6-16-2024 12:06am

June 16, 1905: Samuel Gleason Acquitted as Accomplice to Murder of Lover's Husband

Lesley Misko Editor

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

June 16, 1905: Samuel Greason, a “colored man,” has been acquitted of the murder of John Edwards, a 46-year-old farmer from Berks County who died on July 3, 1901, when the murderess, Mrs. Kate Edwards, wife of the victim, completely exonerated Greason of having any part in the plot to murder her husband.

Greason and Mrs. Edwards had been lovers, and she was pregnant with his child when she murdered her husband. Edwards had confessed to the crime and initially named Greason as her accomplice. Greason always maintained his innocence.

Edwards later rescinded her accusation, stating that Greason was entirely blameless of complicity, and he was given a new trial in what was called “the most remarkable legal battle ever waged in Pennsylvania to save a man from the gallows.”

Greason’s lawyer, John H. Rothermel, fought valiantly to save his client’s life and captured attention to the case “far beyond the confines of Berks County.” After being found not guilty of the murder, a “great shout of approval” was heard in the courtroom and Greason, a free man, was released from prison. (Rothermel was the Congressman who appointed Spaatz to West Point in 1910.)