The New York Herald Newspaper, March 22, 1873, Page 4

4 M’ELHANEY’S END, Boston’s Condemned Wife Mur- derer Sacrificed to Justice. Massachusetts ‘Vies with New York in Maintaining the Laws. THE CULPRIT’S LAST NIGHT. He Sleeps, Prays and Cheerfully Awaits His Fate. Affecting Religious Ceremonies and Painful Adieus. ON THE GALLOWS. In Mournfal Silence Four Hundred Spectators Witness His Launch Into Eternity, Boston, March 21, 1873, “To be hanged by the neck until you are dead,”’ 4s what the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court told James McElhaney when he was convicted of the murder of his wife last August. That the worthy Chief Justice was in error was believed not only by the murderer himself but by hundreds of others whose sympathies for an assassin smother all claims and appeals for an impartial administra- tion of justice. Boston’s murderer, like Foster who expiated a capital crime a few hours betore, had hundreds of petitions and arguments entered {n his behalf, Governor Washburne was inflexible, though, and was as firm and determined in having the law executed as was ever that old hero who wanted a fatal bullet put through the man who Gared to haul down the American flag. Massachu- setts therefore is as proud as New York in her vin- ication of law, and those who are inclined to blood for a real or fancied wrong will do well to take the matter into consideration. THE LAST NIGHT—SLEEP AND DEVOTION. Throughout his last night McElhaney main- tained the same composure which has marked his ‘earing for the past week. One of his spiritual advisers was with him through the entire night. The prisoner slept considerably, though he had frequent intervals of desire to indulge in prayer with the clergyman. This morning he appeared perfectly composed, and to all outward appear f&Qnces was completely resigned to his awiul fate. Gis manner was of that of a meek and penitent man who had prepared his mind thoroughly to andergo the ordeal through which he was about be called on to pass. At twenty minutes before ten o'clock he was taken from his ceil in the south wing and escorted inte the parlor of the Sheriffs house, McElhaney slept soundly until five o'clock this morning, and in a calm, quiet mood grected Bis clergyman, the Rev, Mr Upham, who shortly efter entered his eell. A SLIGHT BREAKFAST—-PREPARED TO DIE. In a cheerful manner he asked the reverend gen- Geman whether he had better eat any breakfast or not, Mr. Upham advised him to partake of some food, intimating that it would give him strength, perhaps. To this the condemned, in an animated tone, responded, “Oh, need no strength. Why, Mr. Upham, if 1 knewl could live by going to prison and stay for years, I'd rather die, because 4f Lam allowed to live the knowledge of my crime would always be betore me.” After partaking of a light breakfast the condemned dressed himself, at eight o'clock, ina suit of complete black, as un- concernedly as though he was preparing for church, and between nine and ten o'clock, accom- panied by Mr. Upham, walked to the Sherifs par- Jor for the final services of religion, and where the jast appeal tor God's clemency and forgiveness was to be made. When asked if he objected to any of the audience being present during the ceremonies he caimly answered, “Oh, no! it makes no differeace what- ever.” STOICAL RESIGNATION. Previous to any spectators being admitted Mc- Elhaney walked about the parler, conversing freely and cheerfully on religton, expressing fre- quently his complete resignation and readiness to stand before the throne of God. As a slight evi- Gence of his calmness it is stated that throughout yesterday, during the erection of the scaffold, the sound of driving nails and other work had no more (ppression on him than the rays of a sunbeam. PINIONING THE CONDEMNED. Ata few minutes before eleven o'clock Deputy Sheriff Bradley entered the parlor te perform the fast act but one in the painful ordeal, that of. pinioning the arms of the condemned, As Mr. Bradley was about to do this his own fortitude partially forsook him, and with unmistakable evi- ence of grief he proceeded with his unpleasant duty. McElhaney cheerfully grasped his hand, and feferring to his many kind and courteous acts shown him during his imprisomment, bade him an eternal farewell, saying, as he did so, “Mr. Bradley, you have a terrible hard duty to per- form, havn't you 7” NO PUBLIC STATEMENT TO MAKE. Shortly before McElnaney’s final walk to the plat- form of death the Sheriff desired to know whether he wished to address the audience from the scaf- fold. To this he replied, ‘No, I've nothing to say; only to thank you now for your kind and friendly (reatment always shown me.” CLOSING RELIGIOUS SERVICES. At the latter only the prison committee, report- ers and a few others were present. At the further end of the room sat a small, though solemn, group; McElhaney sat in the centre of the group, directly behind & small table. He was apparently in splen- did physical condition, his whole appearance bear- ing the marks of perfect health. He was attired in @ very neat suit of black, with Congress boots, His necktie qas also black, and in his shirt bosom rested a smell gold pim. He sat with his head bowed forward, theugh showing no agitation. At his right hand were seated Revs. William P. Ray, of the Trinity church, East Cambridge, and Joseph Scott, of the Church street church. Upon the left were Rev. Samuel P. Upham, of the Wisthrop Street Methodist Episcopal charch, Highlands, and Father Cook, Chaplain of the Jail. Before the services were commenced, in answer te a desire on the part ef the condemned, Senator Morse, of Middlesex county, stepped eut from ameng the Spectators and bid the ill-fated man goodby. Mc- Klbaney grasped his hand, and in an almost inau- Gible whisper uttered the words ‘#oodby,” witm a few ethers which were not understeed, Rev. Mr. Upham then said, in a solemn tene, “We will commence the services by singing “JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL.” All joined in the refrain, McElbaney sat with his head thrown back upon the back of his chair nd his eyes closed, and seemed to join with his whole heart in the supplication which the hymn offered up. Rev. Mr. Ray then read from the Scrip- tures that portion commencing, “Come unto me, @ll ye that labor and are heavy ladem, and I will give you rest.” Aji then kneeled around the table, and the Rev. Mr. Upham offered up a prayer. The condemned bewed his head still lower as the rev- erend man enunciated the words, “We do ear- neatly repent our misdeeds and humbly supplicate for that forgiveness and redemption which can oniy ome from above.” McElhaney seemvd to tully enter into the spirit of the prayer, as, with his fore- head bowed upon his hand, he listened to the en- treaty being sent up in his behals. ADMINISTERING TUE SACRAMENT, ‘The ceremony of administering the sacrament of fhe Lord's Saber yes then.periormed, the ritwal NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH. 22,. 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. Deing read by Kev. Mr. Upham, with the words:— “The body o! the Lord Jesus Christ broken for thee. Take, eatand hold remembrance of Him, with thy heart full of thanksgiving. The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed to preserve thy soul and body to everlasting life. Drink it in remembrance of the Saviour and with thanksgiving to God." To the prisoner was first given the morsel of bread and the cup of wine. As he received them he did it with a frm hand. The others then partook of the bread and wine, the ritual being repeated for each, The hymn, “Just as Iam, without one plea,” was next sung, all present joining in. The closing Prayer was offered by Rev. Joseph Scott, who asked for a ble: ‘on the man who was so soon to meet @ terrible ordeal. Divine help and sustenance were invoked to uphold him 1 the trying moment, Upon the officer Who was to execute the law a biessing was also invoked for the kindness and love which had marked his treatment of the con- demned, Thus ended the services, and the spec- tators returned to the rotunda, leaving McElhaney alone with the spiritual advisers, FOUR HUNDRED SPECTATORS IN WAITING. In the rotunda the spectators were waiting for the appearance of the solemn procession of death. The legal witnesses were se: Opposite the scaf- fold, and all otuers, with the exception of the re- Porters, occupied standing positions in the cor- ridors in front of the north, east and south wings oi the jail. There were nearly four hundred per- sons thus in waiting for the ceremeny of death, and over the whole tuere was a solemn air of awe and reverence which the coming event inspired, Shortly before ten o’clock Sheriff Clark stepped to the centre of the rotunda and briefly addressed the spectators, He Feaupaied them to preserve the utmost possible order and quietness during the coming ceremony. He had given orders that no ome should allowed to leave the bulid- ing until his permission had been given, and it would be useless for any one to attempt to leave. The minutes slowly passed away as the entire audience with uncovered heads silently awaited the approach of the procession to escort the deemed man to the place on which the last breath of existence would be drawn; amd that the large audience were sympathizers and re- alized the solemnity of the eccasion was apparent ‘rom the fact that not @ soul im that multitude ad- dressed his neighbor, but reverently gazed at the dread cortége. THE PROCESSION OF DEATH. At precisely two minutes and a half past eleven o’clock Sheriif Clark was seen to enter the rotunda, looking far ler than the condemned, who fol- lowed close behind, with his arms and wrists pin- joned closely. Ifthe rear of the condemned {fol- lowed the Rev. Mr. Upham, Sheriffs Bradley, Bailey and Merrill. [t was clearly apparent that tue spirits of McKlhbaney and his remarkable fortitude had partially deserted him, for as his footsteps echoed through the aimost death-uke quietness of the rotunda 5 partial paleness overspread his features. Hardly hi he entered the room before his eyes glanced upward at the instrument of death, but steadily and firmly his tootsteps increased, leading him onward, littie by little, to the platform from whence, in a few short moments, he would be launched on the broad ocean ofeternity. ON THE GALLOWS. Sheriff Clark led the march.up the stairs leading to the drop, walking with a firm tread, about four ieetin advance of the remainder of the short pro- cession. The central figure in the group, enewen by Rev. Mr. Upham, came next, and then lollowed the Deputy Sheriffs and the other clergymen. McElhaney’s step not falter in the least, and there was apparently no change in his appearance or feelings. On rencniog: the to) of the stairs he stepped directly Bron the drop an seated himself upon a chair which one of the officers placed for the purpese. The Migh Sheriif then sich rod to the front of the platform, and, slightly leaning against the rail, proceeded ina caim, collected and steady veice to read the death warrant. ‘THE NOOSE ADJUSTED. Immediately after the conelusion of the reading of the warrant Deputy Sherif Bradley approached and adjusted the noose around the neck of Mc- Elhaney, and the black cap was drawn down over the neck of the condemned. During these trying pre- liminaries there was no movement of a muscie, and the last view of McBihaney’s features beiore the black cap shut him out from the light of heaven Torever, showed them to be as firm and motionless ever. Rev. Mr. Up! then advanced to the front and offered up a short and impressive prayer, LAUNCHED INTO ETERNITY. Sheriff Clark approached his position and said :— “And now I proceed to execute the sentence of the law on James McElhaney, and may God have mercy on his soul.” Almost simultaneously with the pronunciation of the last word he pressed his foot upon the spring, the drop fell, and the of James McElhaney shot downward like a bolt. The position of the body when the rope reached a straight condition was inclined forward at an Aree of forty-five degrees. The fall was six feet, and the body was jerked backward and forwar: violently for a few seconds, It quickly assumed a rpendicular position, and for several seconds turned rapidly round and round. The drop fell at exactly ten minutes it eleven o'clock, At frst there was no perceptible motion of the body except that which was produced by the fall. One minute later, however, there was a steady, regular motien of the body, which consisted mainly in a slight con- traction of the muscles ef the legs and what ap- peared to be a@ heaving of the chest. This con- eee! for about four minutes, when all motion ceased. A SLIGHT ACCIDENT WITH THE NOOSE. When the body fell the noose slipped around s0 that the knot, which should have remained under the ear, paueee around and rested against the back of the neck. This weuwld seem to indicate that Aeath was not instantaneous, though the sur- geons pronounced the latter to have been the case. solemn silence prevailed during the time whieh the body remained suspended, as the im- pressed beholders realized th: ney, z James As who had so recently beén In their inidst a living man, was passing to the throne of God. THE BODY CUT DOWN. At five minutes to twelve o'clock the bedy was reverently lowered, placed upon a bier and an ex- amination of the corpse made by the physicians. It was found that the neck had been broken in- stantly at the time of the fall and consequently death must have been instantaneo' The fea- tures presented & remarkably natural appearance, and were free from discolorations or any dence of intensity of ene pies, the closi: struggle between life and death. At one o’cloc! the body was delivered te friends, who removed it to East Cambriage, where the funeral services will be selemnized te-morrow, at two o'clock P. M., from the Rev. Mr, Ray’s church, corner of Cam- bridge and Third streets, " WASHINGTON MURDERERS. O Bri Condemned rof His y itentiary— Wright, the Alleged Assassin of the Polish Pedler, Not Yet Disposed Of. WasmINaToN, March 21, 1873, The President to-day informed the Attorney General that he had decided to commute the sen- tence of O’Brien from hanging to imprisonment for life, and the Attorney General has consequently “authorized the issue of the proper documents in the matter, which will be made out and semt to the jail of this District to-morrow, whereupen O’Brien will be taken tothe Albany Penitentiary to pass the remainder of his life, O'Brien, it will be remembered, was a policeman on duty at a public picnic at the. time he shot Cunningham. There is new.imprisoned in the jail of this Dis- trict one other person charged with murder, Tom Wright, a negro, who, it is alleged, murdered and robbed a Polish pedier in December it. Wright is a negro who is well known to the District, He has exhibited a very de: during his incarceration in jail, and y marked to the bailiffs of the Court, where 3 brought out for trial, that he didn’t care whether he be hanged er not. The case is set for trial on Monday next, THE ALLEGED WIFE HURDER. vie President Grant Comm ef Death—The Arrest, Release a: Rearrest of the i Husband—He Is Committed. Daniel Hickey, the man twenty-eight years of age, who is suspected of having thrown his wife Julia from the second story window ef their apart- ments, at 428 West Forty-second street, on the 8th of January last and thus caused her death, as heretofore published in the HERALD, was yester- day brought before Coroner Herrman, at the City Hall, by Sergeant Phillips, of the Fifty-seventh street Police Court, who had arr@ted him the night previons at 778 Second avenue, the residence of his sister. Hitkey was taken in chdtge im- mediately after the occurrence and committed by Justice Bixby. Om Tuesday last tne magistrate, on the certificate of two Bellevue Hospital sure ons that Mrs. Hickey was considered out of nger, released the prisoner on giving $500 bail, soon alter which, contrary to expectations, she died in the hospital. Corener Herrman thereupon ordered the rearrest of Hickey. The prisoner stated that on the night his wile was injured she ‘was much inebriated, and after going to bed hur- riedly arose in @ passion and commenced huriiag furniture avout the room. Directly she opened the front window and threw out the baby's cradie. Hickey states that he then jumped out of bed, fearing she might harm hersell, and going to the window attempted to restrain and pacily her, She, however, Stenaenee with him and in doing so lost her balance and fell out of the window. Hickey further states that he and deceased (she being his second wife) had had no quarrel that night, but she felt greatl/ annoyed about something which had been said concerning her by one outside the family. Hickey was recommitted to the Tombs to await the result ef Coroner Herrman’s investiga- tion, which will take place in three or four day: Hickey served nearly four years in the army duri the rebellion, A HORRIBLE MYSTERY. A Wealthy Citizen of Brooklyn, Brother of Ex-Assemblyman Goodrich, Found Shot Through the Head. ————-—__——. WAS IT MURDER OR SUICIDE? A Gold Watch, Chain and Pocketbook Stolen from the Person of Deceased—Singular Efforts to Lend the Semblance of Self-Destruction to the Body. Brooklyn has become the scene of another sensa- tion of a sanguinary character. The affair is one which is enshrouded by an air of mystery, which Will require the utmost ingenuity of the expert detectives and the most incisive and penetrative powers of the Coroner to dispel. The great question to be kept in view by these officials of the law, upon whose perspicuity so much depends in fathoming the affair, is, ‘Was it murder or sui- cide?’ That is the question tobe solved. Theories are singularly strong bearing upon either version; but the burden of proof jies with the authorities. The facts ae, in brief, these:—A gentleman of wealth and steady habits, residing in a brown stone dwelling in a thinly settled neighborhood, on the hillside, the western sloping of Prospect Park, on Degraw street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, was found lying on the floor of the front basement of his resi- dence, with a BULLET HOLE THROUGH HIS LEFT TEMPLE and a deep scar on his right eyebrow. The window of the rear basement (the kitchen) was broken, 80 as to admit the entrance of a hand to shove back the catch which fastened the sash. A jack-knife was also found in the room, and a towel, which had been rinsed for the evident purpose of oblit- erating the stains of plood, which were, however, plainly visible. The watch, chain and pocketbook of deceased were missing, and the beliefis that they were stolen. A thorough search of the domicile from cellar to attic failed to elicit amy further evi- dence of robbery. Nothing was disturbed nor ‘was there the slightest indication of @ struggle having taken place on the premises. THE MYSTERY WAS DEVELOPED inthis manner: Ex-Assemblyman William W. Good- rich, the leader of the liberal movement in Kings county during the late campaign, visited Police Headquarters, corner of Livingston and Court streets, about ten o’clock yesterday morning, and informed the authorities that Charles Goodrich, his brother, was lying dead in an unoccupied house, and believed that he had been murdered. Ser- geant Van Wagner and Detectives Folk and Videtto at once repaired te the house, where Uap- tain Cassidy and Sergeant Meeks were already installed searching for a clew to the mystery. When the representative of the HERALD arrived, which was early in the forenoon, he found the body of deceased, a man about five feet eight inches, attired in a suit of black, lying on the brightly carpeted floor of the well furnished basement. The head was reposing on the legs of a pair of boots, THE BODY LYING ON ITS BACK, about two ieet from the mantelpiece, the feet toward the door leading to the hall. Over the right eyebrow was a cut, such as might have been dealt by the blow of a heavy instrument, but, strange to say, there were no blood stains on that side of the face. On the left temple, in the rear part, was a bullet hole. The blood on this side was deep and clotted. A thick clot of the life fluid also stained tne white marble hearthstone, and this stain must have been made by the blood which flowed from the incision on the left eyebrow. The hands were stretched down straight by the sides as carefully as though the remains had been regularly laid out by an under- taker. By the side of the right hand was A PISTOL of the Ethan Allen pattern (a seven-shooter) with three chambers discharged. There was just one slight splash of bieod on the lower part ef the mantelpiece, such 8s might have been caused by the sprinkling of the blood from tne wound over the right eye, supposing him to have been struck while standing near the mantelpie: The brother the deceased, who was seated near tne head of e unfortunate man, said that he felt confident that Charles was MURDERED IN THAT HOUSE, and that robbery was the object, as his gold watch (a Mags hair g ene), chain and pocketbook were gone. He could not tell how much money deceased had with him, but he did not think it was any very large amount. He (Mr. W. W. Goodrich) stated that he had called to see his brother on Wednesday morning, upon which occasion he took with him a little can. He rang the bell and knocked at the door, but, receiving no answer, concluded that Charles was not in. He thereupen took his departure, and did not return un! morning sho: before nime o’cleck. remained unmolested bencath the stoop, but he was unable op gain, admission to the house, He then repaired to the residence ‘of Mr. Potter, a gentieman Tesiding in the vicinity, who had the eys of an adjoining pd Procuring the keys he ed acopey the butt and le along the reof to the scuttle of ig Prother of abode. Enterin; the Beutt! made his way down jadder ling from the roof, at the foot of which is a door. The door being locked from the inside Mr. Goodrich burst open the panels, and by that means gained an entrance to the lanaing of the third floor. He then repaired threugh cach room, finding the doors all open, but NO ay hd OF LIFE, Reaching the basement hall he tried the handle of the front apartment. It was lecked, Groping his way te the end of the hall he found the kitchen deor open, and, in order to obtain light, threw open the deor leading to the rear yard. The win- dow was next opened. The window pane had evi- dently been cut out just beneath the catch tora suMiclent space to admit of the introduction ef a hand te remove the fastening. A knife lad also been used, doubtless befere the glass was broken, a ey back the latch which secures the sash. ut HE FULL HORROR OF THIS SCENE did not burst upon him until he opened the door which divided the front and rear basements, in the former of which lay the murdered remains of his brother, Charles Goodrich, who was forty-two years of age, was a lumber merchant, formerly of Albany, but tor the past five ye: esident ef New York. He had been married, but was a widower. Some time ago he invested o considerable amount of money in the purchase oi real estate, and last Sum- mer erected six three story and basement brown stone houses on Degraw street, near Fifth avenue, ‘@ bleak locality in Winter, but a charmingly elevate: place for Summer residence, The house in waich he met his death, according to the statement of his brother, he had been occupying a couple of weeks, and had furmished it for the occupancy of a gentie- man and family who were about to take up their residence there a few days hence. Deceased was NOT GIVEN TO MELANCHOLY or despondency, nor had he any finantial troubles, as far ag can be ascertained, While stopping in this house—No. 731 Degraw street—he hi en in the habit of eating his meais out, or bringing a lunch with him. He slept im the front room, on the floor over the parlor—an apartment furnished with a regard to goo taste comfort and refinement. By the side of bed, which was slightly disai ged, Was an open desk, the upper of which was pi filed with books. The theory of one of the oMfcers engaged upon the case is that he had lain down upon the bed, and hearing a noise in the basement proceeded, pistol in hand, to investigate it. He was struck on the temple and then shot. The blood from the latter weund was washed away and the pistol piaced by the right hand TO LRND THE APPEARANCE OF SUICIDE. A wet towel, above mentionea, bearing marks of blood, gives strength to this tueory. Beneath the sink was found a copy of the fourth edition of the agile of Thursday last. The paper in question was saturated with water, Coroner Whitehill visited the house during the forenoon, examined the wound and expressed his inability to give any decided opinion as to the problem, He has empanelied the following dis- tinguished jury, and is determined upom arriving ultimately at THE MOST INTELLIGENT VERDICT PRACTICABLE: Alderman N. E. Richardson, Leann ot os Whitney, 3. B. Chittenden, Gongressmai Kinsella, ry U. Bowen, Supervisor Large William £, Osoorn, Jonn B, Rolph, George Powers, D. A. Robbins and Robert Spears, The inquest is set down to be held at two o'clock to-morrow after- noon. dD a8 WAS IT SUICIDE? Mrs. Fletcher, a lady residing on Degraw street, near Fifth avenue, states that Mr. Charles Good- rich, the deceased, nad been stopping at the house in which he was found dead during the Winter. ‘This conficts With the statement of Mr. W. W. Goodrich, Deceased was in the habit of visiting the residence of Mrs, Fletcher and was on most iriendly terms With her family, Two weeks ago he told her son that his father and mother were com- ing over to Brooklyn to take up their abode with him, and that then they could all be neigh. bors. Om Tuesday night she had a letter for him (Mrs. Fletcher Was in the habit of receiving letters addressed to Mr. Goodrich in his absence) which he brought to the house, Alter knock- ing at the door for @ long time the summons was answered by Mr. Goodrich, and she t him sue had news for bi His hair was dishévelicd aud be wore & wild lgok. As he tank the letter he exclaimed, “I don’t care! I don't |, care!’ He then closed the door abruptly and went into his solitary abode. When the kind neighbor returned to her home she told her husband oi MR, GOOD RICH’S SINGULAR MANNER, and remarked that did she not know that he was nota drinking man she would say that he was drunk. On Thursday twe ladies called on her to see Mr. Goodrich and went up to his house, but were unable to obtain admission, They returned to tell Mra, Fletcher that they could get into the house. A roy who lives in the neighborhood, states t he saw the deceased talking to ® man on Flatbush avenue on Thursday afternoon, which, if true, will go to show that es Goodrich met his death within the sixteen or eighteen hours preceding the finding of the body. A pocket map of the Western States was found beneath the basement window, which, it is supposed, AFFORDED REGRESS TO THE MURDERER. On the back of this map was written a name, which the detectives withhold. A letter is also sald to be in the a Of one of the relatives ofthe dead man which may afford a clew worthy investigation. There are mysterious whispers of unknown feminine ncy having been concerned in some at present inexplicable manner with the case. But investigation alone can throw light upon the mystery, and decide the doubtful ques- tion, ‘Was it murder or suicide ?”” ‘THE POST-MORTEM. Dr. A. W. Shepar@, the County Physician, to- ether with Dr, Speir, Coroner Whitemil, District ttoruey Winchester britton, Captain Cassidy and @ number of others, repaired to the house at five o’clock last evening, where the doctors made a post-mortem examination of the body. The hasty examination made by the Coroner yesterday morning only brought to light one pistol shot wound, out when the post-mortem was held last eve the physicians found three bullets in the brain. There waé a bullet hole in the left temple, the ball penetrating the brain; there was @ bullet hole behind the left ear, the ball being found im- bedded in the skull, and there was another bullet hole behind the right ear, the bah ef: which passed through the head and lodged on the opposite side. The only wound which had traces of powder on it was that over the left tem- ple. The other wounds seem to have been made with the pistol being held gome distance from the head. All these circumstances tended to confirm the idea that the deceased was really murdered. From the position of the wounds Dr, Shepard said he could hardly believe it possible for the man to have shot himself, especially in so many different places. They noticed, in making the examination, that the deceased had only been shaved a short time previous. He was seen on Thursday er at the door by a boy residing in the neighborhood, and in the evening, it 1s sald, he was seen by a gon oi Mr. William Richardson, of the Fifth Avenue Railroad line, The District Attorney went through the house and examined it very thoroughly, but did not ex- press any opinion further than that it was cer- tainly @ very mysterious case, “THE PAST TEN YEARS.” The Wonderfal Progress of the World Between 1861 and 1872. St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church was well filled last night to hear Bishop Simpsen’s lecture on “The Past Ten Years,” or the events that have transpired between 1861 and 1872. In some re: spects these were like ordinary years, These respects the Bishop pointed out. They have de- Monstrated, however, that mankind is making progress in the world, and it will probably con- tinue to do so until man shall become what God designed him to be—His vicegerent on earth. The Bishop then pointed out the two great elements of human progress—uamely, material prosperity and intellectual culture. The former requires the accumulation of wealth, without which mountains cannot be tunnelled nor oceans cabled, The intellectual thought was alse clabo rated. The Bishop next described the REMARKABLE GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES IN AFRICA, around the North Pole, &c. Livingstone lies buried for years in the wilds of Africa until a New York paper sends out an interviewer to findhim. And sad, indeed, must be the fate of any man whom the interviewer cannot find out. The explorations in the Holy Land were next referred to, But to bring men into @ common brothefhood rapid transit is necessary, This, the Bishop demenstrated, has been accomplished within the last ten years, so as to be the wonder of the world. And the building of the Pacific Railroad has changed the current of the commerce of the world. The opening of the Suez Canal was a contemporaneous event with the opening of the Pacific road. The tunnelling of lount Cents and the laying of the Atlantic cable were referred to as marks of this human progress, ‘The Bishop believed that the failure of the first cable enabled us to be the great nation we are to- aay, for had it been in complete order we should have been drawa to Europe, and the latter, duniag our war, would have interiered with us insuch way as it could not without the cable. But, victory hav- lng perched on our banners, THE INFLUENCE OF AMERICA UPON RUROPE has overturned monarchies and set up republics, and we stand te-day foremost among the nations ofthe earth. The comparative ease and safety of travel in these days were pointed out, and the ratio of increase of wealta—100 per cent—aad of population—twenty-two r cent—during those years was also set forth. And as the result ef this ‘Wealth society is advancing. Art, science, educa- tion, religion, &c., advance, and wealth adds to the eomfort of society everywhere. And with it also the culture of mind advances. But that scctaty be A all the possible advantage every min must be educated, and he hoped for the day when society should say that every child must be edu- cated. This plan is spreading in Europe, in China, Japan, aeueate &c., and females are to be as well educated as males. And the result of this common education of the sexes is to lift society higher. The liberation of the serfs in Russia and onthe slaves in America, the subsequent measures by Brazil and so Cry tO otha pret abolish ver, ate this progress. Saver APIS OPER GAE etrPRugh, oe imcluding the [act of women, the Bishop gave asa fortaer indication of this progress. He had no sympathy with strong-minded womem or free love, &¢., but ivr twenty years he had been firmly convinced that intem- pera prostitution, &C, cannot be overthrown until we can command woman’s influ- ence therein. The separation of Church and State and the spread of religious liberty, the overthrow of the temporal power of the Bope are further signs, and he expected by and by to see Russia aie iow her subjects to think and worsbip as they please. THE UNIFICATION OF NATIONALITIES in Germany, Italy, Russia, America, &c., is another sign, and if our ‘State and national governments are wise they will teach only the English language in_our public schools, The Bishop next pointed out the proud position in various aspects that America occupies to-day in the eyes of the world, and gave reasons therefor. And we have taken this position within the past ten years, The Bishop closed with a beautiful apostrophe to America. SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY. Association Hall, in Twenty-third street, was full to repletion last night, on the occasion of a lecture being delivered by General Thomas L. Clingman, of North Carolina, who was, in days gone by, for sixteen years a member of Congress. A large number of Southerners were present, and the enthusiasm upon the appearance of the lec- turer was very great. He commenced by stating that it had been asserted over and over again that the most scientific men of present and past days were infidels, but he denied the correctness of the charge, and mantained that the lien between science and Christianity was a strong one. To show the paucity of our human intellect ne then portrayed an imaginary interview between an Esquimaux and a learned professor. The son of the North asked the professor questi as to light, heat, vegetable life, force of gravity; but the in- direct replies of the professor failed to satisfy him, for they showed a great want of definite and accu- rate knowledge, and the deduction drawn by the lecturer from this was that science is unable to ex- He then, with great humor, de- session of @ ‘meeting of the worms,” in which tne _ follew- ing questions were propoua Whether the Great Eastern steamer exists; whether Kaiser Wilhelm could put an army of 1,000,000 on foet, and whether citizens of the United States had built a railroad from New York to San Francisce? And it was unanimously resolved that all scientific worms would lose the respect of their brethren if they believed any such absurd theories. General Clingman then maintained that the worms can better learm facts relative to scientific knowl- edge and form more correct opinions than @ large portion of scientific men of the day as to what transpires in the natural world, and t corrobera- tion of this theory he gave quotations from Hemer, Akenside and Walter Scott. He then discussed in an able manner the question of astronomy, from the smallest and remotest nebula down to the sun. After exhausting this subject he dwelt at length on the faculty of spirituality aud causality as elements of the human mind, and like- wise the laws of unifermity in the nat ural world, In conclusion he showed that the study of the material world not only showed the existence of a God, but that He pos- sesses the attributes of ommipotence, infinite wis- dom, unity, benevolence, Man was placed here for a teraporary purpose—he was placed here as a laborer, and had @ moral pi] conscientious feelings, and that science show matter to be eternal, and that its Creator must be #0 likewise. He then closed his remarks by alluding to the Scriptores, and that these qualities were clearly in- dicated in the Bible. At the conclusion of the lec- ture several of the audience, said to be oid ac- quatntances, shook the lecturer warmly by the hand. ‘The lecture is to be repeated. THE COURTS. Yesterday George KE. Moran, who has been charged in connection with Simon Donan and Marcus Newman for alleged complicity in the illicit distillation of whiskey at Spring Valley, Rockland county, was arrested in Brooklyn on a bench warrant and committed tor trial. Donan and Newman are under indictment, and may pos- sibly be tried in the present term of the United States Circuit Court. An attachment was granted yesterday by Judge Fancher, in Supreme Court, Chambers, against the Property of Austin Bidwell, alias A. Biron Bidwell, one of the parties charged with the recent for- geries upon the Bank of England. Mr. samuel A. Blatchford, one of the attorneys of the bank, and Mr, Frank May, Deputy Chief Cashier of the bank, made the affidavits upon which the attachment was granted. Mr. Blatchferd swears that the suit is brought to recover £102,000, or $497,768 in gold, obtained on forced acceptances from the bank. He further asserts that Mr. Bidwell, who is charged with the forgery, is now @ fugitive from justice in Cuba, The same statements are substantially set forth in the aMidavit of Mr. May, with the addi- tional allegation that Bidwell, under the name of F. A. Warren, George McDonnell and George Bid- Well, were co-conspirators in the fraud, and that an oMcer traced £10,000 of the proceeds ot the fraud to the possession of George McDonnell while on his way to this city. Considerable time was occupied yesterday in Supreme Court, General Term, arguing the appeal from the recent decision of Judge Fancher, grant- inga@ peremptory mandamus against the Comp- troller, directing him to pay some $1,500 claimed by Daniel O’Brien as Crier of the Superior Court. At the close of the argument the Court at once affirmed the decision ‘of Judge Fancher, the effect of which was to declare that Judges of the Court have the right to appoint the oficers of the Court, and not the Comptroller. i Two applications were made yesterday before Judge Fancher, at Supreme Court, Chambers, for the appointment of a receiver of the Bull’s Head Bank. One e@pplication was on behalf of Mr. Lawrence R. Kerr, and the other for Mr. James P. Brewster. For the former Mr. Edward Stephen- son was proposed as receiver, tendering security an $100,000, with ex-Senator Lambier and Thompson W. Decker as sureties, who, it was stated, would Justify in double the amount of the bond. For Mr. Brewster noone was suggested as receiver, but opposition was expressed to the appointment of Mr, Stephenson. The Judge took the papers, reserving his decision until this morning, Asuit was concluded yesterday in the Marine Court, Part 1, before Judge Gross, which occupied two days, The plaintiff, Virgilio Togetti, sued to recover from Leopold Bamburger, on a contract for house ornamental painting, the sum of $400, The work in question consisted of panel paintings in defendant's residence of the seasons, illustra- tions of the animal and natural features of the four quarters of the globe, cupids, &c. The defence ‘was that this work, admitted to have been satisfac- torily done, was but a portion of a general contract with another party, Tne jury took a different view, and rendered a verdict for the plaintiff in $443, Yesterday, in the Marine Court, before Judge Cur- tis, the case of Wergas vs, The Second Avenue Rail- road Company was tried. It was an action to re- cover damages from ¢he company on the ground that vehicle, the property of the plaintiff, was recklessly and negligently injured by one of the fendant’s cars, which was being driven by a drunken servant. It appeared that, at the time of <he alleged damage, the plaintiff's horse and wagon were standing unattended on the street, and that there is a city ordinance against the obstruction of the streets in this maaner without a special license. Plaintiff having failed to,show that he had such a license, or that he was actually delivering goods in the prosecution of his business, the complaint was dismissed, with a stay of thirty days to make a case on appeal. The trial of Frederick Meggi, charged with mur- der in the first degree by the alleged ministration of poison to Frederick J, Siegfried, was resumed yesterday in the General Sessions, before Recorder Hackett. Professors Chandler, McCready and Endemann were examined relative to the effect of arsenical pola upon the human system, and the probability of the presence of a large quantity of arsenic in the body of Siegfried. As one-fourth of @ grain was found in the portion of the remains analyzed, they concluded that it had been diffused throughout the system. Mrs. Siegiried, the wife of the deceased’s son, testified at great rey br: and said that two days before his death old s legfried told her that the Heggis were een him. The ‘trial will be continued on Monday. EXCITING NAVAL NEWS. Board the United at Sea—Four Men Fall from the Fore Topsail Yard—One in the Ocean—Gallant Conduct of Lieu- tenant Seth Ackley, United States Navy. The following exciting and deeply interesting narrative bas r TOM Op BORED the Untied ich arrived at Valparaiso on States ship Omana, the 7th of February last, after a very rough pas- sage, which was really her trial trip:— On Tuesday afternoon, January 7, when the ship ‘was in latitude 37 06 south, longitude 52 west, the officers and men were startled , a veh, @ crash, ‘end the cry, ‘Aman overboard!” Ali were at once onthe move for their stations. Tom Lee had the deck and was making preparations to heave to, not an easy thing to io with the wind aft and a heavy sea, but he did it well and quickly. Those on the poop with the life buoys saw a man floating astern; they tried hard first to get the buoys away, but ‘they hung foul from the effect of constant storms. Meanwhile some one jumped overboard and caught the man and they went astern together. An officer got a rope and @ grating over; a man caught the rope and by this time the life buoys were down ; he couid not hold the rope inthe heavy tow and had to let go. The doctor of the ship and an officer with six volunteers got away in the whaleboat and after narrowly bee being swamped several times got off some distance astern and came in sight ef the life buoys with somebody just grasping them. This was Seth Ack- ley, just where those Jamiliar with modesty and pluck would expect to find him. The crew pulled with @ will, Coming near him he called that he was “all right,” and begged the men to pull ahead to where the man ought to be if he rose again. This they did, and searched for him, but found nothing but his cap. They then went and picked up Ackley. He never thought of himself once during the whole affair and was as cool as a cucumber, or as when he, with others, was floun- dering in the surf at Narragansett Pier last Au- gust. The men hoisted him in and returned to the ship, into which with some dificuity they were also hoisted, as it was very reugh lor swimming or boating either. Again on board, they found what it was all about. Four men had been at work on the foretopsaii ‘d; the tye parted near the fly-block, and the ‘ad had ‘opped by the run about thirty feet, shaking off the men, The lookout caught in the rigging, one seaman in the fore resing, another on the foreyard, ail of whom were slightly injured. The fourth man, John Owens, a carpenter, who was at work On the yard repairing a cieat, fell over on the ship's ratl, shattering it, and then overboard. He must have received fatal injuries, as Ackley says that alter he let go of the rope he held the man up lor some time, but getting embarrassed by the tow and seeing the buoys floating towards him he tried te get hold of them. At thia time he thinks the man died from his injuries, as he threw his arm up in @ convulsive struggle and went down. What will be Ackley’s reward? Nothing bat ee esteem of his comrades and the respect of his sul if ordinates. Ours is not a service where such gale lant acts can bo substantially rewarded by the sere men was under fall headway at the ume over. There was the gravest douvt a 'Biere and when he would land, but that isa consideration, say bis comrades, which ‘could not afect such a fellow as Ackley in the line of duty or humanity. THE TWEED INVESTIGATION. The State Senate Committee, consisting of Sen« ators Johnson (Chairman), Lowery, Allen, Gra- nam and Lewis, appointed for the purpose of investigating the political conduct of Mr. Tweed as # Senal nd to inquire as to his fitness to take his Senatorial chair, met yesterday in the Metro- politan Hotel, in & room Secining, the pri- vate apartments of the ex-Boss. The com- mittee assembied with closed doors, and went into executive session {or nearly an hour. Mr. Tweed was present during part of this time with his counsel. About eleven o'clock Mr. Parsons, the counsel for the cofimittee, an- nounced to the representatives of tie press that the committee had adjourned until this (Saturday) morning at ten o'clock. The reason of the sudden adjournment was announced to be the engage- menis of the counsel for the committee, which would prevent his attendance during yesterday. Mr. Tweed looked as Eporese as usual and passed out of the room with his counsel and his face beaming With smiles, and retired to his own apartments with his couvsel and confidential cierk, Mr, Dewey. Y Se Siete - ANOTHER FIRE IN ERIE. All the Buildings at the Long Dock Consumed. The Passenger Depot, the Ferry Buildings and Two Freight Houses in Ruins—Loss $175,000—Travel Not To Be Impeded. For the third time within six years the Erie de- pot in Jersey City has been visited by a most de- structive fire, That which broke out yesterday, shortly bejore one o'clock in the afternoon, was the least destructive of the three, though the con- flagration swept over an area of three acres, leaving scarcely a landmark of one half the passen- ger depot on the eastern side and reduc- ing the two immense east-bound freight houses, with their contents, as well as the ferry house, to a heap of cinders which foated away with the tide. No wonder the expression “That Eriv is an unlucky company” was heard from more than one individual as the playful flames that sported {for afew moments on the roof over Aspell’s restaurant in the passenger depot flew to the embraces of a naughty and unruly northwest- ern wind, and then skipping along in a lively dance shouted and laughed in devilish glee as the fabrics of puny man melted be neath their unholy tread. The structures, it is true, were frail and offered no resistance to the devouring element. Yet within the briet space of twe hours four immense ranges of build. ings crumbled into a mass of black débris, It appears that the fire eriginated in that part ob the passenger depot in which Aspell’s saloon is le- cated, and so rapidly did it spread that the clerks and employés within the offices could barely escape with their lives, They left behind them not only the archives and documents of every kind, but some even left their overcoats. The frent row of offices comprised on the ground Moor the Northern Railroad office, the telegraph office ana baggage room. At right angles to and connected with either end ot this row ran two wings, forming with the front three sides of a parallelogram, One of these winga contained @ ladies’ waiting room and the ticket offices of tne Northern and Erie railroads. The other wing comprised the boiler room, the gentle men’s dressing room and the restaurant. Agiance at these positions will convey at once te the reader how readily a fire originating in either wing would extend to the others when tie structure was entirely of wood and a strong wind prevailed. The upper story of the front win; contained the office of the superintendent, of ni assistants, clerks, conductors and ‘other employés On the staff of the Eastern Division. In an almost incredibly short space of time these apartments were at the mercy of theflames. The spacious root which had recently been erected, epanning the space between the depot and the ferry buildings, formed @ most desirable connecting link ior the fire fend. A strong current of air swept through this space as the flames spread, and soon the flery current had crept along not only the roofs of the forey buildings but to Tavidr’s restaurant on the one side and the eastern freight depot on the other, Now the battle commenced in earnest, The firemen, under command ef Chief Engineer Farrier, attacked it on the south and west, but the fury of the wind counteracted their operations, ‘ne White Star wharf, with several hundred bales of cotton piled thereon, and the steamship Baltic alongside the shed, was several times in imminent danger. Had the wind been blowing in an opposite direction nothing could have saved it, The terry boats were all taken safely off, and during the progress of the fire they landed their ehgers at the Jersey City and Hoboken ferries, ‘he rolling stock weal taken aay also in safety excepting three cars in the freight depot. Jere- miah Sweeny, the baggagemaster, tents of his office taken away on trucks, and was 80 solicitous about the effects cemmitted to his charge that he and his assistant Libby narrowly escaped with their lives. Mr. Brown, Superintendent of the Ferries, find- ing that all efforts to save of the contents of the buildings in his charge to be useless, turned his attention tothe passenger traffic, so that travel should not be it led. At the same time he em- ployed an extra force of laborers to assist the fire- men wherever necessary. He found a valuable auxiliary in Noah D. Taylor, who exercised more sway over both firemen and laborers, though not Oiticially, than any other man atthe scene. Mr. Tunis T. Onderdonk never retreated from the burning depot till the last passenger car was re- moved out of danger. ‘The police arrangements were admirable. Captain Van Riper, with a squad from the Second precinct, Lhe 3 down upon the thieves, who were besieg- ing the burning buildings in ees of plunder, Twe of these pirates were arrested and locked The losses will not exceed $175,000. f this amount the ferry buildings are set down at each of the freight depots at $20,000, and the passen- ger depot, including offices, $25,000, ir. Tay- lor’s loss is about five thousand dollars; insured for $8,000. . Aspell’s loss will net exceed five thousand dollars. The remaining loss is on freight consigned to the Erie Cempany, consisting of 300 bales of cetton, a large quantity of tobacco and oils, besides sundry other articles, ‘Tpe amount of the insurance en the Erie Buildings cannot be ascertained. A reporter of the HenaLD cailed at the office ef Mr. Barlow yesterday after- noon and ascertained that travel will not be at all obstructed, The ferryboats will ply a@ usual and the trains make their ordinary trips. The Delaware and Lackawanna Company geperously ore their depot at the disposal of the rie Company, but they were informed that this Would not be needed. It seems te be rather a matter of congratulation that the rickety depot was destroyed, as it was designed that at no distant mat the unsightly structure would give place to a building worthy of the name. A handsome and costly structure will be erected as soon as possi! FIRE IN BROADWAY, Loss $24,000. At ten minutes past seven o'cloek last evoning flames were discovered issuing from the top floor of the two-story brick building 160 and 162 Crosby street. The Fire Department was promptly on hand in response to the alarm, and through ite eMcient action the fire was prevented from making the destructive ravage all present at first thought it would. It extended, however, to the Broadway front, which is a four-stery brick building, Nos, 628 and the first and second floors of which were occupied by A. T. Demarest & Co. as @ carriage repository. All efforts were at once directed to the removal of the carriages, which was quickly accomplished, the police and firemen alike working with a will. The second floor of 630 was occupied by Alfred P, Reynolds a8 @ hat and cap factory. The stock was wholly destroyed. 0. A. Miller, also a hat manufacturer, occupied the third floor of 628 and a portion of the third floor of 630. The losses are as follows:—On the, Broadway buildings, owned by John H. Grane $1,000; on the Crosby street buildings, owned by Demarest & Co., $3,000, and $12,000 on their stock, principally by water; Alfred P. Reynolds, $6,000; Charles A, Miler, 000. The cause of the fire and the insur. ances are not known. DEATH OF MIRAMBO, KING OF THE WAYOWER ‘The black Bonaparte of Central Africa, Mirambo, King of the Wayoweh, is dead. This is the same black despot who defied the Arab merchants, to- gether with the HERALD expedition, in July, 1871, to meet him in battle, and who finally defeated the ‘united forces of the Arabs and our Commissiener with great loss at the battle of Wilyankurn, and whe @ month later invested and then sacked Ta bora, the Arab capital, carrying with him several hundred thousand dollars of ivory to his strong- hold in Uyoweh, after an almost complete destruo tion of the rich storehouses of Unyanyembe, Mr. Stanley managed te flank the monarch Beach ky without troubled farther by him, and on. his return to Unyanyembe with Livingstone found the war bee tween Mirambo and the Arabs stili raging. Last December, seyeral months after Living- stone had leit Unyanyembe for the Nile sources, the decisive battle was fought, and Mirambo was slain and his head stuck on @ spear and borne in triumph to Tabora. Let the ivory merchants of New York, Boston and Salem rejoice, for the precious elephants’ teeth must now become cheap enough, as the vast quantities stored at Unyanyembe during the war will now be con- veyed to the coast. Let the friends o/ Livingstone rejoice also, for the road between Ujiji and Zanzibar is free, and any expedition bound for the interior with supplies for the great traveller may easily. reach Ujijiin four months. For the dead Mirambo, who raised himselt by his genius from a common carrier to be King of Uyoweh and scourge of Gen- tal Africa, we have only the Christian's R. 1. P. and a hope that he will trouble no more HexaLp Commissioners, THE REMAINS OF A MURDERED GIRL On Monday last Miss Ida Spencer, only fourteew years of age, was brutally murdered in Syracuse, by Albert Keeler, who struck her on the head with, ‘an iron bar, cer arrived in this city en route to Cypress Cemetery fer interment, and Coroner Herrman waa ed upon to give a certificate, which was requi- site beiore the body could be taken out of the county. The remains of Mrs. Spencer (deceased's Mother) are interred in Cvoresa Hills Cemetery, e Yesterday the remains of Miss itt il