and there so as to show that he had his hair parted in the
middle. He would quietly smile at himself and occasionally wink his eye to some
acquaintance. He did all this in a very sly way as if not to attract attention.
When the District Attorney began his opening Goodwin sat erect and listened
with apparently no more interest in the matter than any spectator present but
when the District Attorney came down to the evidence which the Commonwealth
proposed to introduce by Miss Gertrude Taylor the prisoner grew excited and as
Miss Taylor’s proposed testimony was outlined and his confessions were related
he placed his head on his hand resting his arm on the chair [cannot read rest of
sentence].
The first witness called by the Commonwealth was Miss Rita Copley of Hills
Creek who said that she was the sister of Mrs. Effie Goodwin, the murdered
woman; that her sister married the defendant Walter Goodwin in February 1896 and
lived with him at his father’s until October of the same year; that her sister
was 22 years of age on august 11th last and that she went to live with Mrs. C.J.
Beach about a mile beyond the borough of Mansfield as a domestic on the 11th of
April of this year. Witness stated that the last time she saw her sister alive
was on Sunday September 4th at the hospital in Blossburg.
The witness then took her seat with the counsel for the Commonwealth where
she remained throughout the trial as the representative of her deceased sister.
Scene of the Homicide
Mr. Hugh Sherwood of Mansfield was then asked to explain certain maps and
drawings, which he had prepared of the borough of Mansfield showing the roads,
distances, etc. in the locality of the murder.
Counsel for the defendant took up considerable time in cross questioning Mr.
Sherwood in reference to his maps but they were finally admitted in evidence
with the exception of a free hand drawing showing the junction of Wilson Avenue
and Sullivan Street and the place where the body was found. This drawing the
Court rejected as not coming within the proper rule of law governing such
exhibits.
Photographer Fred Bailey of Mansfield was next called and introduced the
photographs and site of the murder which were admitted in evidence.
Wednesday afternoon Arthur Smith of Mansfield was called and testified to
finding the body of Mrs. Goodwin some 150 feet up the Mainesburg road from the
forks of the road. The body lay in --------- up the road the right arm under her
head, her right leg drawn up, her hat badly jammed lay on the ground a short
distance from the body. There was blood on the face, neck and ------------ and
it appeared in three places on the ground running down the wagon track from 4 to
6 feet. There was a sealed envelope lying by her side covered with blood.
Witness was shown the bloody letter, which he identified. It was directed to
Miss Rita Copley, Hill Creek, PA and was a communication with the dead woman’s
sister. The letter was stamped ready for posting. This witness detailed how he
was driving past the forks in the road on his way to Mainesburg and was called
upon to assist in moving the body to Mr. S.G. Mudge'’ home. Witness stated that
the right slipper and stocking were in place upon her foot. He did not notice
that the clothing was torn.
Mrs. Mary Gaylord of Mansfield was then called and testified that she was
visiting at the S.G. Mudge house when --------- informed the family that a woman
had been found lying in the roadway not far from the house. Witness went to the
scene of the tragedy immediately and found the woman lying on her back on the
---------- with her head elevated. A stream of blood was flowing from her head,
her right leg was moving up and down causing her clothing to go up as far as her
knee. She made a motion with both her right hand and foot. She could not be seen
from Mr. Mudge’s house as she was lying in the road. She looked as if someone
had pounded her head with a --------. Dr. Vedder who was present started to open
the clothing about the woman’s neck but it was quite difficult and he ordered
the woman removed to the Mudge house. Witness stated that the woman’s clothing
was not torn.
Dr. W.D. Vedder of Mansfield then testified that he was called to the scene
of the tragedy about 1:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon, September 4th. He
described the condition he found the woman in as she lay upon the roadway on
Wilson Avenue, how he caused her to be moved to the Mudge house, the examination
he made of her wounds, and his trip with his patient that afternoon to the
Blossburg hospital.
Mrs. M. Smith, superintendent of the hospital, was next sworn as to
receiving the patient and caring for her. She said that the woman died at 6
o’clock Sunday morning, September 5th.
W.W. Allen, of Mansfield, testified that as one of the Councilmen of the
borough he was notified of the finding of the body of the woman, and that he got
Dr. Vedder and a team and went directly to the scene of the homicide. He related
the condition of things when he got there.
The Victim’s Wounds
Dr. Charles W. Hazlett, the Coroner of the county, then detailed the facts
relating to the autopsy, and exhibited the deceased woman’s brain, which was
taken from a glass jar where it had been preserved in alcohol. The right lobe of
the brain showed a bullet hole passing diagonally through it. This wound the
doctor said, was sufficient to produce death. The Coroner also explained at
length the several bullet wounds, one in the right ear, one in the right side of
the lower jaw, one in the left eye and one on the right side of the top of the
head. He stated that two of these wounds were necessarily fatal – the one in the
ear and the one on the top of the head passing through the brain. He had no
hesitation in stating that Mrs. Goodwin came to her death by reason of the gun
shot wounds.
Dr. S.P. Hakes of Tioga who assisted Coroner Hazlett in the post-mortem
examination testified in the same line, giving it as his opinion that the woman
came to her death by reason of the bullet wounds, two wounds – the one in the
ear and the one on top of the head – being fatal.
Constable O.T. Height, of Mansfield then related the circumstances of the
arrest of Walter Goodwin at his father’s home in Charleston on Saturday evening,
September 4th. He said he got a revolver at the time he made the arrest that
Walter found it for him under the stand in the parlor.
Defendant’s counsel offered to prove that at the time the revolver was
obtained the defendant asked his mother where he revolver was and she directed
him where to find it, but the Court excluded the testimony under the objection
that it was a self serving declaration. The revolver was exhibited in court.
Joseph Fleitz of Charleston, a brother of juror Edward J. Fleitz was then
introduced and testified that about five months ago he made an exchange of
revolvers with the defendant Goodwin, and upon being shown the revolver obtained
by the Constable from the Goodwin home he identified it as the same revolver
that he had once owned and let Walter have. He knew it by a private mark and
also by a peculiarity in connection with the trigger. The revolver is a
32-caliber self-acting weapon but is will not fire successively unless you throw
the trigger forward each time after it has gone off. The spring is weak.
Agnes Watson who now lives in Elmira, but who worked for the Goodwin’s in
July last testified that the revolver produced in court was Walter Goodwin’s
revolver, that she knew it because she had fired it off and had noticed the
peculiarity of the of the action of the trigger at the time.
Darwin Thompson a gunsmith of Wellsboro was sworn as to the caliber of the
revolver and of the bullets which were taken from the wounds of the murdered
woman. He testified that the pistol presented to him for inspection was a
32-caliber revolver and as one after another of the four bullets in evidence
were presented to him. Although they were badly battered and out of shape he
testified positively to the four bullets as being 32-caliber bullets the same as
the revolver. The defendant’s counsel tried hard to shake Mr. Thompson’s
positiveness in the exact caliber of the bullets but he persisted in stating
that he knew the bullet were 32-caliber. He did finally however say that the
only other size that it might be difficult for him to distinguish from the
bullets shown would be a 30-caliber bullet but he said that without doubt in his
mind the bullets in question were 32-caliber.
Goodwin Visits his Wife
C.J. Beach testified that he lived on the Mainesburg road just outside the
borough of Mansfield; that Effie Goodwin worked as a domestic in his family;
that on Thursday night prior to the tragedy Walter Goodwin came to the house
after they had retired and witness had been asleep. He heard Goodwin’s voice and
knew who it was as he had been there before. Goodwin said he wished to see his
wife. Witness spoke to Mrs. Goodwin and she said, “Send him up.” Walter came
into the house took a light and went to his wife’s room, which was directly over
Mr. Beach’s bedroom. Mr. Beach said he heard them talking for some time.
After a while he heard some one come down stairs and go out the front door,
leaving the lighted lamp upon the stairs. Mr. Beach said he looked at his clock
when he let Goodwin in and it was half past one in the morning. Walter said he
had been driving from Wellsboro and had paid no attention to the time. After the
light had remained burning on the stairs some time, Mr. Beach got up to
investigate and went up to Mrs. Goodwin’s room and called her and she answered,
“Here I am.” From downstairs, opening the front door where she had gone out with
her husband in her stocking feet. Shortly afterward she came in and went up
stairs to bed. The next morning she worked as usual. Mr. Beach saw her again
that Friday evening as she sat at the table in their sitting room crocheting.
Afterward she put up her work and went up to her room and while he sat at the
table reading he heard the hall door open and shut. This was some time between
nine and ten o’clock that Friday evening. That is the last he saw of her until
he saw her at Mr. Mudge’s the next afternoon.
Mrs. Beach, wife of the above witness was sworn and corroborated the
statement made by her husband.
The Commonwealth offered to show by the testimony of Mrs. Beach that Mrs.
Goodwin was very much depressed in spirits that afternoon; that she cried and
appeared very nervous in anticipation of her coming appointment with her husband
but the defendant’s counsel objected to this evidence and the Court excluded it.
The Fatal Shots
Howard Lewis who lives near the Beach home was called and testified that he
heard shots about 10 o’clock that Friday night; that he heard two shots and then
some one screamed and then after a little interval he heard two more shots.
Witness said that after the last shot was fired he listened to see if he could
hear any other noise; that he got partially up in bed and in this position he
heard the clock strike half past ten.
Mrs. Howard Lewis was called and corroborated her husband’s testimony.
Enos Watkins of Richmond township next testified that he lives on the
Newtown road and was walking home that night from the borough of Mansfield; that
he heard shots and screams – two shots and a scream and two more shots and a
scream; that it was about half past ten o’clock and quite dark.
John Grover who lives a mile and a half out of Mansfield on the Newtown road
testified that he also heard shots and put the time at about a quarter after ten
o’clock that night. He said there was one shot, a scream and pause then another
shot and finally two more shots then he heard a vehicle driven rapidly down the
Mainesburg road.
Mr. & Mrs. S.G. Mudge of Mansfield located their home and told of the
wounded woman being brought there Saturday afternoon. They stated that they went
to bed the night before about ten o’clock. Mrs. Mudge said she heard something
which she took to be a racket at the barn and got up and looked out, not seeing
anything, she went back to bed again, when she heard something again and spoke
to her husband, and just then she heard a shot. Her husband also awoke just in
time to hear this last shot which appeared to come from back of their house
toward the hill. They then heard a vehicle driven rapidly by the house.
Mrs. Mudge said she examined the underclothing of Mrs. Goodwin as she lay
in her house and found that her drawers were clean and whole.
Goodwin Addresses about His Wife
On Thursday afternoon Henry Wood, the stage driver between Wellsboro and
Mansfield testified that in July last at Mr. Goodwin’s barn, he had a
conversation with Walter about his wife’s suit against him for desertion and
support, and that Walter told him that he would not “support the damned bitch,”;
that he would not live with her, would have nothing to do with her and was going
to get rid of her.
Decatur Clemons, of Hills Creek, testified that on July 28 or 29 last, at
his barn, he met Walter and had a conversation with him about his wife, that
Walter asked him if he had seen his wife at Blossburg recently and if she had
someone with her. Witness said, Yes, that he saw her and that she was with
another person, and that person was a woman. Witness then asked him what he was
going to do about his wife’s desertion case, and Walter replied, “You need not
worry about that, I will fix her so the dogs won’t bite her before I get through
with her.”
Fred Nickerson testified that he lived at East Charleston, and that about
the middle of June last Walter came to his house and said he came to see a
young lady who was working for his wife as a domestic. It was between eleven and
twelve o’clock at night, and witness said he went out on the porch and asked him
if he did not have a wife depending upon him for her support. Walter replied
that he did, but said, “By God, she won’t hold me very long.”
The Taylor Girl’s Story
About three o’clock on Thursday afternoon Miss Gertrude Taylor, the
principal witness for the prosecution, was brought into court accompanied by her
older sister, Belle Taylor, a school teacher at Phillips Station. Both the girls
state that Gertrude is but 14 years old, but she appears somewhat older. She was
nearly dressed, of good form and pretty face, and made a most excellent witness
for the Commonwealth. She told her story in a straightforward manner, and
detailed circumstances and conversations with wonderful particularity.
She said she first met Walter Goodwin on Wednesday afternoon at four
o’clock, August 25th last in front of H.B. Packer’s residence on Main street;
that she was introduced to him by a young man by the name of Kerwin; that she
met him again that night by appointment and remained with him from nine to
twelve o’clock that night among the trees in a grove [the Converse property]
just beyond Mr. Packer’s house; that she then went to her grandmother’s house;
that she again met him by appointment on Friday night of that week just below
the Wilcox house and took a ride with him to Stokesdale Junction and attended a
dance with him at that place; that they remained there until a quarter past two
when they drove to his father’s home and remained there over night and the next
day they drove to East Charleston to a picnic; that she remained at Goodwin’s
fully a week after that in company with Walter, but was not employed by the
Goodwins. On the following Thursday evening she and Walter drove to Wellsboro.
He hitched his horse on Central Avenue, and she went up to see her sister who
was working at Mr. Packer’s house. From there she went up to Mrs. Jacob
Sticklin’s [?], her grandmother’s. Walter accompanied her and told her to tell
her grandmother that she was working at James Husted’s, some three miles out of
town; that she told her sister this story, which was not true; that she got into
the wagon again with Walter and as they were driving toward the Goodwin farm
that night he told her he had to go to Mansfield that night and said, “Suppose
you go with me.” She said, ‘All right,” that she would like to go and see the
place, as she had never been there; that the horse they drove that night was a
black horse, and the vehicle a closed buggy; that when they got over to
Mansfield the business places were closed up but the hotels were not; that she
could not state how late it was; that they had come along at a good pace and
drove in going over the Hollow road and went into town over a long iron bridge
with two parts to it like two separate bridges, turned to the left and went
round by the depot and then drove some little distance and turned to the right
and went through a street with buildings with glass fronts and then turned to
the left again where there were no lights, then drove along to the other side of
the village to a house that looked to her like a boarding house. Walter said,
“This is the place.” He drove past the house some two rods and hitched the horse
and left her and went back to the house and whistled, she got down on the bottom
of the buggy and put her arm on the seat and her head on her arm, drew the robes
over her and went to sleep; that after a time she was awakened by Walter’s
return; that he said, “Wake up sweetness,” drew the robes off from her got into
the buggy, and they drove home going out of town over the same long iron bridge
but coming straight up the hill through East Charleston to his father’s house;
that they arrived there about a quarter past four o’clock; that Walter went to
her room, lit a lamp and looked at his watch; that she went to sleep and did not
get up the next day until about dinner time; that she remained at the farm house
until after supper when Walter and she left shortly after six o’clock that
Friday night and drove together to Wellsboro to attend the band concert; that
Walter hitched his horse on Central avenue again just above the green and she
went up to her sister’s at Mr. Packer’s while Walter went after his laundry;
that she asked her sister for a cape but did not get it; that she noticed
electric lights were burning in the pagoda on the green; that she and Walter met
at the carriage, and Walter told her that there was no band concert; that soon
they got into the carriage and went out of town toward home, she thought it was
about half past eight. When they got where the road turns off to the left
leading to the Goodwin place, Walter kept straight ahead and she asked him if he
was not going home. He said that he had got to go the Mansfield again that
night; that he would not be gone very long and that she had better go along with
him so they would disturb the old folks but once when they turned in; that they
drove a different horse that night – a bay horse with white feet. They drove
very fast, and he kept speaking to the horse and urging her on and would strike
her with the whip.
When he got nearly over there, he said, “My horse is steaming.” There was a
sort of fog arising from the horse, he had driven so fast. There was a moon the
forepart of the night, but the moon went down when they were about a mile this
side of Mansfield. Walter showed her a building on the road near Mansfield where
they dry berries. On their way over Walter said he must disguise himself a
little and took off a pearl button that he wore on his coat with a letter “G” on
it, he also took out his handkerchief and put it around his neck and pulled his
hat down over the forepart of his face. He said he had a date to meet a man at
Mansfield that night at nine o’clock but that the man would wait until ten. In
going into Mansfield they drove over the same iron bridge, but this night,
instead of turning to the left and going around by the depot they went straight
ahead from the iron bridge through the town and so on to the outskirts of the
village.
On The Scene
Walter stopped the horse near a little tree and told her to hold the lines,
while he got out in a hurry and went forward along the road in front of the
horse. It was starlight, and about two rods away he met someone, she could not
say whether it was a man or woman, and could only say that the person had on
dark clothing. The two walked along in the same direction out of her sight. The
place where Walter left her was up hill to her right and sloped down hill toward
the left. Witness did not go to sleep, but dozed away, she should think about
half an hour, when she was startled by the report of three pistol shots. The
horse jumped, and she quickly grabbed up the lines as she thought the animal was
going to run away. After the first shot, which came from the direction of the
hill on the right, she heard a moaning sound, and the last shot seemed nearer to
her, as she was fully awake by that time. In about five minutes Walter came,
walking very fast. He had been running and was out of breath. He jumped into the
wagon, cramped the carriage around, swore at the horse for not getting around
faster, did not stop to pull up the lap robes, but drove rapidly out of town
over the long iron bridge toward Wellsboro and then slowed down.
About a mile out of town, witness said, she asked Walter if he had been
engaged to many young ladies, and he answered that he had been and to one that
“tied him.” She then asked him what relatives he called on at Mansfield, and he
replied that “the relative that he had there wouldn’t be of any further use to
the Beach family.” He then took off his disguises, put on his button, took off
the handkerchief from around his neck, and placed his hat back properly on his
head.
Soon they arrived in Wellsboro and he said to her as they drove around the
square, “We have been in Wellsboro all night under these trees –do you
understand?” and she said, “Yes.” On State Street Walter looked at his watch and
it was fifteen minutes to one o’clock. They drove around town a little, watered
the horse at the watering fountain at the foot of Main Street, and in passing
the Farmers’ hotel they noticed three men over by the fence. They then drove
home, arriving at his father’s house about three o’clock. He told his father, on
striking a match and looking at his watch, that it was ten minutes to three. His
father asked him if he had put the horse out, and referred to their threshing
the next day. The witness sat in the wagon in the barn while Walter put out the
horse, and she walked with him into the house, but she said she told Walter to
walk on, that she did not feel like taking hold of him that night.
At The Goodwin Homestead
When they arrived at the house she went to her room and he to his. After she
had been in bed some twenty minutes she got nervous and afraid and got up,
dressed and read a novel for a few moments and then went over to Walter’s room
and said, “Good Lord! Get up.” He got up and dressed a let her into his room and
asked her what she was nervous about. She said that she had seen enough to make
her nervous, and said to him, “Now, Walter, you know I love you, tell me what
all this means tonight.” He began to caress her, and finally after making her
promise never to divulge anything he might tell her, he took a revolver out of
his hip pocket, the end of which was covered with blood, and said, “You see that
little dog, that killed my wife last night.” Witness stated she was horrified at
the sight of the blood on the barrel of the pistol, and said to him, “You must
have got very close to her when you fired.” At that Walter took a handkerchief
out of his pocket, wet one end of it with his lips and wiped the blood from the
weapon. Witness said about this time she grew sick and faint, and told him to
say no more to her. While she sat there he hugged and kissed her and called her
pet names, and finally began to talk to her again and said, “I made my
engagement to meet my wife on the hill where we went. I also made a date with
another person. You saw that man who met me after I left you? That fellow took
my revolver and went around the cornfield. Effie and I stood face to face
talking to each other – she was on the lower side, this fellow then stood
between us. This fellow said, ‘Listen Effie,’ and as she looked up gave her one
right in the ear and then we gave her three more shots, and I run like hell.”
After a little Walter said to witness, ‘I won’ t say what I said was true, but
my poor wife was killed last night. He then added, “Gertie if I am arrested I
want you to say we were not at Mansfield last night.” He then pulled me over on
his lap and hugged and kissed me and said, “After this thing blows over we will
get married.” Witness stated she had engaged herself to Goodwin on the Tuesday
night previous and at that time did not know that he was a married man. She said
she sat on his lap fully half an hour and he told her what to say in case he was
arrested and she was called upon to testify against him. He told her among other
things, that she must say that they spent the evening at Wellsboro. She refused,
saying that somebody might have seen them at Mansfield. He told her in that case
she should say that shortly after leaving Mansfield on their way home a man
drove up to them in a road cart and he said to the man, “Did you do it?” and
that the man made answer. “You’re damned right, I did,” and that he then said,
“You’d better get out of the country,” and he said, “By God! That’s just what
I’m going to do,” that when they reached home the same man drove up again and
said, “Your wife lies dead on the hill beyond Mansfield,” and that he answered,
“That’s good,” that the man then lit a cigarette, and she saw that he had high
cheek bones.
Miss Taylor said by this time it began to get daylight and both lay down on
the bed with their clothes on, drawing a quilt over them and slept until about
half past six o’clock that morning, when they got up and Walter drove her to her
grandmother’s at Wellsboro in the road cart. The old man Goodwin followed them
down with a double team going to his work of threshing over in Delmar Township,
where he was joined that Saturday by Walter.
A Remarkable Episode
After Miss Taylor had detailed the above story to the jury she was asked by
Major Merrick whether any attempt had been made to induce her to testify falsely
since she left Walter Goodwin on the Saturday morning after the tragedy. The
great throng in the courtroom became suddenly silent with suppressed excitement
for everyone knew that the defendant and the witness had been confined in the
county jail for nearly a month and that something dramatic was about to take
place. The attorneys for the defendant supposing that if any statement had been
made under the circumstances by the prisoner to Miss Taylor it was done through
the suggestion of a third party, promptly objected to the admission of any
testimony on the subject by the witness.
Sheriff Champaign was then called and thoroughly questioned and cross
examined as to the circumstances under which the statement about to be given by
the witness Taylor was obtained. The Sheriff said that the prisoner had
importuned him for nearly a week fairly begging to be allowed an interview with
Miss Taylor. At first the Sheriff refused but finally he made up his mind to
place the matter before the attorneys for the Commonwealth and take their
judgment concerning the matter. Accordingly an interview was arranged. Miss
Taylor was taken from her cell in the woman’s department up stairs in the jail
and upon some pretext she was taken down into the Sheriff’s living rooms while
the Sheriff place two Deputy Sheriffs, William M. Kehler and James S. English,
secretly on top of the steel cage in the county jail over Miss Taylor’s cell.
Miss Taylor was then taken back to her cell, not knowing of the presence of the
two deputies, and the defendant Goodwin was brought up stairs and placed in
another cell some eight feet away from Miss Taylor’s cell. The Sheriff as he
brought the defendant into the woman’s department walked Goodwin all around the
room so that he could convince himself that there was no one present who could
hear what he was about to say to Miss Taylor. So anxious was the prisoner that
no one should overhear what he had to say that he asked the Sheriff to put him
in a cell where he could see the Sheriff when he retired from the department and
closed the door. The Sheriff agreed to this request and after locking Goodwin in
the cell went out of the room and locked the door, but he did not inform Goodwin
of the fact that there were two men concealed on top of Miss Taylor’s cell
waiting to hear every word that he might utter and use it against him in his
coming trial.
The defendant’s counsel, after hearing all this, renewed their objections to
the admissibility of the evidence, and considerable time was taken up with the
argument of counsel on both sides, but finally Judge Mitchell overruled the
objections and admitted the evidence of Miss Taylor as to what took place at the
interview between her and Goodwin, and also allowed the two Deputy Sheriffs to
testify as to what was said between the two and overheard by them from their
perch on top of Miss Taylor’s cell on Tuesday evening, September 21st.
Defendant Fixes Up a Story
Miss Taylor said that when Walter was locked in his cell and the Sheriff has
returned she said, “Hello, darling. It is lonesome staying up here, but I don’t
suppose you want to talk about that,” and he replied, “ No sweetness, I want to
talk about that Friday night.” He then went on to tell her that he had a story
all made up for her to tell, he had thought it all out, and that if she would
only do just as he told her it would all come out right. She replied that she
could not do as he wanted her to, for the reason that she had already made one
statement and taken her oath to it, but he said that made no difference; that he
knew she had made a statement, for he had seen it in the newspapers, but that
she should discard that statement and accept the one he would now detail to her.
She then said to him: “I told them about the revolver with blood upon it,” and
he said, “Oh, sweetness, you ought not to have done that, for they might send me
to prison for three years.” She then told him that she had told her counsel that
the road-cart story was not true, but he insisted that that made no difference
if she would only take up the story he was about to relate to her and which he
himself would swear to. She finally promised him to testify to the set of facts
he should relate to her, and the story began. After he had told it to her twice,
he had her repeat it back to him to be sure she had it, as he wanted it, he
prompting her as she made mistakes.
This cunningly – devised story placed the defendant and Miss Taylor at
Wellsboro on that fatal Friday during the early part of the evening, strolling
about the streets and reclining leisurely under trees in the grove in front of
the Converse house, then they started for home with the horse and carriage and
came to what Miss Taylor thought was Mansfield, but the defendant told her she
was mistaken, that it was Whitneyville, and that the lights which she saw and
thought came from store fronts were but burning stumps on the hillside, that
while there a man in a road-cart came up and said, “Hello, Wallie!” and Goodwin
replies, “Hello, Pratt!” Miss Taylor at first did not catch the name, and asked
him if he said, ‘Pat.’ He said, “No, not ‘Pat’, but ‘Pratt,’ remember that.” A
conversation then takes place between Goodwin and his straw man “Pratt,” who is
made out a perfect villain who has attempted to outrage Mrs. Goodwin and finally
fires the fatal shots. Then the couple drive back to Wellsboro again, and while
watering the horse at the fountain at the foot of Main street he is to take out
a watch, which he describes to her minutely as a lady’s gold watch, and she is
to look at the watch and see that it is just five minutes past eleven, he
charged her specially to remember that. They then go home, and he told her to
say they arrived there a little after twelve, she objected, saying, “I have
already sworn in my statement that we got home at three.” Finally he compromised
with her and told her to make it about half past one, and further told her that
his people would help her out on that statement. On arriving at the Goodwin home
the fictitious man “Pratt” is again made to appear, and he tells Walter what he
has done to his wife and threatens his life if he ever tells on him.
Deputy Kehler was called to the stand and related the story at great length
fully corroborating Miss Taylor, as did also Mr. J.S. English.
On Friday, Miss Taylor was upon the stand nearly the whole morning under
cross-examination. She admitted that she had made two different sworn statements
and acknowledged that certain parts of those statements were untrue. These
statements related largely to the road cart episode, which she first put in her
story but finally repudiated.
Darwin Thompson was then recalled, and stated that he had made a test by
weight of a 30 and 32 caliber pistol cartridge, and found that a 30 caliber long
weighted 75 grams, and a 30 short 58 grams, while a 32 caliber short weighed 82
grams and a long 32 caliber 90 grams. He further testified that he had weighed
one of the bullets extracted from Mrs. Goodwin’s head and had found that it
weighed 82 grams.
Ed Winters, of Charleston, testified, corroborating Miss Taylor. He saw
Walter Goodwin and the Taylor girl on the fatal Friday evening between 6 and 7
o’clock driving toward Wellsboro with a bay horse and top buggy.
The Commonwealth then offered in evidence a letter written by Goodwin in the
jail, which, a week ago last Saturday, after many solicitations, the Sheriff
took and promised to give to Miss Taylor. The defendant gave the officer some
matches and told him to tell Gertrude to burn the letter as soon as she had read
it. The letter is in full as follows:
The envelope is addressed to “Miss Gertrude Taylor, Wellsboro, PA,” and the
letter reads as follows—
Dear Gertie,
I saw my Lawyer today and he said if you would swear that it was five
minutes after eleven when we left town Friday night that everything would be all
right. Now don’t fail to swear to this. Will you. And stick to it too, and don’t
say that you crossed the Mansfield bridge either when they ask you if you
crossed it you say you don’t remember of crossing any bridge that was as long as
the bridge we crossed Thursday night and stick to it and don’t let them catch
you, and don’t let anyone know about our talk the other night. He was so good to
work us together that we don’t want to give him away for anything.
Now be sure you don’t you touch a match to this as soon as you read it if
you can read it at all. I wrote it on my knee so excuse poor writing. Write and
tell me all about this when he gave it to you and all about it – be sure you
seal our letter good, and that mine is sealed when you get it. And tell me
whether you think it has been opened or not.
Now when it comes to Court you must deny that about seeing a revolver that
night – for if you tell that it will give it all away and you know that if you
give that away we are both in the soup they will ask you if you saw me have a
revolver that night at all and you will answer NO. What you have sworn to
doesn’t amount to anything. My Lawyer said so and he must know. It is what you
swear before grand jury is going to count. They are not mistrusting you so you
can swear to what you please. I am depending on you. Now don’t go back on this
if you do I will have to give you away and that will let us in the soup as well
as that other fellow, so ha, ha, ha, and stick to what I said about being under
those trees up above Packers, that is what I told my lawyer and that is what I
have got to stick to. And another thing I want you to say and that is this. You
must say there was a lot of people on the green when we went up by and you must
say that I left you a moment before we went up under the trees. If they ask you
about where I went you say he went towards the Wilcox House will you now be sure
because I told my lawyer that I left you a minute and went over to the Wilcox
house to the water closet. And a man saw me there and spoke to me now don’t say
anything about this only that I left you a minute and then came back and we went
on up together under the trees. If they ask you what time it was when you was
under the trees you say you don’t know. Now you say we didn’t drive near as far
as we did the night before and you must not say that I had a date with anyone
for that will give me away. I have told all of them that I had no date with
anyone, and if you give it away it knocks it all in head now don’t let them
scare you in any way for they can’t touch you no matter what you say and don’t
say very much to the District attorney Dunsmore. Don’t let him work you up
against me and you stick to the time and you say that you looked at my watch and
saw for yourself and you describe the watch if they ask you, you know it was a
ladies gold watch. Burn this up as soon as soon as you understand it thoroughly.
Maybe I will get another chance to write and if I do you bet I will take it.
Well good by for this time. From You know Who
Them came this postscript------------
Write as soon as you get this. Be sure you burn this up. Don’t let a person
see it. Well good by it is to dark to write now. Remember what I have said.
The Commonwealth offered to prove by C.A. Goodwin, an uncle of the defendant
the finding of a blood stained handkerchief on the back porch of the Goodwin
residence on the Monday night following the homicide, but the Court upon motion
of defendant’s counsel, excluded the testimony.
Jacob Corbin, a prisoner in the jail, was next called. He said he was from
Cross Forks and had been in jail for several weeks charged with assault and
battery; that his cell was next to Goodwin’s; that shortly after Goodwin was
brought to jail his [Goodwin’s] father was allowed to see his son, and witness
overheard part of a conversation between them; that he heard his father ask
Walter who had the revolver and Walter replied, giving a name, but witness could
not quite hear who it was. Walter asked his father about certain letters and his
father told him he had burned them all up; that he need not worry about that as
everything was all right. In this connection he heard them mention the name
“Ogden.” Walter at one time told witness that he would willingly give $50 for a
half-hour’s talk with Gertie Taylor.
This closed the testimony of the Commonwealth, an on Saturday morning David
Cameron Esq., opened the case for the defense by a short address to the jury.
His remarks were listened to very attentively by every one present, as people
were curious to know what reply would be made to the overwhelming testimony of
the Commonwealth. It was soon apparent that it was not the intention of the
defense to place Walter Goodwin upon the witness stand. Mr. Cameron confined
himself to the inconsistencies and acknowledged falsehoods in Miss Taylor’s
testimony, and tried to show from the Commonwealth’s evidence that there was
only about an hour and twenty minutes of time for the defendant to get to
Mansfield and drive the 14 miles, which he said was the distance from Wellsboro
to the place where the shooting took place on that fatal night.
The defense then swore Mr. P.C. Olney, of Mansfield, as to the distance from
the manhole on the sewer at the junction of Mann, Wellsboro and Sullivan streets
at Mansfield to the Coles hotel in Wellsboro and he gave it as 13 miles and 90
rods, and from the manhole to the junction of the Mainesburg road and Sullivan
street the distance is half a mile.
Messrs. Gibson, Valkner and Newell, of Mansfield, testified to lights being
in the Hotel Allen and the Holden restaurant and Newell restaurant after 10
o’clock that night.
Messrs. O.T. Osborne, John Grover, Ivan Potter and William Baker testified
to comparatively unimportant matters that transpired in and about Mansfield
about the time the 10 o’clock excursion train came in that Friday night.
O.T. Height, the Constable, was then called by the defense and testified
more at length about finding the revolver at the Goodwin residence. While they
were upstairs, where the defendant was changing his clothes, the Constable asked
him for his revolver. He said it was downstairs lying on the machine in the
sitting room. They went down to get it, and defendant did not find it there and
turned to his mother and asked her where it was. She told him where to find it,
and he stepped to the door of the room where she said it was, reached his hand
under a stand into a box and got it. The revolver was empty. Defendant made no
inquiries as to why he was arrested at first. It was after he went upstairs he
asked why he was arrested and when told he seemed very cool and collected.
Mrs. J.W. Goodwin, the mother of the defendant, then testified to taking the
revolver from the sewing machine and placing it in the parlor under a stand upon
the top of a grape basket ornamented with paper flowers. She said she put the
revolver there on the Tuesday before her son’s arrest and saw it there every day
until that Saturday night when her son asked her for it in the presence of the
Constable; that the revolver had been used on that Tuesday morning to kill a
skunk, by Mr. Goodwin and Walter. Mrs. Goodwin said she saw the revolver there
on Friday night after Walter had gone, that she took a light and went into the
room that night and saw the revolver. She said she also saw it Saturday morning
again as she was sweeping up the room.
J. Wesley Goodwin, the father of defendant, was then called and testified to
using the revolver on Tuesday to kill the skunk.
Samuel Ludlam testified that he spoke to Walter Goodwin about 9 o’clock on
that Friday night in Wellsboro as he was coming across the street from the
Sherwood corner toward the Wilcox hotel. Mr. Ludlam said just before meeting
Goodwin he had occasion to consult a watch and saw that it was just 5 minutes to
9 o’clock.
Joseph Goldburg said he was sitting on the steps in front of the Coles hotel
that night and saw Walter Goodwin go by just about 9 o’clock.
Carl Clark said he was driving a rig that night and while he did not at that
time know Walter Goodwin he did know the Taylor girl, and he saw her in a buggy
driving with a man from Cone[?] street toward the center of town about half past
eight or nine o’clock that night.
The evidence was closed and the witnesses on both sides were discharged
Saturday night.
On Monday morning Major G.W. Merrick opened the argument for the
Commonwealth but after talking about half an hour his voice gave out on account
of a severe cold and R.K. Young Esq., occupied the remainder of the time. He
went over Miss Taylor’s testimony at length and showed wherein she had been
corroborated by other witnesses.
David Cameron, Esq., occupied the remainder of the morning making an earnest
plea for the defendant from the standpoint of a “reasonable doubt,” which he
claimed had been raised from the evidence in the defendant’s favor.
After dinner court called at 2 o’clock but as it was “motion day” for the
attorneys, and as a jury had to be drawn in the civil case of French against
Richmond township, Mr. Clark did not begin his plea for the defense before 4
o'clock. He occupied the time till 6 o’clock.
Court then adjourned until 7 o’clock that evening when Mr. Clark resumed his
argument and closed at half past 9 o’clock. Mr. Clark complained bitterly to the
jury that the defendant was driven to trial without preparation and that the
case should have been continued and not tried at this time. He spent
considerable time talking to the jury in this vein although when the case was
first called he did not ask for any continuance, and stated to the Court that
defendant was ready for trial.
Yesterday morning District Attorney Dunsmore made the closing address for
the Commonwealth in an earnest, effective plea for a conviction of murder in the
first degree.
Judge Mitchell occupied about two hours in explaining the different degrees
of murder and charging the jury in a clear and forceful manner as to the law and
evidence governing the case.
The case was given to the jury at 12:15 o’clock in the afternoon, and the
jury came into Court at 3:50 and returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the
first degree.
The defendant sat with his counsel and showed wonderful nerve in fact he
seemed wholly unmoved by the verdict of the jury. While the Clerk was writing
out the verdict prior to announcing it he looked leisurely around the room and
then fixed his hair, spoke pleasantly to one of his attorneys and as
Prothonotary Sheffer arose to read the verdict he looked steadily at him and as
the words guilty of murder in the first degree were pronounced he never moved a
muscle or changed color in the slightest degree. There was perfect quiet in the
courtroom and no demonstration of any kind was made when the verdict was
announced.
Judge Mitchell directed Deputy Sheriff Kehler who had charge of the prisoner
to remand him for sentence, and he was taken back to jail in a quiet orderly
manner. Just outside of the courtroom the prisoner caught sight of some friend
and smiled at him pleasantly.
The young man did not seem to realize his situation in the slightest degree.
Wellsboro Agitator, October 13, 1897, p3
Goodwin Sentenced to be Hanged
The Goodwin Case
When Court convened Monday afternoon a large crowd of spectators filled the room, expecting to hear the sentence of death pronounced upon the condemned prisoner, Walter E. Goodwin. When the case was called up, however, Mr. Cameron, of counsel for the defendant, present to the Court a paper setting forth reasons for a new trial and in arrest of judgment. The points of error which the defendant’s counsel alleged in the trial just closed were, amongst others, that the Court erred in admitting the testimony as to what took place at the jail interview between the defendant and the Taylor girl; that the letter written by the defendant to the Taylor girl and given by the defendant to the Sheriff under the promise that he would deliver it to the girl, was improperly admitted in eividence in the case; that the Court erred in stating to the jury that the evidence showed that the fatal shots were fired between 10:15 and 11 o’clock; that the District Attorney and his associate counsel, Mr. Young, both made improper statements to the jury in their arguments on behalf of the Commonwealth. These alleged illegal statements of counsel for the Commonwealth were set out at length and quoted in the reasons filed.
The Commonwealth’s attorneys stated that they were prepared to take up the argument and dispose of the reasons filed for a new trial at once; but Mr. Clark, counsel for the defendant, pleaded for more time, with the Court allowed.
The Taylor Girl
Miss Gertrude Taylor was then brought into Court and Major Merrick addressed
the Court at length, explained how he, although counsel for Miss Taylor, had
consented to act with the District Attorney in the prosecution of the defendant
Goodwin. Major Merrick stated he did not agree to be employed for the
Commonwealth until he had a promise from the District Attorney that if Miss
Taylor was allowed to testify no indictment for murder should be found against
her, and that she should not be prosecuted as an accessory after the fact. He
then commented upon the evidence, which she had given in the case, and argued
that in his judgment she had told the truth. He closed his remarks by asking
that she be discharged form further custody, and intimated that place had been
provided for her in Philadelphia in some one of the missions, and that his
client was willing to go there with a view of mending her ways and trying in the
future to lead a better life.
Mr. Young followed and praised Miss Taylor for her qualities of heart and
mind, which he had discovered from his interviews with her in jail. Mr. Young
stated that in his opinion Miss Taylor had more than an ordinary intellect; that
she was fond of reading, had a great memory and a decided talent for music, and
he thought if she had an opportunity she would become a credit to herself and a
useful member of society.
District Attorney Dunsmore then addressed the Court and said he had made the
arrangement with Major Merrick as stated by the latter; that he felt confident
that he could not convict the defendant Goodwin without the testimony of Miss
Taylor, and that if she refused to testify, which she had the right to do under
the circumstances, the Commonwealth would not have been able to make out a case
against Goodwin. He joined in asking for her discharge from custody.
Judge Mitchell then stated that he would not dispose of Miss Taylor’s case
until he had disposed of the motion for a new trial.
It was supposed that the argument upon the reasons filed for a new trial
would not be taken up before Tuesday; but late on Monday afternoon Attorney
Clark stated that as he could not be here on that day he would prefer to take up
the matter forthwith, and so about four o’clock on Monday afternoon the
defendant Goodwin was brought in from jail and the arguments of counsel on both
sides were heard by the Court until adjournment at six o’clock, which the
prisoner was remanded and the Court adjourned until Tuesday without giving any
decision in the matter.
A New Trial Refused
When court convened at nine o’clock yesterday morning, Judge Mitchell took
up for final disposition the reasons for a new trial filed by the counsel for
Goodwin.
The prisoner was brought into court by Deputy Sheriff Kehler and took his
seat by the side of Mr. Cameron, Mr. Clark not being present. Goodwin looked
somewhat paler than usual, and his face had a careworn, haunted expression.
Miss Gertrude Taylor was also brought in from jail and took her seat by the
side of her counsel, Major Merrick. As the girl came into the room she looked
across the bar and caught the eye of District Attorney Dunsmore and gave him a
most gracious smile of recognition in anticipation of her coming freedom.
Judge Mitchell stated that he had considered carefully the reasons asking
for a new trial and had determined to reject them all and refuse a new trial, as
the reasons assigned were not sufficient in law to warrant the Court in doing
otherwise.
The District Attorney then moved the Court to pronounce sentence upon the
defendant, and Goodwin was accordingly told to stand up. Judge Mitchell then
stated to him that he had been convicted of the murder of his wife, and asked
him if he had anything to say why the sentence of the law should not now be
pronounced upon him.
Goodwin Protests His Innocence
Goodwin turned to his counsel and whispered something in his ear. Mr.
Cameron replied to him in the same manner, and a few moments were occupied in
the whispered conversation while every eye was fixed upon the defendant as he
stood in his place awaiting the final words from the Court which were to seal
his doom. Finally the conversation between client and counsel ceased and
Goodwin, turning his face toward the bench, began to address the Court in a
quiet, subdued voice. He did not seem to be bold and defiant or to be especially
timid but spoke naturally and unhesitatingly, and upon the whole conducted
himself admirably under the trying ordeal of the moment. His exact words were
these:
“I can say that I never saw my wife after Thursday night; that I never met
her, never saw her, and did not shoot her, and did not kill her. Therefore, I am
not guilty of the crime charged against me. As I understood it, she was said to
be found on Wilson Avenue. I never have taken a step on that road; never been on
that road in my life, and furthermore I was not out of my buggy that night
except at Wellsboro ----- at my house. I can say that I have been wrongfully
accused; that I never killed my wife, and that never entered my mind.”
Sentence Pronounced
When Goodwin ceased speaking Judge Mitchell said to him that the remarks
which he had made were not sufficient in law to prevent the sentence which must
be pronounced against him; that while he had denied doing the act charged
against him yet a jury of his countrymen had found him guilty of the murder of
his wife, and that no matter how painful it might be to the Court, yet the
sentence of the law must now be pronounced.
Judge Mitchell then went on to remark that this was the first time during
his judicial career that he had been called upon to pronounce the death penalty;
that it was anything but a pleasant duty for him to perform. He then said to the
prisoner that he wished to direct his thoughts to a future life, and to a
preparation to meet a higher tribunal where an all wise and just God would pass
in final judgment upon the deeds done in the body; that there was a future state
of reward and punishment, and a plan of salvation offered to mankind by which we
might be saved. He would call the prisoner’s attention to that scene enacted
nearly two thousand years ago, when the Saviour of mankind was crucified and
nailed to the cross between two malefactors; that the thief upon the cross was
saved by calling upon his Lord and received the promise, “This day shalt thou be
with me in paradise”; that there is hope of salvation for the condemned sinner,
and to the Saviour’s forgiveness and tender mercy he commended the prisoner.
Judge Mitchell spoke for fully ten minutes in this earnest, feeling manner
to the defendant, and all who were present were deeply impressed with the
solemnity of the occasion and many an eye was moist with tears as the
big-hearted Judge pleaded with the young prisoner to prepare to meet his awful
fate. After these affecting remarks had been made Judge Mitchell again asked the
prisoner if he had anything further to say and as no response came from the
prisoner, the Court pronounced the following sentence:
“And now, October 12, 1897, the sentence of the law, declared by the Court,
is that upon such date as the Governor of this Commonwealth shall designate you,
Walter E. Goodwin, shall be hung by the neck until you are dead. And may the
Lord have mercy on your soul.”
Goodwin showed no signs of breaking down, but stood apparently unmoved
through it all, occasionally looking about the room and frequently glancing
toward the spot where Miss Taylor sat, with an evident desire to catch her eye.
After all was over and the Deputy Sheriff took his arm to lead him back to
prison, in passing by Miss Taylor, Goodwin fastened his eyes upon the girl, and
gave her a terrible look with a slight shake of the head, which were evidently
expressive of the most deadly enmity.
The Taylor Girl Released
After Goodwin had been taken from the room, the Court turned by Miss Taylor
and told her to stand up, and he then talked to her about the serious trouble
she had brought upon herself by leading a life of sin and shame for the ten days
she had consorted with Goodwin prior to the tragedy. The Judge told Miss Taylor
that he was convinced that she did not help plan or execute the murder of
Goodwin’s wife, but that she was guilty of doing a serious wrong by agreeing
with him after he had confessed to her what had happened to his wife that night,
to tell a false story and shield him from the law; that owing to her youth and
her subsequent conduct in testifying fully about the transaction in behalf of
the Commonwealth he should not longer her a prisoner; that he hoped the lesson
which she had had in five weeks imprisonment would be sufficient, and that she
would mend her ways and become a useful, truthful and worthy member of society;
that she should try from mow on to be a good girl, and live a good life.
The Court then directed the District Attorney to enter a nolle prosequi as
to the charge against her at the next term if nothing further appeared against
her and to take her own recognizance to appear at the next term of court. This
was done and Miss Taylor was liberated and allowed to go with her older sister.
Wellsboro Agitator, January 19, 1898, p3
? Walter Goodwin keeps in good spirits during his confinement in jail, and he seems to be as light-hearted as if no shadow hung over him. His cheerfulness is really a matter of amazement to the attendants. He spends his time in playing his banjo and singing and in making pencil copies of newspaper pictures. He talks freely, and always, when the matter is alluded to, protests his entire innocence of the crime of murder.
Wellsboro Agitator, January 26, 1898, p4
? The report was circulated on the streets last week that Walter E. Goodwin
was to be executed early in March. This rumor was based simply on speculation. A
private letter received here recently from Harrisburg stated that it has been
customary for the Governor to wait at least two months after a sentence of death
has been passed by a court before fixing a day for the execution. It was also
stated that it was usual to give the condemned person a month or six weeks to
prepare to meet death. Therefore, it was concluded that Goodwin will be executed
early in March. The papers have not yet been acted upon by Governor Hastings,
however, and speculation on the subject is idle.
Wellsboro Agitator, February 2, 1898, p3
The Date of Goodwin’s Execution
Governor Hastings Fixes Thursday March Thirty-First, as the Day
Governor Hastings last Monday fixed the dates for the execution of four
convicted murderers as follows: Frederick C. Rockwell, Erie, April 26; John R.
Lamb, Allegheny, April 21; Patrick Banya, Elk, April 26; Walter E. Goodwin, of
this county, on Thursday, March 31st.
The story of the trial of Walter E. Goodwin on the charge of murdering his
wife, Effie Copley Goodwin on the night of September 3, 1897 in the suburbs of
Mansfield is still fresh in the minds of our readers and need not be recounted.
Goodwin was arrested on Saturday evening, September 4th and taken to
Mansfield for examination. His wife died on Sunday morning, September 5th, in
the Blossburg hospital. The inquest was held at Mansfield on Monday September
6th, and the young husband was held for shooting his wife four times in the
head.
On the day of the inquest a young girl names Gertrude Taylor, with whom
Goodwin had been keeping company, was also arrested. Although but 14 years of
age, she was of a somewhat notorious character. She made a statement about being
in company with Walter Goodwin on the night the crime was committed riding to
and from Mansfield with him, and staying at his home in Charleston that night.
She was sent to jail as an important witness in the case against Goodwin.
On Tuesday, September 28th the trial was begun, and it closed on the
following Tuesday, October 5th. The jury remained out two hours and a quarter
and then returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. On Tuesday,
October 12th Walter E. Goodwin was sentenced to be hanged on such date as the
Governor shall designate.
The principal witness against Goodwin at the trial was the Taylor girl who
made a remarkably good witness and the defense was unable to trip her in any
important particular. A remarkable episode in the case was a letter offered in
evidence which Walter Goodwin had written to Miss Taylor while both were
confined in jail in which he prompted her about the testimony she should give in
his behalf, lest she should give them “both away.” The prisoners were allowed to
have a conversation from adjoining cells in the jail they supposing they were
alone. Two officers overheard the conversation, and their relation of it made
most damaging testimony against young Goodwin.
Walter E. Goodwin was twenty-one years old on 6th of last May.
The death warrant did not arrive yesterday morning from Harrisburg as
Sheriff Johnson expected but it will no doubt be here today. Goodwin was uneasy
all day yesterday in jail and evidently suspected something but he asked no
questions. He will not be informed of the date of his execution until the
warrant is received.
Wellsboro Agitator, February 16, 1898, p3
About Walter E. Goodwin’s Nerve
Some newspaper reporters have drawn on their imagination so strongly that
they have made it appear that Walter E. Goodwin is so broken down over the
approach of his execution on March 31st that he spends his time in moody
silence, so dejected and sorrowful that he scarcely notices what is going on
around him in the jail. He is pictured as a poor, miserable, unhappy wretch,
shivering on the verge of eternity.
The fact is that this is all rot. Goodwin’s manner has changed very little
from what it has been all along since his confinement in the county jail. At
rare intervals, perhaps, his attendants notice that he appears to be thinking
seriously. He gives the same careful attention to his toilet, and his vanity has
been gratified apparently by the number of visitors he has been allowed to
receive. Last Thursday was a big day among all his reception days of late. By
actual count more than 100 persons visited the jail, all drawn by morbid
curiosity to look at the man who is soon to pay on the gallows the penalty for
murder. But no wall that is at an end and Goodwin will have an opportunity to do
more thinking in solitude if he wants to. Last Saturday Sheriff Johnson posted
up a notice that at the request of Goodwin’s parents and his attorney no more
visitors will be admitted to the jail.
Goodwin’s father has been keeping the young man buoyed up with the hope that
he was going to be able to get a new trial for him. Only last week the old man
was chasing Gertrude Taylor about, going to Sabinsville and following her up to
her home in Potter county, deluded with the notion that he was going to get her
to made a statement that she had sworn to a lie regarding her knowledge of what
occurred on that fatal September night. Of course, this is all a wild-goose
chase, and there is no probability whatever that anything will come of this
move; in fact it is reported that the Taylor girl refuses to have any interview
with Mr. Goodwin. It only shows that sorrowful and pitiable condition of the
young man’s father.
Wellsboro Agitator, March 2, 1898, p3
An Effort to Save Walter Goodwin
As will be seen by reference to a notice in the advertising columns of this
week’s AGITATOR, the attorneys for Walter E. Goodwin, Messrs. David Cameron and
Jerome B. Niles, are preparing to make application to the Pardon Board in behalf
of the man who is condemned to end his life on the gallows on the 31at instant.
It is reported that the attorneys also propose to make an application to the
Supreme Court for a special writ of error and a chance to show grounds for a new
trial. Last Monday afternoon Judge Mitchell, on pursuance of the law, granted an
order for the court stenographer to write out the evidence in the case and
furnish it to the attorneys for Goodwin. The time for making an application for
a new trial of the case in the regular form expired long ago. The attorneys
claim, however, that the Supreme Court may grant a special order, and they hope
to present strong enough evidence to secure such an order.
Goodwin’s father has been very active for several weeks in his efforts to
secure a new trial, and he has kept his son buoyed up with the hope that he is
to be saved from the gallows. The prisoner has made the remark many times that
he was not to be executed on the day appointed by the Governor, but that
something would turn up which would be a surprise to the officers and the
public. Whether some new testimony has been secured from Gertrude Taylor, or
whether a confession of some accessory has been obtained is not yet given out.
It is thought that the Goodwins are hopeful of getting a stay of the execution
and finally a new trial.
In the meantime Sheriff Johnson has given his order for the lumber and
material for constructing a fence 16 feet high around the yard at the rear of
the jail, where the execution is expected to take place. The yard is to be
covered with canvas. He has also made plans for the scaffold and is to have it
built here. The framework will be put together in such a manner that it may be
taken down and stored for future use if there should ever be occasion for it in
another case. The plan of the gallows calls for a platform some eight feet above
the ground, with a trap under the main beam. It is of the simplest form, that
being found to be the most effectual for such a purpose.
Wellsboro Agitator, March 9, 1898, p3
? Mr. James L. Brownlee, of Redburn, Lycoming County, is the author of a
poem entitle “The Song of the Goodwin Murder,” which he had had printed with a
good portrait of Walter E. Goodwin. Mr. Brownlee will send a copy of the
portrait and poem by mail on receipt of a one-cent stamp and ten cents in
silver.
Wellsboro Agitator, March 16, 1898, p3
Reprieve for Walter E. Goodwin
Last Thursday it was announced from Harrisburg that a reprieve had been
granted for sixty days in the case of Walter E. Goodwin, who is under sentence
of death and was to be executed on the 31st instant. When Goodwin was informed
of this fact, he did not have the slightest emotion and seemed to feel no more
interested in the matter than he would in any bit of general information. His
face never changed expression as he listened to the statement, which assured him
a longer lease of life. He made no comment, and did not even thank the bearer of
the good news.
This respite is granted on the application of Goodwin’s attorneys for the
purpose of giving them time to make an appeal to the Supreme Court for a writ of
error. This will be asked for on the ground that the Judge erred in admitting in
evidence the letter Goodwin wrote to Taylor girl, the evidence this girl gave
regarding their interview, and the testimony of Deputies English and Kehler
regarding the conversation of Gertrude Taylor and Walter Goodwin in the jail. If
the Supreme Court should hold that Judge Mitchell erred in admitting this
evidence, the writ of error will probably be granted. In that case there would
be a new trial in which all the testimony in the case, except that especially
ruled out by the Supreme Court, could be taken and as much new testimony as the
District Attorney or the attorneys for the defense might produce.
As the case now stands the execution of Goodwin is only postponed sixty
days. Application has not yet been made to the Supreme Court for the writ of
error. If it is made, it may be refused. In that case Goodwin will be executed
about the last of May. If the writ of error is allowed, and the rulings of Judge
Mitchell reversed Goodwin will be tried again with a fair prospect of being
again convicted. It the rulings of Judge Mitchell in the case are sustained this
verdict and sentence will stand and Goodwin will be executed at the expiration
of the reprieve.
This effort for a writ of error is simply an opportunity which is usually
embraced in such cases to have the Supreme Court pass upon the rulings of the
court below and it is a constitutional right.
The officials seem to have made up their minds that Goodwin will not attempt
to commit suicide or cut up any didoes in jail, so the guards have been
discharged.
Wellsboro Agitator, March 23, 1898, p3
? Last Saturday Sheriff Johnson received the papers notifying him that
Walter E. Goodwin had been reprieved and that his execution would be deferred to
Wednesday, May 11th.
Wellsboro Agitator, April 20, 1898, p3
The Case of Walter E. Goodwin
Last week the counsel for Walter E. Goodwin, who is under sentence of death,
the day appointed for his execution being May 11th, secured a writ of error from
the Supreme Court. They expect to argue the case before the Court on Monday, May
9th. Goodwin’s counsels are David Cameron, Esq., and Hon. Jerome B. Niles.
The case as made up for the Supreme Court is based on exceptions to the
rulings of Judge Mitchell in admitting the evidence of Miss Gertrude Taylor,
James S. English and W.M. Kehler, relating to the interview between Miss Taylor
and Goodwin in the jail. The counsel for the defense contends that this evidence
was improperly admitted and they filed exceptions at the time.
Goodwin’s attorneys hope to reverse the ruling of the lower Court on that
question, and if they do so the result will be a new trial. Without that
evidence the defendant’s counsel believe that Goodwin could not have been
convicted.
Wellsboro Agitator, May 4, 1898, p3
? District Attorney Dunsmore expects to leave next Saturday for Philadelphia
to argue against the motion in the Supreme Court next Monday for the granting of
a new trial for Walter E. Goodwin. Next Wednesday is the day appointed for
Goodwin’s execution, but is probable that the consideration of this case by the
Supreme Court will secure for but another reprieve. The District Attorney is
however very confident that the new trial will not be granted.
Wellsboro Agitator, May 11, 1898, p3
? Walter Goodwin has been reprieved for the second time, the date of his
execution being postponed from today to Thursday, June 9th.
Wellsboro Agitator, May 18, 1898, p3
Goodwin’s Doom Sealed
Last Monday afternoon District Attorney Dunsmore received the following
dispatch:
Philadelphia, May 16, 1898
A.B. Dunsmore, District Attorney
Commonwealth against Goodwin – judgment affirmed.
[Signed] Charles S. Oakes [?]
Prothonotary Supreme Court
This takes away the last ray of hope that Walter E. Goodwin may have
entertained for a new trial. He will undoubtedly be executed on Thursday, June
9th.
When Walter was informed of this decision of the Supreme Court he grew very
pale, his chin quivered and his eyes were moist, but not a tear rolled out of
them. He soon grew calm again, however, and within a day or two he has seemed to
be in high spirits, playing his banjo, singing and amusing himself with a false
moustache and a hand mirror.
Sheriff Johnson has made all preparations for the execution. The gallows has
been constructed on the simple plan of a platform and drop of about six feet,
the rope, a half-inch manila, has been selected and the apparatus tested. The
execution will take place in the yard at the rear of the jail, which will be
enclosed with a high fence and probably covered with canvas.
We have not learned that Goodwin has by word, expression or action of any
kind shown the slightest pang of remorse for his crime, or indicated that he is
making any preparation for the unknown world.
Wellsboro Agitator, May 25, 1898, p3
Goodwin Makes a Statement
The Condemned Man Tells a Story About The Crime and Accuses Gertrude
Taylor of Shooting His Wife
Last Wednesday afternoon the AGITATOR reporter was informed the Walter E.
Goodwin requested his presence in jail to take down a statement, which he was
about to make relative to the crime for which he had been tried and convicted.
On conferring with the Sheriff our reporter learned that Walter had appeared to
be somewhat broken up that morning and that he announced that he was going to
make a full statement of the truth that day. He wanted a barber to come to the
jail and shave him, and then he wanted certain persons to be invited to be
present at 4 o’clock.
At the appointed hour the party gathered at the Sheriff’s residence and were
taken into the jail. Walter greeted them all cordially and with no apparent
embarrassment. With a clean shave, his hair smoothly brushed, a clear
complexion, dressed in spotless linen and a well-brushed suit of black, he
looked not at all like a hardened criminal. His eyes sparkled with excitement,
and his manner was the same soft, gentle air as usual. There was no outward sign
that anything serious of solemn was about to take place. While this was
something of a set back to some of the gentlemen present, they gathered about in
front of his cell, a table was provided for the Justice and the reporter and all
were waiting in anxious expectation for the confession they had reason to
suppose was coming.
There were present Sheriff George W. Johnson, Dr. J.L. Beers, Rev. N.L.
Reynolds, Justice of the Peace B.M. Potter and Goodwin’s brothers, George,
Alfred and Leroy, and the AGITATOR reporter. Goodwin rose and Justice Potter
administered the oath. There was some little hesitation on Goodwin’s part, and
Rev. Mr. Reynolds, in order to prepare him for what might be a great effort if
he was about to make a confession, tried to assist the convicted man to begin
his story by suggesting that he keep his mind fixed on the incidents of that
fatal night just as they occurred.
He also suggested that as the time was drawing near when he would meet the
Great Judge of all the world he should be careful to state the facts exactly and
with no coloring or reservation.
It was a solemn moment for those clustered about the corridor in front of
the iron cage in which sat a man who was looking death in the face – could count
off the days, the hours almost, that he was to remain in this world. But that
was about the only solemn moment of the whole three hours, for very soon after
Goodwin’s story began the atmosphere of the place changed to a patient
disposition on the part of those present to await the conclusion of the
statement.
The following is the statement made by Goodwin, which is reported in full:
Goodwin’s Statement
I will begin with my first acquaintance with Gertrude Taylor her in
Wellsboro. That began on August 25, 1897. I was introduced to her that day by
Jim Kerwan, and I fixed a date to meet her that night in front of Mr. Packer’s,
on the walk. I did not meet her there, but found her with Jim Kerwan on the
corner of the Stony Fork road and Conway Street. I was with young Dickinson.
Kerwan says, “Come over here!” I went across the road to where they were and
then Jim says to Gertrude, “I suppose you don’t want me anymore now.” Gertrude
says, “No.” Kerwan and Dickinson left us, and Gertrude and I walked down Conway
street and out by Mr. Robb’s and came down Main street, This was about 10
o’clock. We went over on Pearl Street and walked down around by Mathers, Graves
& Co.’s store. I left her on that corner and went over to the Coles House, while
she walked up the street on that side and I overtook her on the corner of the
green. We then went up to Converse’s yard and sat down on an iron bench there.
We were there until about one o’clock. I walked with her to her grandmother’s on
the Stony Fork road. Then I came back to Converse’s yard, got my wheel and rode
to my home in Charleston.
I didn’t see Gertrude again until Friday night, the 27th, when I met her
with her sister in front of the post office about 9 o’clock. I asked her to take
a ride. We walked up the street a ways with her sister, and then went down to
where my horse was on Main street and got in the buggy. While we were riding
about the streets we met Kerwan and Dickinson, and they asked me it I was going
down to the dance. I told them I was not. After we had driven a little further,
Gertrude asked me to take her down to the dance at Jim G----- near Stokesdale. I
consented, and we drove down there, and we stayed until about 2 o’clock in the
morning. Gertrude said it was then so late she could not get into the Coles
House, where she was then working. I told her that she could go home with me,
and she consented to that. We drove directly to my father’s house and went to
bed.
The next evening I took her up to Whitneyville to the post office and was
went straight back home. On Sunday afternoon I took her for a ride of three or
four miles down Hill’s creek, and we got home about 11 o’clock. Gertrude
remained at our house until the next Wednesday evening, when she and I drove to
East Charleston to the picnic of the Maccabees. We got home about midnight.
During all this time I was working about home in the daytime.
On Thursday morning, September 2nd, father and mother drove to Wellsboro to
attend the Granger’s picnic, leaving Gertrude and I alone at home. Some time
before that my mother had told Gertrude that I had a wife. That was the first
she knew about my being married. That morning while Gertrude was lying in the
hammock she said, “I heard your mother say that you had a wife, is that so?” I
told her it was true, and she seemed surprised. Nothing further was said about
the matter until that afternoon. We were in the parlor and Gertrude was playing
on the organ. She caught sight of the revolver, which was lying on the cover of
a grape basket under the stand. She went over and picked it up. It was empty.
She asked if it was loaded, and when she found it was not she began fooling with
it. She asked it I had some cartridges so she could shoot it. I asked her if she
wasn’t afraid to shoot, and she said that she was not, for she had a revolver at
home. I got some blank cartridges from the sewing machine drawer and put in the
chambers and she stepped to the door and fired two or three times. There was a
tin cup hanging on a nail out on the well- curb, and she went out there. She
held the pistol close up to the cup and fired and blew the cup off the nail.
After she had fired all the cartridges, Gertrude says, “Do you know what I was
thinking of?” I said, “No.” She said, “I was thinking if I could see your wife I
would shoot her just as quick as I would a d----d toad!” She had a great habit
of swearing when we were along. I said, “That’s a queer idea.” She said, “I wish
I could see her.” She then asked me where my wife was and where she worked. I
told her that she was in Mansfield and at Mr. Beach’s. She then asked me if I
went to see her often and if I was made at her. I told her that I was not mad at
my wife and that I did go to see her occasionally, but I went on the sly. I told
her about visiting my wife at Mr. Beach’s and about having spent the night and
all day Sunday with her there. Gertrude then went and put the revolver away and
soon after we were interrupted by visitors.
Late in the afternoon Gertrude was lying in the hammock and I was sitting
near when she said, “If I could see your wife I would shoot her.” It was not
long after that when the folks came home. That evening we took the black horse
and drove to Wellsboro. She asked me coming down to get her a place to work out
in the country, so she would not have to go home. We got down town about 8
o’clock and she went to the hotel to change her dress, her trunk being still
there. We started back home about 10 o’clock and drove directly through East
Charleston and to Mansfield, straight through the town and to Mr. Beach’s. We
got there about 25 minutes to 1 o’clock. I stopped the horse a short distance
from the house and left Gertrude in the buggy. Mr. Beach came to the door and
invited me in. I told him I wanted to see my wife. He went up and told her I was
there, and she asked him to send me up. Mr. Beach gave me the lamp and told me
to go up to my wife’s room. I found her in bed, and I put the lamp on the stand
and sat down on the edge of the bed. We talked about our troubles while she was
lying there. I asked her if she was going to push the case against me for
desertion. She said that she did not know; it would depend on circumstances, but
she was afraid she would have to.
I stayed there for over an hour, and we had a good time talking and
laughing. Gertrude was sitting in the buggy all this time waiting for me. We had
no hard words at all. Everything was pleasant between my wife and I. She asked
me when I was coming again, and I told her that I might be over the next night.
But I said that perhaps Mr. Beach’s folks might not like my coming so often, so
we would not let them know. I said, “If you will be out somewhere away from the
house about 9 o’clock I may come over.” Then she got out of bed, put on a loose
wrapper and went down stairs with me and out the front door. She sat on the
steps and I stood on the ground when I again said that if she would be outside
somewhere, so that Beach’s folks wouldn’t know, I would come over. She said she
would, so I kissed her good night and went back to the buggy. I found Gertrude
in the buggy fast asleep.
I forgot to state before this that on the way over to Mansfield Gertrude had
said again that she wished she could see my wife, and had asked me to make an
appointment with her so she could see her.
We drove home by the ore-bed road. The next day Gertrude and I were both at
home all day. In the evening I hitched up the bay horse and we came to
Wellsboro. The electric street lamps were burning when we got there. I drove up
to Central Avenue and tied my horse. On the way down Gertrude again spoke about
her desire to see my wife. I told her that she could see her if he would go over
with me. I forgot to say that just before we started for town I went to the
parlor and got my revolver and put it in my pocket. It was not loaded. After I
tied my horse, Gertrude went up to get her cape from her sister, and I went
after my laundry. It was 25 minutes to 8 when I spoke to Walter Lent on the
street and learned that there was no band concert that evening. Gertrude came
down across the green and we started up the avenue, down by the school buildings
and out State street and straight by the “hollow road” to Mansfield. We drove
rapidly and we didn’t talk much going over.
On reaching Mansfield we turned to the left before crossing the railroad and
then went out Elmira street, across Main Street and up to the Mainesburg road to
a point on top of a little knoll, near Mr. Mudge’s. [Here Goodwin exhibited a
map of the main streets in Mansfield, which included the district where the
murder was committed. He had drawn it with much care and it showed a familiarity
with the town, for the streets were correctly laid out, and it also gave the
location of most of the buildings.]
When we reached this little knoll, Gertrude said to me, “Where is your wife
going to be?” I told her that my wife would be out on the road or near Mr.
Beach’s house, but I thought it doubtful about her being our, it was then so
late. On the way over, some where on the road, I loaded my revolver and instead
of placing it back in my hip pocket I laid it on the seat between us. The four
or five cartridges had been in my pocket for a long time – several weeks.
Gertrude says, “If your wife is out and sees me with you, she won’t know
that it is you; so let me get out.” I says, “Aren’t you afraid to get out?”
Gertrude says, “I ain’t afraid of anything.” She says, “Give me that revolver I
saw you loading up.” I says. “It’s right there on the seat.” She picked up the
revolver and slipped out of the buggy backwards. I left her right there and
drove straight down the Mainesburg road towards Beach’s. A few rods beyond where
I left Gertrude I met a single rig – one man and a gray horse. I paused and went
on to Beach’s, and just beyond the house I turned around. I saw nobody; I drove
back past the place where I had left Gertrude to near Mudge’s barn. I saw
nobody. I turned around again and headed towards Beach’s and drove on to the
house and perhaps a hundred yards beyond to a little turn in the road. There I
turned about again and drove back towards Mansfield to about the same place
where I had left Gertrude. Driving slowly along, I saw Gertrude come running
down over what seemed to me to be a bank. She came up to the side of the buggy
and jumped right in while it was still moving before I had time to pull up the
horse, and she threw something down in the bottom of the buggy. She got clear
into the buggy before I could stop the horse. She was crying and sobbing, and
she says, “My God, Walter; take mw home, quick!” I started up the horse and we
drove back the same way we came to Wellsboro.
On the road over Gertrude said, “I saw your wife, and I fooled her nicely.”
She then went on to tell how she met my wife; that she had told her that she
knew me; that she gave her a false name and told her that she was from
Mainesburg; that she knew her sister Rena, the school teacher; that she had lost
her way and wanted to be directed to the Normal. She said that my wife thought
she had found a friend, and she told her she would show her the way pretty soon,
and they walked along the road together. Gertrude said that when she saw she had
found the right person, she said to her, “Listen!” and when my wife turned her
head she pulled the revolver from under her wrap and shot her in the side of the
head. When she fell she said she gave her two or three more and then she said
she “run like hell,” or something of that sort. She was taking on so I kept
telling her to be quiet, and I said, “Gertrude, you have got me into trouble!” I
did not hear any shots.
We came into Wellsboro by the same road we went out and drove down to the
fountain. It was then between 12 and 1 o’clock. Then we drove straight home. I
was not out of my buggy from the time we left Wellsboro till we came back to
Wellsboro from Mansfield.
This is the truth, and the whole truth. The road-cart story and all the
other stories are simply fakes and untrue.
The copy of his statement was then read to Goodwin, and he assented to it
all and took the pen and signed his full name, “Walter E. Goodwin,” to it and
then stood up again and took the solemn oath that it was true in every
particular.
After he had signed and sworn to the report our reporter asked Walter a
question bearing on his interview with the Taylor girl in jail; but before he
could answer, one of his brother spoke up and advised Walter not to say anymore,
that he had said enough and he had better let it go at that.
Through the whole three hours consumed in making this statement Walter did
not show the least emotion. When Rev. Mr. Reynolds suggested to him that this
was to be his last statement and that he ought to fix his mind on the
occurrences that night and tell the exact truth about them just as they happened
in every particular, for he was soon to meet his Maker and he must not have a
lie on his lips at the last. Walter flippantly replies, “Oh, yes; I am going to
tell the truth now and give things just as they happened that night.”
His Mistaken Idea
In a private interview with Goodwin it was learned from his lips that he had
the very foolish notion at the time of the murder of his wife and for a long
time after, that if he did not actually do the shooting himself he was in no way
guilty of the crime. If the statement he made last Wednesday is true and he was
possessed with such a notion at the time he took the Taylor girl over to
Mansfield on the night of the murder, it does not help his own case any now, but
it makes him appear, if possible, even in a worse light than he did at the
trial.
Wellsboro Agitator, June 8, 1898, p3
Goodwin’s Case
Opinion of the Supreme Court Sustaining the Court Below
The Opinion of the Supreme Court of the State, sustaining the decision of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of this county in regard to the admission of evidence on the trial of Walter E. Goodwin, was written by Justice James T. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, and was filed on the 16th of May.
It is as follows:
The assignment of error are base on the refusal to strike out the testimony
of Gertrude Taylor and of the two Deputy Sheriffs as to what the prisoner said
in the interview with the girl, and on the admission of the prisoner’s letter to
her. The only objection is that the Commonwealth obtained the evidence by an
artifice, which the prisoner did not anticipate or suspect. There is nothing
substantial in this argument. The means by which the Commonwealth obtains its
evidence must vary with the circumstances of each case. In dealing with crime
nicety of method and considerations of delicacy must often give way to
necessity. If the rule were otherwise the testimony of accomplices and even of
detectives would seldom be admissible, and crime, which works in the dark, would
go unpunished.
The conversation between the prisoner and Gertrude Taylor was of an
incriminating character amounting practically to a confession, and we may
concede that its admissibility is to be determined by the same rule. If it had
been accidentally overheard, or his letter had been carelessly dropped by her
and found by the sheriff, there could have been no objection to the use of them
by the Commonwealth. But there is nothing in the circumstances to produce a
different result. The prisoner has no right to object unless the evidence was
cajoled or forced from him by inducements or threats from those whose authority
over him would make their promises or threats equivalent to duress. There was no
such element here. Both the interview and the letter were the prisoner’s
voluntary act on his own initiative and for his own purpose. Neither his hopes
nor his fears were raised by any act of the Sheriff. In Commonwealth vs. Smith,
119 Mass., 305, the prisoner, a girl of fourteen, made a confession to the
officers who had her in custody. The Judge at the trial ruled that “mere fear on
the part of the defendant did not render the confession incompetent, unless
induced by some improper conduct on the part of the officers,” and this was
affirmed, the Court saying, “to avoid the effect of this confession the hope or
fear which led the defendant to confess facts unfavorable to her must be induced
by the threats, promises or conduct of the officers.” And in Wharton on Ev. In
Crim. Cases, Sec. 644, it is said, citing cases, “Nor is it fatal to the
admissibility of such a letter that it was in answer to a letter meant as a
trap.” Though it is necessary to the admissibility of a confession that it
should have been voluntarily made, that is, that it should have been made
without the appliances of hope or fear from persons having authority, yet it is
not necessary that it should have been the prisoner’s own spontaneous act. I
will be received though it were induced by spiritual exhortations, whether of a
clergyman or of any other person; or by a solemn promise of secrecy even
confirmed by an oath or by any deception practiced on the prisoner, or false
representation made to him for that purpose, provided there is no reason to
suppose that the inducement held out was calculated to produce any untrue
confession, which is the main point to be considered.” Greenleaf on Ev., Par.
229, “A confession procured by artifice is not for that reason inadmissible
unless the artifice used was calculated to produce an untrue confession.” Am. &
Eng. Encyc. Of Law, Tit. Confessions, sect. 6. The subject was very carefully
considered in a noted case somewhat analogous to the present. Commonwealth v.
Hanlon, Phila. 423. The prisoner there, being charged with murder, was put in
the same cell with a criminal named Dunn for the purpose of obtaining, if
possible, evidence to convict. At the trial Dunn’s testimony as to be confession
made by the prisoner was admitted, and upon it the later was convicted and
executed. The trial was presided over by a Judge of great experience in criminal
cases, the late Judge Ludlow, assisted by Judge Brewster, and in the formers
opinion refusing a new trial he states that the result of their examination of
the subject was concurred in by their colleagues, the late President Judge
Allison, and Judge Paxson, subsequently Chief Justice of this Court. The rule as
stated by these authorities is far stronger than is required to sustain the
present case.
In regard to the admission of the prisoner’s letter, we have an authority
directly in point in Rex v. Derrington, 2 C. & P. 418. A prisoner gave a letter
to a turnkey under promise that it should be posted; but the turnkey gave it to
the prosecutor. Baron Garrow held that it was admissible, saying the only cases
where what a prisoner says or writes is not evidence are, first, “where he is
induced to make any confession in consequence of the prosecutor, etc., holding
out any threat or promise to induce him to confess; and secondly, where the
communication is privileged as being made to his counsel or attorney.”
By the well-settled rules therefore the evidence was properly received.
Judgment affirmed and records remitted for purpose of execution.
Goodwin’s Execution
Sheriff Johnson set a number of carpenters at work yesterday morning
building a fence 16 feet high about the yard in the rear of the jail and also a
tight fence along the side of the jail, enclosing the entrance through which
Goodwin will be taken from his cell to the gallows. There will be no opportunity
whatever for curious spectators to get a sight of the condemned man. Everything
will be in readiness for the execution this evening.
Goodwin does not manifest the least nervousness. He is calm and talks freely
about his end. His appetite is hearty, and he eats a square meal every time. He
says that he is perfectly ready to meet his Maker; he feels that his sins have
been forgiven and that he will be much better off in the next world than he
could possibly be in this. He remarked that he had often wondered lately if he
would meet his wife in heaven; he didn’t know but she met death so suddenly that
perhaps she had not repented, and that he might not meet her there.
In an interview last Monday he still stoutly maintained that he did not fire
the bullets which ended the life of his wife but that the Taylor girl did the
shooting. He frankly acknowledged, however, that he deserved punishment for the
crime for he knew all about it beforehand. He expressed a great deal of surprise
that the people refused to believe his statement made a short time ago, in which
he accused the Taylor girl.
Last Sunday Goodwin had a long talk with Rev. J.C. Warren, whom he had
selected as his spiritual adviser, and he claims that he made a full and free
confession to him during the interview. The minister is pledged to keep the
confession a secret. Goodwin, however, has dropped enough from time to time to
convince those near him that he had full knowledge of the murder in advance, and
that while perhaps he did not do the shooting himself it was not the Taylor girl
who fired the shots.
It is not believed by those about him that Goodwin will have anything to say
on the scaffold.
Wellsboro Agitator, June 15, 1898, p2
The Law’s Dread Penalty
Execution of Walter E. Goodwin – His Last Days in Jail – His Nerve on
the Scaffold – His Last Words to the Jury and Deputies
Walter E. Goodwin was executed in the yard at the county jail in this
borough last Thursday afternoon at 12:27 o’clock. Besides the twelve jurymen and
the officers who conducted the execution there were present about fifty men who
had been appointed deputies and six relatives of the condemned man. The last
incident in this sad chapter in the criminal annals of the county passed without
a hitch, and all those who witnessed the solemn affair felt that Sheriff Johnson
and his assistants had performed their duties perfectly in all the details.
There was a crowd of curious people gathered outside the jail yard, although
there was absolutely nothing for them to see, but the people hugged the fence
with a morbid desire to hear “the sickening thud: of the drop from the scaffold.
It was a motley crowd, and such as one as is seldom seen in this borough.
Goodwin spent his last days of confinement very much as he had spent the
months before them. There was little change in his manner. He liked to receive
visitors, and he greeted all with the same cordial manner and pleasant smile. He
was not averse to talking about his execution, and he expressed himself as
perfectly resigned to his fate and spoke about the details with the utmost
composure. The last few days he spent much time in reading his Bible, and he had
numerous conferences with his spiritual adviser, Rev. J.C. Warren, pastor of the
Freewill Baptist Church. He ate heartily and did not lose a meal, and he
appeared to be in the very best of health.
On Wednesday Goodwin received numerous visitors, some of whom he asked to
come and see him for a last interview. His brothers were with him for some time,
and his mother spent several hours with him. His played his banjo and sang for
her at her request. She bravely kept up an outward show of good spirits so that
her son should not be unnerved for the last moment. In the evening Goodwin sent
for Ex-Sheriff Champaign and he got out of a sick bed to visit the young man who
had been under his charge for so many months. He found Walter sitting close to
the grating of his cell where he was always found by callers, and he appeared as
composed as usual. In one of the apertures of the grating was a bouquet of
flowers and just above it was a sign printed in ornate letters by Walter,
“Cigars received with thanks.” Mr. Champaign gave him a good cigar, and Walter
lit it at once and began to relate some of the jokes he had played on his guards
at different times. Mr. Champaign finally asked him what he wanted of him, he
said he was not feeling well and desired to get home as soon as possible. Walter
then said, “Sheriff, I want to say to you that I have no hard feelings toward
you. I want you to forgive me for all the harsh words I have uttered about you,
and I forgive you for what you did in my case I know it was your duty. I do not
want to go out of this world with any ill will towards anybody. Mr. Champaign
told Walter that he felt no animosity towards him, and that he was sorry for
him, that he had his full sympathy, that he was very glad to learn that he had
been making preparation for the next world, and he hoped that all would be well
with him there. Walter said, “Sheriff, I think you feel that I was always
obedient there and that I have given you as little trouble as any prisoner you
ever had.” Mr. Champaign replied that such was certainly the fact and then he
shook hands with Walter and withdrew.
Rev. Mr. Warren spent some time with the prisoner Wednesday evening, and
after his departure Walter spent two or three hours in writing letters to his
relatives. He seemed to be much interested in this, and when he finished he
folded the missives and placed them among the effects which he had designated
should be sent to his parents. He played on his banjo for some time and sang
“The Rock of Ages” in a fine tenor voice. His guards say that Walter had
considerable musical talent. He went to bed about 3 and slept until 8 the next
morning, when he ate a light breakfast with apparent relish. He immediately
began reading a religious book in which he had manifested considerable interest.
At 9 o’clock Rev. Mr. Warren arrived and was greeted with a pleasant “Good
Morning,” from Walter. Then began the final preparations for the last moment.
They engaged in prayer and singing and it is said that Walter himself made a
most fervent and affecting prayer. He expressed himself as believing that his
sins had been forgiven and that all would be well with him in the unseen world.
About 10 o’clock he donned a new black suit in which he was to be executed,
arranged his hair and made his toilet very carefully, His brother, a sister and
two brothers-in-law visited him, and their last interview was most affecting,
though Walter maintained more composure than any of the others. He bade them all
good bye and expressed the hope that they would meet him in heaven. Sheriff
Johnson tenderhearted and considerate as he is known to be, gave the prisoner
every courtesy that he desired and did not hurry the events preceding the
execution.
The Execution
It was only a few minutes before 12 o’clock when the jurymen were admitted
to the jail, and the deputies soon followed. They assembled in the yard at the
rear of the jail where there was an enclosure about 30 feet square, the wall of
the jail and the engine-house forming two sides and a 16 foot fence the other
two sides. A tight 8 foot board fence was built along the wall and around the
side porch of the jail, so that at no time was the prisoner exposed to the
curious gaze of the crowd outside.
It was 10 minutes past 12 o’clock when Sheriff Johnson and Rev. Mr. Warren,
having Goodwin between them and each holding his arm, left the cell and started
for the scaffold. Goodwin walked firmly and on entering the enclosure he bowed
to those about the yard and mounted the steps to the platform with a buoyant
tread. He stepped to the trap and looking down carefully placed his feet as near
the center as possible. Then he raised his eyes and surveyed those present, and
as a familiar face met his gaze he waved his hand, bowed and smiled. The youth
of 22 years, standing there on the scaffold, with a clear complexion, pink
cheeks, bright black eyes, skin as white and smooth as a babe’s and the picture
of good health, did not look much like a hardened criminal; yet those who looked
upon him knew that he was a self-confessed murderer, although he had stoutly
maintained that he did not actually fire the murderous shots. On the scaffold
stood Sheriff Johnson, Deputy Sheriff C.H. Vail and Deputy Sheriff Richard
Smith, who was mush esteemed by Goodwin and who had long ago promised to be near
him at the last moment. Rev. J.C. Warren stood at Goodwin’s right. Goodwin
looked up and saw the beam and the rope over his head and the canvas cover on
the scaffold, and then his eyes dropped to the men on the ground again, and
still supported by the Sheriff and the minister, he scanned the faces below him
and recognized others he had not seen before. He then said something in a low
tone to the Sheriff. He asked the Sheriff to give him time to look around, but
he said in reply to the Sheriff’s offer that he did not think he cared to shake
hands with anyone. Goodwin’s brothers, Leroy, George and Alfred, and his
brothers-in-law, George Root and John W. Lester, and his cousin, Mr. Charles
Andress, of Coudersport, were present and witnessed the execution from the first
to the last.
In order to give Walter a moment to prepare himself Sheriff Johnson
addressed the jury and witnesses. He said, “Gentlemen, this is a solemn hour, it
is a solemn hour for me and a solemn hour for you. It is a most trying ordeal
for Walter. I want to say to him that the golden gate which opens in the west
for you and for me at eventide stands open for him now. He seems to be
reconciled and says that he is ready to go, and the law of the land has so
decreed. Now if Mr. Goodwin has anything to say before he dies he has that
opportunity.”
Walter raised his eyes and in a steady strong voice he said, “Gentlemen, I
want to say to you that I feel that I am about to fall into the hands of a just
God, I fear not what man can do to my body. Gentlemen, are you all prepared, as
near prepared as I am?” Then he hesitated, and the Sheriff told him to take his
time, for he thought that Walter ought not to go into the next world without
having a chance to express himself fully and truthfully, He then asked Walter if
he had anything more to say, and Walter replied, “Nothing,” but just then Deputy
Sheriff Vail began to buckle the heavy straps about Goodwin’s arms, wrists,
knees and ankles. He did not appear to be unnerved at this, but looked smilingly
up in the Sheriff’s face as he asked, “You will give me a mew more minutes,
won’t you, just to think?” Sheriff Johnson, with his eyes full of tears,
willingly granted the request and for a moment all stood there in silence. It
was evident that the Sheriff desired that Walter make a complete confession, and
he so told him in an undertone.
Goodwin then spoke again, “I want to say to you, gentlemen, that I forgive
every one of my enemies for testifying falsely against me, I forgive them all
willingly.” Just then the wind caught the canvas and flapped it noisily and
Goodwin’s coat was blown back, He asked the Sheriff to button his coat, and as
he did it Goodwin said, “Sheriff, you are getting nervous, aren’t you? You ought
not to if I do not!” The Sheriff said he wasn’t very nervous, and he spoke again
to Walter in an undertone, then he turned to the audience and said, “I
appreciate Walter’s awful position, and I have told him not to die with a lie on
his soul but that if there is any thing he thinks he ought to say, to say it
publicly now.” Goodwin kept his eyes fixed on the Sheriff a minute and then he
turned calmly to those about the scaffold and said slowly and distinctly.
“Gentlemen, I want your attention a moment, please. The awful crime charged
against me I am not actually guilty of. The very act or deed – the firing of the
shots which killed my poor wife were fired by Gertrude Taylor. This is no lie; I
could not face death and tell a lie at this time. Nobody with any kind of a mind
would say that I could tell a lie at this time. I would say to the people here
that I was implicated in this crime, but I did not do the actual deed.”
Rev. Mr. Warren then whispered to Goodwin, and he spoke again as follows.
“Gentlemen, it is the power of Christ which gives me strength now. I can see
light, I can see Him. I hope to meet you all where we will part no more.” To all
outward appearances Goodwin was at that moment the coolest man in the yard.
Rev. Mr. Warren then made the following prayer, “Oh, God, our Father, Thou
hast made us and read our hearts today. We humbly bow our hearts at this time.
We thank Thee that Thou hast made it possible through the gospel of Christ that
all sins can be forgiven. We thank Thee, Oh, God, that evidence after evidence
has been secured that Walter has been saved and that he is prepared to die.
Grant that he may see beyond. Bless these officers whose duty it is to carry out
the law’s decree. And now we leave Walter in Thy hands and keeping. Thou art a
just God, take him to Thyself, Oh, God, and keep him safe from every harm till
we meet again.”
Walter stood with closed eyes and his face turned upward during the prayer
and at its conclusion, while the black cap was being drawn over his head, he
said firmly, “Farewell, gentlemen, I hope to meet you all in heaven.” Then, as
Deputy Sheriff Veil reached for the noose and was about to adjust it, Goodwin
addressed Deputy Sheriff Smith, and shouted through the cap, ‘Good-bye, Dick.’”
Deputy Sheriff Veil pulled the knot tight and Sheriff Johnson at the same
instant pulled the lever and Goodwin’s body dropped through the trap fully six
feet and hung suspended, his feet only a few inches from the ground. Dr. M.L.
Bacon stepped forward, and after 12 minutes he reported that the pulse had
ceased to beat, and after 20 minutes the body was cut down and placed in a
handsome cloth covered casket, which the brothers brought out from the jail.
Then his brothers carried the remains out to the hearse in waiting and after
they were placed therein the hearse was driven rapidly away and the large crowd
dispersed.
Goodwin’s neck was broken by the fall, and there were very slight signs of
life after the drop. Some of the witnesses, who were ex-Sheriffs and had
performed executions, said that this was as perfect in all details as any one
they ever saw.
Goodwin’s marvelous nerve at the last moment was a surprise to the Sheriff
and his attendants, all of whom expected that he would break down completely
when he came to the scaffold and that they would have to carry him up the steps.
Certificate of the Jurors
After the execution was over the jurors returned to the Sheriff’s office and
signed the following certificate, which is duly filed according to law in the
Prothonotary’s office.
Tioga County Jail, June 9, 1898
In the matter of the execution of Walter E. Goodwin, convicted of murder in
the first degree. We, the undersigned jurors summoned by George W. Johnson, High
Sheriff of Tioga County, to witness the execution of Walter E. Goodwin, first
having been duly qualified, do hereby certify that we were present and saw the
said Walter E. Goodwin executed by hanging by the neck, within the yard of the
county jail in Wellsboro, Pa., at 12 o’clock and 27 minutes on Thursday, the 9th
day of June, 1898, in pursuance of the provisions of the Act of Assembly in such
case made and provided.
A.B. Hitchcock
Jos. M. Johnson
C.J. Beach
H.B. Colegrove
Dr. S.P. Hakes
L. Plank
Ralph Apernathy
Walter Webster
Frank VanDusen
C.W. Wheeler
R.F. Wilson
Charles Weeks
A Few Notes
Walter E. Goodwin was 22 years of age last May. He was the youngest of his
father’s six children.
The scaffold was built of 6 by 6 posts, bolted together so that it can be
taken apart and used again if it should ever be required. The platform was 10 by
10 feet and it stood 9 feet above the ground, and the beam was 17 feet about the
ground. The opening, when the trap was sprung was 2 feet and 6 inches square,
the bolts being drawn by a lever from above and the trap being drawn down by a
heavy weight. The 5/8-manila rope was of the best quality, and it was presented
to the Sheriff by a firm to whom he wrote for it, the firm stating that they did
not make any charge for a rope to be used by such a purpose.
Sheriff Johnson hears some criticism about his allowing Goodwin so much time
to talk on the scaffold. He said that Walter had repeatedly asked him to give
him time to say something; on the scaffold he asked for time to look around and
once, after he had said that he had nothing more to say, he asked the Sheriff
for another moment to collect his thoughts and speak again. The Sheriff stated
that he would have given him still more time if he had asked for it. It was the
Sheriff’s own affair, and if there were any about the scaffold who did not like
the proceedings they knew the way outside. Sheriff Johnson is a generous
hearted, sympathetic man, and he did what he thought was right in the matter.
Goodwin’s remains were taken to the undertaking rooms of Mr. M.F. Bailey and
there kept until Friday morning, when they were taken to the Keeney cemetery at
Hill’s Creek and buried, Rev. Mr. Warren conducting the burial service.
Rev. Mr. Warren says that Goodwin did not accuse any other person than
Gertrude Taylor in the statement he made to him that it was substantially like
the published statement made recently, but there were some details given of the
crime which were not published and which Walter had not made before to any other
person.
Among those at the execution were Ex-Sheriff Harry Baxter, who executed
George Traviss on January 15, 1885, Deputy Sheriff Brown, of Steuben county, NY,
ex-Sheriff John Irvin, of Lawrenceville, Chief of Police Cassada, of Elmira, NY,
and Chief of Police Ryan, of Corning, NY.
This was the second execution in this county, that of George Traviss, in
1885, being the first.
The Sheriff says that Walter was very anxious that everything should go off
all right at the execution, and he spoke about it a number of times. When the
Sheriff went to his cell and told him that the time was up. Walter said that he
had forgotten to address one of the letters he had written the night before. He
turned and wrote the address nearly and then said he believed he was all ready,
and again asked if the Sheriff was sure the arrangements were also completed and
that there would be no mistake made.
The gallows and the enclosure was left standing for a few days and many
curious persons took the opportunity of inspecting them. The framework of the
gallows was painted red, and after it was dry it was taken away last Monday
morning.
And now we come to the most disgraceful incident connected with the
execution, and that was the number of drunken men seen of the streets that day.
The infliction of the death penalty is always a solemn and should be a sobering
event, yet there were persons who came to town on Thursday and seemed to regard
it as a holiday and a time to get drunk. The borough lockup was filled early in
the afternoon. Eight arrests were made, and the number might well have been
doubled. The crime for which Goodwin paid the forfeit of his life was committed
on the night of the 3rd of last September, when he drove over to Mansfield in
company with Gertrude Taylor and murdered his wife, from whom he had separated,
by shooting her with a revolver. The particulars of the crime have been so
recently detailed in our columns that it is unnecessary to repeat them here. It
is sufficient to say that the verdict of the trial jury was fully justified by
the evidence, and that the condemned man admitted his guilt and the justice of
his punishment, although he insisted that the actual shooting was done by the
Taylor girl.
Wellsboro Agitator, February 23, 1898, p3
Gertrude was Belle of the Ball
Gertrude Taylor, the girl who was instrumental in convicting Walter E. Goodwin of the murder of his wife near Mansfield, was recently the cause of a desperate fight between two Potter county woodsmen.
She was at a dance, and owing to some misunderstanding the two men in question were of the opinion that she had promised them one particular dance. When the orchestra started the dance the two men approached Gertrude about the same time. Each said that the dance belonged to him, the die was passed a fight resulted that was not ended until both men were badly used up.
A Gaines dispatch says that Miss Taylor is a conspicuous character at all the hops in that section.
Wellsboro Agitator, July 6, 1898, p3
? The name of Gertrude Taylor’s husband is said to be Steadman.