the death of George Akins

A WIFE OUTRAGED--THE PERPETRATOR SHOT DEAD BY THE HUSBAND.--

We announced in our last paper, that an attempt had been made by George Akins, Jr., to commit an outrage upon the person of a Mrs. Conover, wife of John H. Conover, living near the Red Lion, but that he failed to accomplish his purpose, owing to the cries and resistance of Mrs. C. We have since learned that he fully succeed in his infamous designs--and a few days afterwards he was shot dead by the husband, while about to enter his house again.

The particulars of this dreadful affair, as we have learned them, are as follows:

Akins went to the house of Conover, on Sunday morning, the 5th instant(August, 1860), soon after 8 o'clock--nobody being at home or near the premises, but Mrs. C. and her two children--Conover having gone to visit a neighbor. It is supposed that Akins had been watching Conover's movements, and seeing him leave the house, went immediately over. Soon after going in, he seized hold of Mrs. C., who is a small, delicate woman, and dragged her into the back room, at the same time taking a large knife from his pocket, and telling her that if she was not perfectly quiet, he would kill her on the spot. He then committed the outrage, and before leaving, again threatened her life, if she made known what had taken place.

On Monday, complaint was made against Akins, and a warrant issued for his arrest.--Akins heard of it, and managed to keep out of reach of the officers. He swore, however, that no man should arrest him--that he would not be taken alive. He also said that if Conover and his wife did not "withdraw the warrant," he would be the death of them both--or words to that effect.

On Tuesday(August 7, 1860) he went to Conover's, having his gun with him. The wife and children only, were at home. Mrs. C., seeing him approaching, ran with her two little girls to one of the neighbors. Akins entered the house, threw most of the furniture out the doors, destroyed the victuals, shot the cat and then left.

On Wednesday(August 8, 1860), after dinner, he was in Vincentown, where he got a drink, and started for Conover's, saying, as he left, that he would "tear Conover's gullet out, before night." He made a similar threat at Red Lion, and was told by several, that he had better not go to Convover's, as he had a loaded gun in his house, and would certainly shoot him, if he went there. He replied that he did "not care a d--n, he was going over."--He started and reached there about 2 o'clock. Whether he had any weapon, we have not been able to learn. Conover, hearing of his threats, and fearing his approach at any moment, borrowed a gun of a neighbor, for the purpose of defending himself. Conover's wife, seeing Akins coming, was terribly frightened, and exclaiming, "Oh, my God! there comes Akins," ran up stairs, with the two little girls. Conover was in the yard, when he first saw him, and, telling him to keep off, of he would shoot him, ran into the house, and getting his gun, stationed himself on the stairsteps, which were near the door. As Akins approached, he warned him to stop. He stood upon the step, when Conover told him that if he entered the door, he would shoot him. Akins looked Conover boldly and steadily in the eye, the latter fearing the worst--well knowing the desperate character of the man, and recollecting his terrible threats, he fully believed that if he permitted Akins to come in, he would lose his own life, and again told him to keep out, or he would shoot him. Seeing Akins make a move, as he thought to come in, he fired--the load taking effect in his breast, causing a horrible wound.--Akins jumped up several feet, and then fell his full length upon his back, dead. Conover's house being in full view from Red Lion, the persons who had warned Akins form going over, were watching him, and very soon after he got upon the step, they heard the report of the gun, and saw him fall--and they at once hastened to the scene. Conover immediately started for Vincentown, taking his gun with him, and upon reaching there, gave information of what had taken place. Justice Rowand, accompanied by Conover and a number of citizens, went to the house, where an inquest was held upon the body, and a verdict rendered in accordance with the facts. The body of Akins was then taken in charge by his father, who resides a short distance from Red Lion, and where the deceased made his home when not at work for the neighboring farmers. Conover at once gave himself up to the authorities, and he was committed to prison--arriving here about 11 o'clock, on Wednesday night(August 8, 1860). The funeral of Akins took place from his father's residence, on Friday morning(August 10, 1860). His remains were interred at Pemberton.

EVIDENCE BEFORE THE CORONER'S JURY


After the above was put in type, we received the testimony taken before the Coroner's Jury, the principal part of which we subjoin. The following persons composed the Jury of Inquest, viz:

• Joseph A. Jones
  
• John H. Pippitt
  
• Samuel J. Allen
  
• Joseph H. Lippincott
  
• George F. Brown
  
• Samuel Peacock
  
• Robert Wilson
  
• James Branson
  
• William H. Haines
  
• Joseph L. Hilliard
  
• Jacob S. Prickitt
  
• Samuel Strickland
  

JOHN H. CONNOR, SWORN.--I was standing in the stairway, and Akins in the doorway, when I shot. Before I shot, I ordered him out twice. I did not move him. He fell where you see him lying. I borrowed the gun of Barzillai Bowker. When I ordered him away, he made no threats, showed no weapons, and said not a word. Yesterday he thew all the goods out of my house, and put a lock on the door. I was afraid of my life, and my wife also. After I shot him, I went and gave myself up to the Justice. GEORGE B. CORLESS, SWORN.--I was standing on the store-porch at Red Lion. Saw Akins fall and heard the report of the gun. I was satisfied Conover had killed Akins. I heard Akins swear he would kill Conover, before the sun set. Heard the report of the gun in fifteen minutes after. I came down with Barzillai Bowker, immediately, and saw the body as it now lies.

BARZILLAI BOWKER, SWORN.--I heard the gun go off, and some one remarked that Conover had shot Akins, for he saw him fall out of the door. I went to the house at once, and Conover said he had killed Akins. Conover borrowed my gun, last night, to guard his house. I was here yesterday. Saw the goods all out of doors. Did not see Akins here then. John Stewart said Akins had just left. Heard Akins say he would tear the windpipe out of Conover. Told him he had better keep away from Conover's.

CAROLINE CONOVER, SWORN.--I am the wife of John H. Conover. Last Sunday, in my husband's absence, about noon, George Akins, Jr., came to our house alone. He came in and sat down by my side, and I moved away from him. He followed me and wanted to take my child-said he could nurse it better than I could. I remonstrated and took my child by force, and put it in the cradle. He then caught me by the shoulders and dragged me in the next room, and threw me on the bed. I made two screams, when he put his hand over my mouth and said, "damn you, unless you are still, I will run this knife through you." I saw the handle of the knife. He then had full power over me and done as he pleased. After I had obtained a warrant against him, he told my husband to tell me that unless I took up that warrant, I should never live in peace. I was afraid to stay in the house, and went to Simons'. On Tuesday, I saw Akins and John Stewart going toward our house, and all the goods were thrown out. To-day, when I saw Akins coming, I took my two children and run up stairs, when my husband shot Akins.

The verdict of the Jury was, that George Akins, Jr., came to his death from a gunshot wound in the neck--said gun having been fired by John H. Conover, in his own house--and that they believe, from the testimony, that the act was in defense of himself and his family.

THE DECEASED George Akins, Jr., was a tall, stout, muscular man, and weighed, when in his health, nearly if not quite 200 pounds. His well-known depraved and desperate character, had made him a terror to his neighborhood, and few regrets will be expressed at his death. In the month of August, in the year 1858, he was convicted before Justices Stille and Holeman, in this town, of the larceny of some spoons, belonging to a Mrs. Bozarth, in the township of Shamong. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $10.00 and costs. In default of payment of the fine, he went to jail, where he remained about two months, and was then discharged by the liberating committee of the Board of Freeholders. On the the 11th of January last, he was committed to prison by Justice Wills of Vincentown, upon an affadavit of Ephraim Farr, (an Irishman living in the neigborhood where the recent tragical(sic.) event occurred,) that Akins threatened his life. It appeared that an evening or two before the complaint was made, Akins went to the house of Farr, at 10 o'clock, and after the latter had gone to bed, and called upon Farr, as a "d----d Irish s-n of a b---h, to come out." Farr at first not heeding him, he fired a bullet into the house, which it is said passed directly over the bed where Farr was lying. Farr then went out, seized the gun in the hands of Akins, wrested it from him, and knocked him down with it. Akisn recovering and advancing toward Farr, the latter felled him to the earth a second time--after which he took his departure, swearing vengeance. Farr thereupon made complaint before Justice Wills, and had him taken into custody. He remained in Jail till the April Term of the Court, when he was set at liberty. During the same month of January, a complaint was made against Akins, before Justice Palmer, of Mount Holly, for having obtained a horse and wagon of Mr. Garret Schanck, of this place(Mount Holly), under false pretences. This matter, we believe, was afterwards settled--Akins securing payment in whole or in part, to Mr. Schanck. Akins lived with his father, at the Red Lion. He was about 25 years of age and unmarried.

CONOVER
John H. Conover is a slim, spare man--about the medium height. His appearance is that of a timid, inoffensive person. He was 30 years old in January last, and is a native of Long Island, New York, where he has relatives now living. He is a painter by trade, but since coming to New Jersey, he has worked as a day-laborer, at all kinds of work. He has three children--the oldest, a boy about 9 years old, living with a gentleman near Long-a-Coming--the other two, girls, under 5 years of age, at home, with their mother.