The New York Herald Newspaper, January 10, 1858, Page 1

=—_a=————.. WHOLE NO. 7800. MUBUERS IN NEW YORK. Tee Condemned and the Accused on the Charge of Murder—Vielt to the Prisoners in ip onan erin ot Seeae te eGeene of Rodgers—Statements the Prisoners Charged with the Greenwich Street ef the Parties Ac of the Willam and Water Street OP rbo fourteen murders which were committed in this ‘ey during the past year the perpetrators of but three wrv6 been convicted. The accused in but four cases are cwaiting trial, and, in the balance, the parties have either wt been arrested or the accused have boen convicted of reser grades ofcrime, or discharged altogether, as not ‘plicated by the evidence. It is proposed in this article ‘give a sketch of the most prominomt cases that have tckted public attention. QNCEMI, THE MURDERER OF POLICKMAN ANDERSON Michael Oancemi, the Italian, who is under sentence to Vhanged on the 16th instant, for the murder of police- ‘wm Anderson on the ist of July lest, has, through his (qmmec!, procured a writ of error, and his case will be de- 0a upon by the Court of Appeals previous to the date yon which he bas, been doomsi w die, He is confined fer of the prison, and receives his visiters with a smiling Weanity which would hardly be expected of a burglar ‘aéa murderer. He speaks but a few simple English weds, yet unitormly when his cell door is opened exhi- ‘Yes himself readily. He continues to be visited by the Inlian priest of the Romieh faith. The circumstances of te cese are doudtiees familiar to the readers of the Imax, as they have been detailed since his arrest faring two long trialz. On the morning of the murder (@cer Anderson was attracted by cries for assistance from (store in Centre street, corner of Grand. He arrived just time to eee s man presenting & pistol at the head of ‘wether, and instantly sprang upon and seized him, when de man, who proved to be @ burglar who had just been omght leaving the store, turned and shot the officer and thn fied. ‘was pursued, arrested, and his room found te contain a variety of firearms, keys, &c. He gave his ‘ume as Michael Cancemi, and denied baving anything to @iwith the murder, He accounted for his presence by wating that he had gone out to buy some bread. The sege was robbed of some pennies, and some pennies were flomd in his pocket. He accounted for these by saying tbet bis wife gave them to him. He explains bis running away by stating that he heard the report of a pistol, and sev the officer fall, and ran away, as is the custom in his comtry, for fear of being taken asa witness. The presence wear! in bis room he accounts for by stati that es ae een country a rich man, and being fond of Dusting bad preserved them. He was, however, put his trial, and several witnesses swore positively to identity as the foe gl Ba wgetber = ettyr circumstances, le & vi rong case him. He, however, was not convicted on the frat tria} asthe his docility and good humor. THE CASE OF JAMES RODGERS, TEE MURDERER OF JORN SWANSTON—WERIT OF ERROR AND STAY OP PROCEEDINGS GRANTSD. ue, He yeeterday, through his counsel, procured from Dodge Ingraham, st a special term of the Supreme Court, ® writ of crror anil stay of proceedings, which will give Dim the right to have a decision on bis case by the Court @f appeals before the day set for bis execution, It will g i TEEHE 4 s = z i t ¥ 3 E z r 4 Heo i ae E B3E z 3 ili i E ; i ff to the privileged few among the many ap- on, SS eee to any ques. murder, that he don’t recollect an; Hi vee F i q : af B 32 application for a writ of error and stay of proceedings. ‘This morning the following decision was given by JAMES SHEPHERD SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ARSON, HIG WIFE HAVING BEEN FOUND DEAD OY THE RUINS. James Shepherd is sentenced to be huang on the Sth of February, having been convicted of arson, in setting fre to his own house. His wife was found doad in the ruins. ‘The house was situated in Fifty third street, and had Deen insured for $300, though a miserable shanty, hardly ‘worth $60. The prosecution, which was efficiontly assist- against others we are compelled to omit THE GREENWICH STRERT MURDER. Mavrice O’Conne!! is one of the four young men confined om a charge of having, on the 6th of November last, bru tally committed a rape on Tree Spitzlin, an aged Swise woman, and then murdered ber, in a Dutch lager bier saloon in Greenwich street. The accused are all confined im separate cells, and some discrepancy will be found in their statements, which we give as nearly as possible ‘exactly as they were given by the acoused to our re- ane 6 O'Connell saye—I went down in tho cellar with er four boys, the Dutehman knew me, and he did not know fhe other b and that is why, be laid it alt to me; he dict not kn ny of the other bews; I did not have apything fo do with the affair; 1 just Lappenod to weet these other fellows that sight, I did aot haye ies | Qoeit No, @, om the “‘Murderors’ Corridor,’’ on the first. — SUNDAY MORNING, Fort Washington. ‘We called attention some days ago, in the Hmratp, to the fact thas several Revolutionary relics had been discovered about a week before by the workmen employed in remov- ing the underbrush and improving the ground upon the site of Fort Washington. These consisted of a number of can- non balls and chain shot, which were found imbedded in the earth afew inches below the surface, and some of which were also taken out from ainid the roots of trees, wucre they have boen lying undisturbed for three quarters of @ century. The balls are twelve-pounders, and, although covered over with rust, are almost as perfect as when they Were discharged at the fort. They even bear the marks of the mould in which they were cast—a fact which shows either that the art of founding cannon balls in those days had not reached that state of perfection to wh'ch it has since attained, or that those by whom they were cas! were in too great a hurry to complete their work. However that may be, it is a fact that the marks of the mould were not removed, and have remained, through the many years during which they have Jain in the earth, almost unchanged. There were aleo discovered, some ten yoars ago, near the samo Place, some old rast-caten bayonets, and a gold coin of the reign of George III., and about the same time several human bones were disinterred by some laborers em- ployed of the ground. The precise locality in which these relies were found ison the face of the hill which fronts the river, and on the summit of which the fort was con- structed. It still bears, in the partially effaced embra- sures, the breastworks and the escarpment, unmistakea- ble evidences of its character. Tho hill itself is between five and six hundred feet above the water level, is the highest point of land on the whole ialand of Manhattan, and was doubtless selected on account of its commanding position as the best adapted for the purposes of a fort. ‘The fing-staff which now stands there, and which, from its prominence, can be seen for miles around, was piaced }+in its present position several years ago by Mr. Carman, who was then the proprietor, and whoge object was to in- dicate, in this way, the precise contre of the citadel. There. are,as we have said, but very fowtraces of the fortifica- tions left; but there are still sufficient to enable the careful observer to make out a portion of the defences; and while the hill upon which it stood, and from which it derived its main strength, remains, its locality cannot be a subject of speculation. Fort Washington was one of the numerous defences which had been hastily thrown up on the island of Man- hattan during the early stages of the Revolution. t con- sisted, like those which were constructed by the cele- brated Russian Engineer, Todtleben, at Sebastopol, mainly jt such unpardonable insults upon dirty sheet enjoys: butts bad esough ait aad wit she Bs 8 bad enough aa it i demand an 4 when roloassa. get in, and while I was calling the Dutchman, Sailor came down and let us in the back door. SoI went in = against ue for murder, and we commenced to laugh at him; McConnell turned white, and ran away home and went to bed; I saw him afterwards going down JANUARY ¥O, 1858, =YORK HERALD. PRICE TWO CENTS. William Howe, was deterred tromattacking him by a very considerate fear of the results, After remaining here a fow day Waehington, having previously held » council of war, made arrangements for retreating into New Jersey, the enemy having meacwhile occupied the heights of Fordsam,on which ho encamped, with the le’t wing of his army reeting near King’s Bridgo. Tho retreat of the patriotarmy into New Jersey was effected on (ne 42th of November. * It now became evident shat the enemy had deeigus Fort Washington, and it wag eelioved that as soon as he could concentrate his troune im eutticient force be would march upon it. His object was to environ ‘to as to pre- ‘vent the escape of the garrisan soi the errival of rein- forcements. With this view General Koyphausen, who was in command of six German battalions, tovk up a position in the neighborhood of King’s Bridge, The advance of the Britich army in such force rendered the few defences at this point unteaadie, and the Amoricans accordingly racuated Sort Independence snd the redoubts, retreat ing towards and taking up a poeition near % Fort Washington. The British had now achieved the object Mey bed in view—the émvlronment of this impor- tant point; but to make certain cf their prize, a force of three ships.of-war and @ larga number of flatboats pro- ceeded up the river and came to near King’s Bridge, the chevaue de frise presesting litte if apy obstacle to their passage. ‘Washington was an arxicus spectater of these move. ments, and, eeeing the threatening aepect of affairs, would, itis said, bave ordered the evacuation of the fort, but for the earnestness with which Ganeral Greene urged the no- cessity for ite defence, on the groundef guarding the pas- sage of the river. it may be mentioned here, algo, that the reversee which the American army had sustained up to this time rendezed it necersory in the opinion of Con- gress that a determined stand should be made at Fort Washington, and that it “abould be retained as long a3 possible.” Had the desire of Washington himself bwen consulted in the matter, the gorrison arms and ammuni- tion would have been saved from thg enemy. It was now the 15th of November, and the Americans awaited with terrible anxiety the result of the fear- fal confiiet which was 80 goon to take place, and which it was feared would reguit in placing the troops of King George in posaession of the whole island. The garri- son in the fort and outworks at this time numbered about three thousand men, under the command of Colonel Magaw, Colonel Baxter, Colone! Cadwalader and Colone! Raw- lings. The first or senior officer had command of the fort, and the rest were stationed as follows: —Coionel Rawlings, at the bead of a force of Maryland riflemen, held posses. sion of Fort George, which commanded the hill Wthe north cf Fort Washington; while Colonel Baxter, with his the street with a policeman, and that is all I know. Iso complains tr likeness, which was published in that paper. he was to do it. Sailor Dan, the other prisoner confined on this charge, refused to say @ word. He said he didn’t want to be talking to reporters. His name bad been in the everyday he had been coniined, and he did not like it, The accused will be brought to She Denes of Gres snd Serine comemencin from next Monday. we engaged ag.counse! Mesars. Clinton, pommel et White. ‘The man promised to send him a copy of the paper, but he thinks of earth works—and it may be worthy of particular notice here te state that there is some reason for supposing he bor rowed the idea from our Revolutionary history. The work was commenced about the latter part of Juno, 1776, under the supervision of Col. Rufus Putnam, and by the incessant labor of those employed it was finished ina few weeks, ‘The fort was constructed in the form of a pentagon, ant ‘was strengthened by five bastions, as may be seen by reference to the following map, representing the field of operations of the British and American forces previous to its capture by the former, which took place on the 16th of regiment of militia of the flying camp, was posted on the hills overlooking the Harlem river in a direct line from Fort Waghington. Colonel Caiwallader, with his Pean- sylvania regiment, defended the approaches from the south. The first decided intimation which the American com- mander had of the design ofthe enemy was his summons fo surrender, on the day preceding the capture of the fort. Tothis he replied that he would defend itto the last extremity, and with that determination made the November, 1776:— away from him; that she met Hamiton, saloon to get i THE AVENUE B HOMICIDE. Michael Barrett, who shot and killed John Skelly, one of a party of boys who were in his store, has been indicted for manslav; y is now at large on $1,500 bail. He will ly be tried seon. Explosion on the Erte Railroad. BURSTING OF AN ENGINE BOILKR—TWO MEN KILLED. Another{of those terrible mocidents which occasionally bappen ilroads occurred on the New York and Erie Railroad, at Piermont, yesterday afternoon, and resulted a Bixee sap Yt in the almost instant death of two men, Kugine No, 182, %, with «train of twenty-six empty freight cars, bad just J; HEIGHTS started west, and when about half a mile from the pier la the boiler exploded with a terrific concussion, shattering the engine into fragments, and killing the freman, Abra- bam Daleon, and a flagman named William Lake who was riding apon the engine at the time. Although the engine was completely torn in pisces, and fragments of the wreck were thrown to a groat distance, the engineer, Mr. Albert Johnson, miraculously escaped with only a few harmless scratches, At the time of the explosion the fireman was upon the running board, having gone out to shut the cylendar cocks, and was returning to his post. He was biowna casT ANE distance of thirty fect, and camo down into the river with Le such force as to break through the ice. A—Fort Washington. E—Fort lee. Lake, the flagman, was occupying the fireman's seat, B—Fort George. F—Fort Independence. opposite from where the engineer stood, and wassoman- | ¢_cock Hill Fort. G—Chevaux de Frise. gled by the flying fragments that he died in a very short D—Fort Tryon. time. He lived near Sufforn’s station. Our reporter could not ascertain the residence of Dalson. ‘The engine was built by Wilmot & Co., of Boston, and cost $10,000. It will be almost a total loss. It had just come from the machine shop, where it had received a thorough overbauking, and this was its first trip since the We should state that the pian of the fort has been en- larged beyond its proportionate dimensions on the map as compared with the other fortifications, for the purpose of giving the reader a better idea of its form than would be obtained if it were presented on a more minute scale. ‘The whole of the fortificatious, inclading the outer works, extended several acres, and the eitadel, ‘The cause of the explosion is not yet ascertained. John. ware eonepe 9%, the enginoer, is rated as first class, baving had long experience tn the profersion, an’ enjoys the reputation of being one of the most prudent and careful mep on the road. Italian Opera—Card of the Director. ‘Mr. Ullman respectfully announces that the male oho- rus still persisting in their conspiracy not only to impose | bowever, p 5 Mg saa ane as bond be er }, Dut likewise plisl Purp ’ P upon bim their own terms, to compel him to ap and with nity, the con retain the ringleaders, he will take immediate measures: for the formation of s freab chorus uuder the direction of Mr. Paur, the excellent director of the celebrated Lieden- Kranz Society. He siezes this opportunity to declare that be has conducted the entire season on his sole responsi bility. In apite of his strenuous endeavors he has hevor obtained the slightest redaction from any person conne tt- ed with the Academy, and has paid, since September the first, all salaries without diminution, strictly at the ap pointed time, and even during the revulsion im gold, a stipulated at the very commencement of the season. All that he could obtain since the last six weeks was the “yermission’’ of requiring come extra work, and even this ia now denied to him, and the most degrading condi tions imposed upon him by the very persons whom he has supported for many months, bene incessant labor at the expense of the most trying Mal anxiety. Wnder these circumstances he publicty plodges himself not to ield one jota in what he considers his rights, and should not meet with due assistance from the employés, to clove the house without fear or self reproach, fully oon: vinced that the public and artists will render him full jus tice—that of baving offered more varied entertainments, a vont bot mae wae ply ensemble, and paid more: mw =) A any Opera managers who ee Wrarmen Reronts.—Through the kindness of the oblig ing superintendents of the extensive range of lines of the American Telegraph Company, and the New York and Newfoundland Company—controiling all the wires at the Fast and (he Northoast—the New York, Albany and Buf falo line, the Canarian lines, the National (New Orleans) line, the Western Union Telegraph Company's numerous lines, the Hines controlled by Judge Caton, in Tinots, Mis souri, Iowa and Wisconsin—aill of which cent Telegraph Building, 21 Wall etroct—wo shail to sine. ne and after Monday, ihe 11th Inet.,toreport, daily, the state the defences of the place; and with these and the great strength which it was presumed to derive from its posi tion, the fort was considered almost impregnable. As there was much dispute at the time on this last point, and as Washington himself doubted ite wapability of resisting ‘and repelling a powerful assailing force, it may be well to examine here the basis on which the conidence of those who £0 considered it rested. Mount Washington, as the hill is called, rises abruptly to a height of between five and six hundred fect above the Hudson river, The summit extends over an almost Jevel area of several acres, and affords a perfect view of the approaches on all sidee, On the east the bill ir marked by the samo abrupt declivities which we bave no. ticed on the west, or the side facing the river. On the north and south the accent is more gradual, and from both these points it is so accessible ae to present of itself no obstacle or impediment to the advance of an assaulting force. Besides Fort Washington there wore other fortifications constructed, with the view of guarding against, if they did not check, the approach +@ the assailants. These were Port Tryon, Fort George, Cook Hill Fort and Fort Indepey- dence, all of which, with Fort Washington, were consid ered capable of sustaining a defence against the forces the enemy then had in the vicimty. ‘he attack on Fort Washington took place on the 16th of November, 1776, the battle of White Plaine having been bay pA he t 7S ms eit between New. | fought on the 28th of the preceding month. After this roundiand and leans, and betwe ; Kansas Ae much pains wil be taken to Baek Wee qn, | battle Waehington encamped on the heights of North Cas tle, whieh lie’ to the east of Tarrytown, where he en trenobed himself so stromgly that the British general, Sip of the weather correctly reported, the Intel! gence fil to prove valuable as well as curivds best disposition which he could, under the circumstances, o@ the little army under his command. Washington having heard of the summons to surrender, desided on crossing the river; bat while on his way be was met by Generals Greene and Putnam, who told bim that Colone) Magaw was confident of success. On this representation he returned to Fort Lee. ‘The first imtimation the patriots had that the foe had commenced the attack was given by a cannonade againat Colonel Rawlings’ division, which, as bas been stated, was placed in defence of Fort George. The force of the English, which greatly exceeded thoze of the patriots, is estimated at from eight to nine thousand men. These were arranged, according to military critics, with admirable judgment for the attack. Five hundred Hessians and Waldeckers, led by Knyphausen, were (0 commence operations on the north, While 4 simultaneous movement was to be directed fréta ‘the south by Lord Percy, in command of a large division of Foglish and Hessians. A strong body under Brigadier Mathews, supported by Cornwaliis, was to take up a po- sition above Fort Washington, after crossing the Harlem river. This was to be effected under cover of a battery on Westchester hills. At the same time the Forty- second regiment, under Colone) Stirling, was to make a demonstration a little above the Migh Bridge. The hostile forces were now in position, and, as we have cannonade on that point was commenced about sevea o'clock on the moruing of the 16th of November, and soon after a fire was opened by the enemy's guns on the troops of Colonel Cadwallader, The force under Rawlings, after @ desperate and protracted resistance, were obliged to abandon their position, retreat ing sullenly beforefie enemy, among whom they made wild work, The gallant fellows under Colonel Rawl- ings maintained themselves for a long timo against greatly superior pumbers, and only retreated af. ter their muskets had been so fouled by fre quent fring as to be rendored useless, The enomy por- ceiving their fre gradually abating, pushed up the hill over the bodies of their fallen comrades, several hundred of which lay on the hill #ide, soon after gained the sum- mit, and took possession of the fort. In the meantime the passage of the Harlem river by another division of the enemy, commanded by Lord Percy, was contested with much gallantry by the force under Colo- nel Cadwallader. Abouta hundred of the enemy were killed and wounded before they effected a landing; but superior mumbere prevailed, and the patriots, having done good execution, retired with some lose in the direc- tion of Fort Washington. The Americans had but one hundred and fifty to oppose to eight hundred of the enemy at this point. Percy, however, did not pursue them, but retired behind a wood, thus bringing the struggle ‘at this point to a close for the time being. Baxter’s men were driven by another force of the enemy from the hill commanding the Harlem river ; and some time after the same body of the enemy's forces took possession of a redoubt on the summit and two hundred prisoners. Cadwallader, learning of this success of the Britiah, and to avoid being placed between two fires, com. monoed his retreat towards Fort Washington by a road nearest to the Hudson, fighting with desperate obstinacy during the whole of his retreat. As he was nearing the fort an attempt was made by Colonel Stirling to intercept him; but he succeeded in forcing his way, after the loss of some killed and « small number who were taken pri- soners. The attack, as we have gaid, commenced at seven in the morning, and by tweive, after a gallant resistance againat & greatly superior force, the patriots were all driven into the fort, which was delivered up after another sum- mons to surrender. Here they would, however, have still made a stand, had they been justified in doing so by the patare of the defences; but these were said to be so mis- erable that to hold eut longer would only lead to an unne- cossary secrifice of life. They had, howover, fought well and bravely; and the British commander, after counting bis loss—which amounted to about @ thousand—had, after all, little reagon to congratulate himself on a success 80 dearly purchased. The lose of the patriots in killed and wounded lid not exceed two hundred. The garrison, numbering 2,634, officers included, were taken prisoners, ‘with all the arms and ammunition in the fort. During the battle General Washington, with Generals Greene, Putnam, Mercer and other officers, crossed the river from Fort Lee to Morris’s house on the heights of Hartem, near Harlem ,river, from which they bad ® view of the whole field of operations near that point. They returned on finding that nothing more could be done by the officer in command in regard to the disposition of the American forces. Not more than fifteen minutes after they left the position they occupied was takon possession of by the British. There is one incident particularly worthy of relating in connection with this battle. General Washington was desi Tour of sending a communication to Colonel Magaw, to in- form bim that if he could hold out tif night the garrison would be brought off; but the task of convey ing it to him in face of the enemy was attended with great personal danger However, the General did not want for & messenger. Cap- tain Gaoeh, of Boston, offered to be the bearer of the let ter, ‘Baking a boat ‘under the shadow of the Palisades he rowed boldly” eerors tho river, and landed at the foot of the hill on which Fort Washington stands, and, al though close pressed by some of the Hessians, he succeeded in reaghing ft in embty, When be had delivered the Wetter he returned by the way hé came, ran ghe gauntlet again through the Hessians, whose bayonets be narrowly eseaped, gained bis boat, puebed out inte the river, and wag sovg outa reach of their Dalle, He reached Fort (ee in safety, and was re- paid by the bigh compliment bestowed upon his patriotism and gallantry by his beioved commander. ‘The loss of Fort Washington was atthe time a serious affair, and was @ subject of much anxiety to General Washington, against whose wishes it had been held. Lae, writing about it, calla it a ‘cursed affair,’ and Washington himself wrote as follows regarding tt:— ‘This ia a most unfortunate affair, and baa given me great mortification, a# we have lost not only tw thousand mon that were there, but a good dea) of artillery and some of the best arma we had; and what adds to my mortification ia that this post, after tho last ships passed it, was held contrary to my wishes and opinion, as I con ceived it te be a hazardous one. Upon the ‘ing of the last ships I had given it as my opinion to General Greene, under whose care it waa, that it would be Guat iv vaccine Gas pisos: butas the order was dis: cretionary. and his opinion differed from mine, it unbhappi- ¥ ‘was delayed too late, to my great grief,as I think tuat General Howe—considering his army and ours—would have had but a poor talo to tell withontit, and woutd have found it diMoult, unless gome Southern expedition may prove succeerful, to reconcile the people of England to the ofa few pitiful islands, none ef which were defensible, considering the great number of their ahine apd the power they baye by sea, to surround and render them unapproachable, An stated in the foregoing letter of Washington, the enemy's vessels had passed up tho river despite of the che- vaun-de-frise and the redoubt at the feot of Mount Wasb- ington, and aided in the capture of the fort by blockading it on the river side. The prisoners taken at the surrender of the fort were immured in the old Sugar House in Liberty street, from which very few ever came out alive. Apart from the Revolutionary associations and reminis- cences which cluster about the place, the site of Fort Washington is one of the most beanti- ful and picturesque localities on the banks of the Hadgon, and affords a view of the scenery for thirty miles up and down the river. On the opposite side of the river Tiso, to the height of five aud six hundred fect, thos? huge formations of trap rock known as the Palisades, and which book like immense walls built by the hands of Titans; while stretching far away to the right, till they seem lost in the blue haze of the distance, extond the headlands of the Hudson. Poets and travellers may rhapsodize and work themselves into ecstacies over the natural aud artificial beauties of the Rhine, and the old ruins that are strewed along its banks; but after all it ie inferior to the Hudson in point of grandeur and maguifi cence, and even in quiet landscape scenery. And who is there that would exchange the glorious memories of the Revolution for all the oid ruins and remains of feu dai or kingly rule about which so much has been said and sung and written? There are few if any ruins, it is true, upon it; but the thriving and picturesque towns that dot its banks, from the great city of New York to the capi ta) of the State—the living realities of the present—are bet- ter than any feudal remains of which the Rhine can boast. Within a quarter of an hour's ride from the fort by rail is the old Dutch town of Yonkers, and a pleasant walk from there brings you to Skepy Hollow, made famous by our great author, Washington Irving, as the scene of that wonderful feat of somnolescence which he tolls us was performed there 80 many years ago. Teun miles to the south is the great city itself, and still further off Staten and Long islands, with the Narrows be. tween, looking more like & coptinuation of the great river than an arm of the sea. The Kast river is visible at imtervals from the site of the fort, apd the picturesque villages of Flushing ani Astoria can also be keen, Then, in addition to the scenery, there is the ever busy life of commerce, which finds on the Hudaon one of the greatest fields for its developement and progress, and which presenta the appearance of a graod moving panorama in the scene. . ‘The particular locality of the fort itaclf is divemsified with ai! those features without which no scenery can be called beautiful. That portion of which we speak has an area of forty acres, and possesses all the varied charms of rock, river, lake, hill and glade, It hasan extensive river front, and through she pleasant little valley to the east of the fort runs a stream which in one part of the grounds forms a beautiful miniature lake. Take it alto- gether, there ts not @ more lovely epot on the ivland of Manhattan than the locality of Fort Washington, and wo doubt if there is any place on the banks of the Hudson which affords a view of more magnifwent scenery. The Opera in the Great Cities—Interesting Statistics. The principal operatic cities in the world are Paris, Lon don, New York, Milan, Vienna and Berlin, and in relation to these we have collated the following statistics. In Pa_ ris are three regular opera houses. The Grand Opera (French) gives 182 to 186 performances per annum. ‘The annual receipts are about $200,000; the twelve masked balls bring in about $40,000. The government contribution is about $14,000, The house holds about 1,800. It belongs to the government nnd is given to the enterpreneur free of rent. The highest nightly receipts amount to about $2,300. The daily expenses are about $180. The whole company, in cluding artists, officers and workmen, numbers 600. There are 20 male and female singers, 60 chorus singers, some times aided by 20 or 80 pupils; 80 male and female igu rantes, and an equal number of pupils; an orchestra of 86, of whom 70 assist at each performance. The prices range from $2 25 down to 80 conts, The Opera Comique prices are about twenty per cent loss, and the house is open throughout the year. During the past fifty years the sur of 39,419,911 90 franes, (about eight millions of doliars,) ‘was received from the public for admission, and in addi- tion to this the government pays an annual putin towards ts support. The largest receipt was in 1866, when 1,087,149 16 france were received. During nine years that M. Porria ‘waa at ite head, over « million of francs were paid to au thors. Of the artists now engaged there, M. Fauce re celves 26 ,000f.; Jourdan, 21,000f.; Maria Cabel, 40,000. , Caroline Dupre, 30,000f.; Lefebvre, 25,000f., and their services are secured for a reries of years. ‘The Italian Opera is open from October till May, giving four performances per week. Its expenses are not less than $2,000 per night. The manager receives $25,000 each season from the government. The house is of about the same capacity as the Grand Opera, and the prices nearly the same, A box at the Italiens for the season costs $1,500. Grisi, Alboni, St Urban and De ‘Wilborst are the prime donne this year, and Mario tho principal tenor. The singers are better at the Italian ‘than at the Grand Opera, but the latter is unsurpassed in ‘the mise on scene and the perfection of the ballet In London the principal, indeed the only Italixn Opera House, now (Covent Garden not having beon finished) is Her Majesty's Theatre, under the direction of Mr. Lum. ley, the king of impresarié. Mr. Lumley engages bis ar. tiste for long terms—three or five yoars—and graciously gives those for whom be has po use to other directors, His season commences in early spring and ends at mid summer. He gives many extra performances, concerts, &e., making altogether about one hundred, which coats bim nearly $200,000, or $2,000 for each. The subserip- tion avorages about $50,000. A box on the grand ter conta $1,600. A pit stall costs $5, and other prices in proportion. Tho orchestra bas © performers, chorus 60, ballet 40, principal artiste about 20. The highest receipte were with Piccolomini, in the “Traviata,”’ $5,000, With the same artist, without Guig- lint, the new tenor, the recetpta averaged $4,800; with th tenor, $4,000, ‘The personnel of the Academy ef Music, New York, un der the direction ‘of Mr. Uliman, includes: —t'eople con nected with orchestra, 52; chorua, 40; carpenters and at tendance on stage , 20; office and ticket delivery, 12; house attendance, doorkeepers, ushers, 14; tailors, 10, dressers, 6, eupernumeraries, average of 20: prima donnas and con. traltos 6; tenors, 4; baritones, 4; basses, 2; second parts, 6, conductors, 2; chorus master, 1; prompter, 1) stage manager, 1; occasional artists, 8; extra orchestra band, 20; ballet, 14—Total, 243. The house holds 4,900 people. The largest attendance this season was for the début of Herr Former, in “ Robert Je Diable,”’ when $3,278 were taken. The next greatest for the Thalberg festival, $3,749. The surplus of money for the Thalberg Yestiva) was caused by the fact that moro tickets to the dearer seats were sold than for the ‘‘Ro- bert’ night. The exponses are $22,000 per month, and the receipts vary from $5,000 to $7,000 per week There are 184 free stockholders’ seats, and the yearly rent is $24,000, which is reduced by letting the house for con- certs, balls, ke. , to about $10,000. There is no regular sea, son. The present one commenced in September nnd tas been temperarily suspended afier about 60 performance will have been given, embracing musical entertainments in almost every known form, and im three languages New York is the only city in tho Union where the Opera ever pays. In Philadelphia Maretzek once made a few thousands, but returning, lost it all, and retreated to Na vane With a heavy debt to work oat, In Boston it never paid the manager Lut cuce-the Grisi aud Mane campaign, Ia Scaja, at Milan, ls the largest Opera house in tho world. 1; has eighty ip the orchestra, (thirty pupils from the music school;) chorus one hundred, of whom ferty ‘are pupils in the schools; forty in the regular ballet, and sixty pupils from tne ballet school; twenty to one hundred supernumeraries, and about twenty-five principal artiets. ‘The season asta eight months—autamn thirteen weeks, carnival reason twelve weeks, and @pring season six weeks, The expenses amount to $100,000, and the ma- ger has from the government $50,000. La Scala has Pies latterly the last step that young vocalists take before they try the Lonaon or Paris audience The Imperial Opera in Vienna has & German and Ital. company. The receipts of the German companies, ‘uring \t8 session of nine months, amount to $210,500. This com- Pany also receives assistance from the go-ornment to the amount of $61,500, The Italian company receives an an- nual comg@nsation of $50,000. The total receipte of both companies amount t $278,000 per annum Three hun- dred and forty performances are given during the year, ‘The corps consi of fo hundred and fifteen persons, ex- clusive of Uurty \wo members of the Italian company . | ‘There are fourteen male and ton female singers, one hun- dred and twelve members of the orchestra, eighty-two chorus singers, twenty-six chorus pupils, five male and six female solo Jaucers, five pantomimnista, forty-eight figurantes, and thirty pupils in dancing. The howerhokis 1,800, and the highest nightly receipts when the geseon Uckots are suspended is $750. The Royal Opera House at Herlin holla 2,000. The nightly recetpta are:—At low prices, $720; at medium prices about $1,000, and in the highest prices about $1,225. The daily expenses amount to $300. The building cost $875,000. The personnel of the opera and ballet consiata of twelve malo and seven female singers, fifty eight cho- rus singers, & supplementary chorus of forty or fifty, eight male and six female solo dancers, fifty-two dgurantes, Tho orchestm bas one hundred and seventy members, of whom cighty-#ix are present at each performance. RECAPITULATION. S es Capac'y Highest Cities. theatres. ree'pts. . . Paris, Grand Opera.1,800 $1,300 $2,000 $14,000 5,000 2,000 50,000" 3,49 13000 = 2,000 1,000 50,000 400 70 — 11500 516 1,125 3 - 365 Subscriptions. fistimated. The James Street Homickic. CORONER'S INQUEST CONTINUED—EVIDENCE OF KEN- NEDY, THE WOUNDED MAN, The inquest in the James street homicide was continued yesterday at the New York Hospital by Coroner Hilis, ‘The evidence of one of the wounded men, Fward Kenne- dy, was adduced; alo that of the father of the prisoner, Wogan. ‘The following is a report of the proceedings aa they tranapired before the Coroner:— Edward Kennody, residing at 193 Cherry street, being sworn, says—On Thursday night last, about 12 o'clock, I was in front of 98 Cherry street, having come frem Six- teenth street with Pat Farly and another man, I do not know his name, who I left on my way to this piace; I met Michael Wogan, the prisoner, at No. 98; when J aaked him how he got along, he said, first rate; the prisoner then asked me how I got along; I said, first rate; I waa inside of No, 98, 28 was the prwoner; I told the prisoner that he could not put me out of this place as he did the other place the other time, (100 James street;) this was be- cause I bad some difficulty there; the keeper of the house, No. 98, wanted me t go out as it was shutting up time; I ‘went out of my own accord; wheu we had got outaide, 1 said, Mike, you are not the right fellow to get along in this ward; he said, that he did not care for any thief or suckers; I told him that he could not call or prove me to be a thief; I told him that if he ever undertook to take me up, unless be bad a reason, I would cut him; I had no : i up when he fell when he was shot; Ido net know Casey sor can be found: this Casey night of the firet difficulty; I eaw di the velood as the third poh pemyy oh eased. Michael J. O’Keet®, residing at No. 67 Oliver being sworn, says—I am a sailor, | do not know '4 I have known the prisoner two years, on the night of the diMeulty T was in the store No, 101 James street; | heard & noise in the street, on the paite sidewalk, when I went out and saw the prisoner Kennedy, the prisoner having hold of Kennedy and pushing him, telling him to Ko home; as I was crossing the street I saw the pri strike Kennedy in the mouth with bis club; the prisoner then eaid that if he would not go home that b: him where he had him before, but did vot say where that was; Kennedyfeaid, “I have as m you, you have no authority to arrest mo,” then first shot was on to tho walk; occurred ; tho I saw wae the one which Keunedy, the prisoner bad holt of Kennedy with his left band and the pistol in his it hand, presenting (he pistol at Kennedy's side and , shooting Kennedy ; Kennedy then said, “ , 1 am thot,” showmng vend, calling ona ot them to be witnoss; Kennedy fell, the prisoner y ino, keeping hold cont until the turd shot was fired, ywhich was i all both the prisoner and Kennedy were erect at the time. the deceased was also stand: sidewise; I have seen the prisoner watchman for some reven months ; to hold Kennedy until the officer came; I point the pistol towards know as it was intended for deceased; I saw no ‘one that would justify the prisoner or of his club; I beard no threats made by Kennedy any one else; T saw no one fet ae eps if ‘ E i FS E i minutes il i i fill fell, i arcee imavediately, when the prieseer pistol from his pocket and about a minute the prisoner fired a dy; there was but liue difeulty and Kennedy between the first i i He hr i i Fi RS when deceased fell, Kennedy the time; there was no necessity his pistol or club; if be had wanted away ho could have done eo; all of the parties img when the third shot was fired; the prisoner somewhat agitated after the third shot standing close to deceased when he fell; and helped take him to the station house; given by the prisoner why he wished to Kennedy made oo threate prisoner, neither did be strike him there were only three shote fired, and all by the prisoner: the prisoner's right hand, containing ag was ina swinging motion at the time of the third shot; I have not heard of any knife being found, or that any one had @ knife. , dames frown, residing at No. 72 James street, sworn, saye—All the parties are strangers to me; in the store of the above number when I heard a eet i ate oft rd Twas idk soon fired, and deceaged fell, all of the parties were stand- ing up; Kenney waa stooping a little. James Kennedy, residing at No. 123 Cherry street, sworn, says—I dit not know deceased; Iknew the soner some time; I know nothing about the row; the t arrested my brother, Rdward Kennedy, some two months ago for making some disturbance about there. 1 do not know where che prisoner's beat is; I am on good terme with the prisoner, | understood that wae acting for his father Michae! Wogan, residing at No. 9 Onk street, being sworn, says—The prisoner is ny som; I am Special De- puty Sheriff of New York; I bave the of ® num. ber of stores at night in the Fourth ward; I am paid by #, Lbave been private watchman since Septem can go over my beat inten minutes; fam out all night; my roo bad the same deputyship as myself from the Five Auguat last to last Wednesday, the day ‘ing the + previous to the difficulty; these warrants are dur! pleasure of the Sheriff; my son's was tevoked by the Sheriff at the time mentioned; the constable of the ward d my son bad a difficulty, and he made @ complaint to the Sheriff; thie was the only reason given fer revokin; {; MY_s0n Was acting for Me as watchman gt the time the diffieulty; Ihave stores at Nos, 9 and 100 Jamen atreet; my sen used to be wey me fhe fore part of the night, when [ woul! leave hilt to wateh, since | Rave been Abiqgy get out Sjuie vntt) Moodey morr 10 o'clock