Roxalana Druse

Parties and roles

• Roxalana Druse (1847 – February 28, 1887) was the wife of William Druse and was executed for the murder of her husband.
• William Druse was murdered in the town of Warren, Herkimer County.
• Mary Druse was Roxalana Druse’s daughter. She was sentenced to life imprisonment.
• George Druse was Roxalana Druse’s son.
• Frank Gates was Roxalana Druse’s nephew and assisted in the murder.

Background

Roxalana Druse beat her husband William Druse to death with an axe and also shot him with a .22 caliber. The killing involved assistance from Mary Druse and Frank Gates. Roxalana Druse alleged that her motive was that her husband was abusive and that he did not support the family, leaving for an amount of days after an argument.

The offence

A quarrel arose between Druce and his wife about groceries that had not been paid for. During the quarrel, Mrs. Druse went into the pantry and later carried a loaded revolver beneath her apron. She directed Frank Gates and George to go out of the house and told them not to go far from the house.

The killing began when Mrs. Druse used the revolver, firing at William Druse. Frank Gates reported that after the first revolver shots, William was still alive and that Roxalana then used an axe to strike him on the head. Frank Gates reported that William pleaded: "Oh, Roxy, don't." Roxalana then severed his head completely.

The body was cut up and burned. Frank Gates described the dismemberment and burning, including that parts were burned in the fire or fed to pigs, and that other parts were hidden in the following places mentioned: a millpond and a sap house a few miles distant. The murdered man’s head was later found, and the remains were discovered in Ball's swamp.

Roxalana Druse’s defense asserted temporary insanity and also included claims that Druce abused his wife and threatened to kill her. She also remained silent when asked by the court why sentence of death should not be passed.

Investigation

Suspicion began after William Druse disappeared. Neighbors supposed he had gone away, as he had been frequently in the habit of doing.

An ax owned by Druse was found wrapped in paper at the bottom of Weatherbee's pond. A nephew of Mrs. Druse, named Gates, was pressed by neighbors and confessed that she had shot her husband while the nephew and her son were out of the house. The investigation involved a coroner’s inquest and subsequent arrests and indictments.

A coroner’s jury was summoned and testimony included descriptions of the killing and disposal of remains. Remains were found in Ball's swamp, and a revolver and other items were also discussed as being disposed of in a pond.

There was later excitement reported about the finding of the missing head of Wm. Druse in a sap bush located in the town of Warren; the rumor was investigated and proved without foundation. Constables Sylvester Wilson and Joseph W. Smith visited the place, and William Elwood was arrested and placed in jail, then released on bail of $2,000 after counsel were secured and a brief examination took place.

Coroner’s inquest details

A coroner’s inquest was held (with an adjournment to accommodate a large crowd). The coroner’s jury listed members:

• Chas. McRorie (foreman)
• Charles Pett
• Chas. Bond
• Geo. L. Rathburn
• Alonzo Filkins
• Rozelle Warren
• James Hall
• Frank Springer
• Chester Armstrong

Drs. A. D. Getman and W. P. Borland of Richfield Springs examined the remains. Their testimony was that the remains were those of a human body, and the evidence included small pieces of bone and identification of two patellae or knee caps and the upper end of the left tibia or lower leg bone showing articular surfaces.

A general statement of evidence included:

• Jeremiah Eckler, who saw black smoke pouring from the chimney on December 18 and noted a bad odor
• Charles Pett, who described smoke, newspaper-covered windows, and later discovery of burned remains
• Fred Vrooman, who found an axe in the mill pond and described it as the same axe
• Frank Gates, whose confession described the revolver, axe strikes, cutting up the body, and disposal of ashes and weapons

The inquest ended with the jury’s verdict as set out below.

Arrest

Roxalana Druse was arrested after Frank Gates confessed. Mary Druse was also arrested. George Druse was described as part of the family arrested and later discharged in the reporting. The case also referenced the arrest of Roxalana’s brother-in-law, Chas. Gates, in some accounts.

Trial

The trial began before Judge Williams at Herkimer on September 21, 1885, and lasted over two weeks. The jury returned a verdict of guilty.

In court, the counsel for the prisoner based the defense on self-defense and on claims of temporary insanity. The court asked why sentence of death should not be passed, and Roxalana Druse answered: "I have nothing to say".

Guilty verdict and sentencing dates mentioned

• A verdict of guilty of murder was returned after deliberations that were described as about two hours.
• Counsel Luce made a motion for a new trial after a sentencing date attempt and it was denied by Judge Williams.
• A sentencing described that Roxalana Druse was sentenced by Judge Williams to be executed on Wednesday, November 25, 1885.
• Following an appeal, the execution date was again fixed in December.

A published account described the jury returning a verdict of murder in the first degree and that Roxalana Druse would be executed on November 25, 1885.

Appeals

Appeals were taken and reviewed by higher courts. The case was described as having been affirmed by both courts, with the conviction upheld and refusal to interfere with the sentence of law.

The conviction was also described as having been confirmed by the Court of Appeals. A further motion and resentencing occurred after the confirmation.

Sentencing

Roxalana Druse was sentenced to death by hanging, with resentencing to be hanged on later dates. A later reprieve was granted and the execution was set for February 28.

Mary Druse was sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary at Syracuse.

Additional judicial proceedings described

• The sentencing and resentencing included: an execution date of December 29, 1886 and later change after reprieve.
• In one account, Mary Druse pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree and was sentenced to life in the Onondaga penitentiary.

Outcome

Roxalana Druse was executed by hanging on February 28, 1887.

The hanging was described as involving suspension hanging using a weighted rope that jerked her upward rather than dropping through a trap door. The neck was not broken and death was due to strangulation, with the report describing:

• the executioner detailed to attend
• the trap being sprung at 11:48 a.m.
• the woman pronounced dead at 12:03 p.m.
• the body remaining hanging for twenty six minutes and then being taken down
• the physicians stating that the neck was not broken and that death was due to strangulation

Only twenty-five persons witnessed the hanging, while streets nearby were crowded. The body was placed in the vault at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Aftermath

Before the execution, Roxalana Druse wrote letters and made a request for Christian burial. She also made an affidavit in compliance with the request from her daughter that she should not leave a blot on her name.

"I, Roxalana Druse, in my last moments, do hereby solemnly swear and affirm that my daughter, Mary Druse, who is now confined in the Onondaga Penitentiary, had nothing whatever to do with the killing of her father, William Druse, or with the disposition of his body. This statement I have repeatedly made and always adhered to at the inquest, and since my confinement. My daughter, Mary Druse, is absolutely innocent, and was in no way connected with her father's (William Druse's) death. "

After her execution, Mary Druse broke down and experienced violent grief when told that her mother was hanged. Mary Druse was serving a life sentence for complicity in the murder of her father.

A later report stated that Governor Hill denied a petition for a pardon for Mary Druse. The petition was made on the grounds that there was no distinct proof that the prisoner was implicated and that furthermore she was not given an opportunity to say a word in her own behalf.

There was also reporting of a claim that Roxalana Druse’s ghost haunted the cell where she was last confined.

Other details

Execution method change mentioned

The execution method in Herkimer County was described as suspension hanging using a weighted rope that jerked the prisoner upwards. The execution was described as botched due to failure to break the neck, leading officials to decide to switch the primary method in the state to the electric chair in 1890.

Additional persons and names mentioned

• Officer Wilson escorted Roxalana into the courtroom.
• Counselor Luce made a motion for a new trial and secured appeals.
• Judge Williams pronounced the sentence and handled multiple court steps.
• District Attorney Sheldon made a motion referenced in court proceedings.
• Governor Hill granted a reprieve and later denied the petition for Mary Druse.
• Sheriff Cook and Deputy Sheriff Bartley Manion were thanked in letters.
• Rev G. W. Powell offered prayer during the execution.
• Irving Terry, superintendent of Onondaga Penitentiary, brought a farewell message from Mary Druse.
• Deputies advanced at the scaffold, and the black hood was drawn over Roxalana.
• National Guards were mentioned as part of the guarding of approaches.
• 31st Separate Company of National Guards guarded approaches to the jail in the March 4, 1887 reporting.

Murder-commission narrative details in multiple accounts

• Roxalana Druse was described in different accounts as having lived in a frontier cabin in Little Falls, New York, and as living in the town of Warren, Herkimer County.
• The murdered man was described as missing beginning December 18, 1884.
• The murder was described as involving the family sitting down to eat breakfast and a quarrel arising about groceries.
• Frank Gates described that Roxalana told him to shoot William or she would shoot him, and he described her giving the revolver to him under threat.
• Frank Gates described disposing of weapons by throwing the revolver and other items into a pond.

Quotes preserved

• Frank Gates reported William pleaded: "Oh, Roxy, don't."
• The court asked why sentence of death should not be passed; Roxalana Druse answered: "I have nothing to say".
• In a note or comment attributed to Roxalana Druse: "By -- -, if I'm hung I'll haunt you all in my night clothes."
• Frank Gates and Mary were described as being instructed to go upstairs and remain quiet in some accounts.
• Roxalana Druse’s alleged statement to her guard was included above.
• A letter-writing and prayer moment included the description of “the black cap” being drawn over her head, after which the execution took place as reported.

Coroner’s jury verdict

The verdict stated:

“That Wm. Druse came to his death on the 18th day of December, 1884, at the town of Warren, and that one Roxana Druse did on the 18th day of December, 1884, between the hours of seven and eleven o'clock of the forenoon of that day, in the town of Warren, in said county, feloniously and of malice aforethought made an assault upon the body of William Druse then and there present, that the said Roxana Druse did shoot William Druse, and also strike him on the head with an ax, and did sever his head from his body; of which wounds the said William Druse died ; that Roxana Druse did cut and burn the body in the stove, and the jurors aforesaid say that the said Roxana Druse did murder her husband. That Mary Druse the daughter, George Druse the son, and Frank Gates were present, and that Frank Gates did fire one or more shots at William Druse, and that Mary, George and Frank did comfort, aid and abet Roxana Druse in committing the felony and murder.”

People mentioned in connection with other accounts

• Jeremiah Eckler and Charles Pett were mentioned in evidence and testimony at inquest.
• Rudolph Van Evra and Rudolph Van Evera were mentioned as using a tin spitto box previously.
• Clarence Marshal and Daniel McDonald were mentioned as accompanying Frank Gates to Ball’s swamp in the account.
• James Hall, Walter Buckman, Geo. L. Rathbun, Rozelle Warren, and other jury or witness names were listed in the inquest material.
• Amos A. Prescott of Herkimer was mentioned as being retained as associate counsel.
• Attorney Luce was named as associate counsel in a case context.
• Judge T. C. Murray was mentioned at a hearing where examination was waived.
• Judge Helmer and warrant details were described for the arrest of William Elwood.