The New York Herald Newspaper, August 16, 1873, Page 8

8 JACKSON'S Execution of a Colored Murderer at Alexandria, Va, “FAREWELL RELIGIOUSLY CRAZY ON THE SCAFFOLD. Great Feare of Death and Wild Plead- ing for Mercy. Bidding the World an Ever- lasting “Farewell.” ALEXANDRIA, Va., August 15, 1873, To-day Alexandria has cnjoyed the remarkable Pensation of what the prison officials term a “‘re- spectable execution.” Even hanging has its Wegrees of comparison, hence, I suppose, the re- bpectability may be allowed without a great stretch of conscience, .The victim was William Jackson, colored, an ex-slave and recently au em- ployé of the Potomac Brick Works, on the Potomac Bnd Washington Railroad, some distance from this pity. On the 15th of February, 1872, Jackson's wife Annoyed him somewhat by persisting in sitting up jn bea against his expressed wish to the contrary. Mrs. Jackson had given birth to a child twelve Mays previously, and was consequently get- ting stronger each hour and probably would have been ‘up and doing” but for the per- Wersity of her brutal partner. On this particular Way, however, he came into the house, and per- ceiving the woman in an upright position on the bed demanded that she should instantly lie down. ‘as he had previcusly averred his utter abhorrence bfthe unfortunate woman it was not his regard for her health that led to this apparent anxtety. Mrs. Jackson attempted to explain her improved condition, and, like any other sensible person simi- larty situated, maintained she wouid sit up no longer than she felt would do her good, Here the bratal portion of the man’s nature developed it- elf. Regardless of the previous suffering of the woman, and heediess of her utter helplessness, he beized a bMlet of wood lying near and struck her a dreadful blow across the top of the head, She fell Senseless On the pillow, from which she never rose pgain, THE DAY FOLLOWING SHE DIED, A woman, living on the same floor with them, sub- bequently entered the room and found Mrs, Jackson Mead. Meeting the murderer a few minutes alter- wards, she asked him what he intended to-day. He coldly replied that he could not bury her, but he Wanted no one to enter the place until his return, Bs he said he was going a short distance to secure Resistance. But he did not return, The woman pforesaid at once informed a police justice, who brdered an inquest and caused Jackson’s arrest, The post-mortem disclosed the fact that the skull Of the deceased woman was fractured, ‘rom which phe had died. He admitted the striking but insistea that the skull must have been injured by a fall from the bed, which, it was proved, did not .occur. Evidence was obtained showing that he her ay to kill his wife, and on No- ember 12, 1872, Judge Keith, in the Circuit Dourt, sentenced him to death, fxing She date of his execution for January 31, 1873, The base was carried to the Court of Appeals at Rich- | mond, but the judgment of the lower Court was affirmed and the execution dated forward to July Ui. Another effort to obtain executive clemency wesulted in deferring the death of the culprit until Yoday. ; 4 MORAL CONVICT. I was with the conaemneda man yesterday, and in bhe course of a brief conversation he declared his ‘unwillingness to longer tread this mundane sphere, ‘and intimated that though the sound of the car- penters’ hammers in erecting the scaffold re- winded him of the inevitabie course of the law, he wouldn't flinch a peg. He was prepared to meet the God of all the earth, he said, and knew that if he must cuffer in tie body the unerring Judge would take him to himself. He looked upon all his trouble as the result of breaking faith with God, to ‘whom he once made a vow that he would walk in the straight and narrow patn, but from which be i Bwerved with lamentable resuits, He appeared to delieve that but for the murder of his helpiess wife be would never have been in a condition to meet bis maker. HIS LAST HOURS ON EARTH. Last night at eight o’ciock the jail committee of the Christian Association visited the coudemned man and engaged in devotional exercises until twenty minutes past nine o'clock, when they took leave of Jachson with permission to re- turn in the morning. Alter their departure Vackson rapped, and upon keeper Cline going to him he suid, “Please raise up the light a little, so that J can read.” ‘he light was suifted gO a8 toshine fuil into the grating of lus cell, and Jackson was quiet until ten o'clock, when he Tapped again. “Will you put out the light? I believe I'll go to am at peace w.th God, and hope I have no B@nemies in the world; and I will lie down here And sleep my last sleep in th.s world.” ‘The light was extinguished as he had requested. For av hour a silence, unknown for a week betore, reigned in the building. So marked was the change that the keepers began to lear that Jackson had Tommitted suicide, and when, going to the door of his cell they coula ‘hear no sound, even of breath- tng Within, their fears were confirmed. The door ras opened softly, and they crept in and found jackson in @ deep sleep, breathing as soitly as a Jittle child. They crept silently away and closed the door softly upon JACKSON'S LAST SLEEP ON EARTH. He s:ept until four o'clock this morning, and when the prisoners were turned out, a4 usual at hali-past five o’clock, Jackson had arisen and dressed himself and soon aiter ate a hearty break- fast, prepared as he had requested the night be- fore, 0! coilee, bread, butter, fried chicken and a mato. He was removed irom his cell to the cor- tidor at hal/-past nine o'clock, several members of the jail committee and the Young Men's Christian Association accompanying him. | At ten o'clock there was outside the jail yard a Foor co sitting upon the porch, with, perhaps, wenty persons standing near the porch and in the Neighborhood, Within the jail, on the rear corri- Gor, sat the condemned man, with one or two jeg of the Young Men's Christian Associa- OL, singing hymns io lugubrious tones, The jail yard Was empty save the HexaLDreporter. Where the reporter stood a riftin the cloud let a few rays ‘Of sublight through, which came, strangely enough, through the open drop in the scaffold and fell upon the wail of tne jail where the doomed man, with his spiritual iriende, sat singing. ALL WAS SILENT Bave the monotonous rise and fall of the hymns, and the cackling of a brood of chickens that ran Doisily avout the yard. Two o! them perched upon @ black pine coffin that jay under the scaffold, Very soon & number of Washingtonians, accom- fanied by the Washington reporters, arrived, and at eleven o'clock the yard contained a considerable jumber Of people, and at the same time a numoer f colored ministers came in and entered the cor- tidor where praying. A Jackson aud his friends were few drops of rain here admon- hed = those without the jail to seek shel- ter within. The rain continued to increase, | considerably diwinisbing the crowd which had by Rhis time gathered in the neighborhood. Three Colored minisiers—Revs. Henry Marshall, J. A. Aldridge and Alexander Ewenson—entered the corridor where the condemped man sat, and the , devotional exercises were renewed with redoubied fervor, The exercises consisted of hymns, exhorta- tions and prayers, ‘There was the same urging upon the condemned man to accept the free proim- ses of salvation, and the singing of hymns that | promised a mecting on the joyful shore, “Why do we want and fear to die,” was the bur- den of the inquiries, whether in plain prose or sol- emn verse, A few minutes after eleven o'clock the following despatch was handed to Sherif! O’Neale :—“The Governor declines to interfere with the exe- ention of the law in the case of William Jackson.” This removed whatever lingering hope still re- mained, Ali this time the jail yard was full of people, the rain pouring upon them in torrents. Al twelve o'clock Sheriff O’Neaie entered the room aud told the doomed man that his time had come. “Thank God,” replied Jackson, ‘the Lord is near at hand.” He then asked that the hymn ‘Other Retuge | Have None” be sung. At the close of the hymn the Sherif, saying that it was raining very hard outside and he would conduct in the house the necessary legal formalities, proceeded to read the record of the sentence and of the various res, ites, Jackson appeared unusually excited during this reading, and at its close asked eagerly, "itrars ‘cursed what does that mean 7’? The Suexive—That 1s not corsed; you are mis- tuken: itis “accused,” and means a person Charged with any crime, JacksON—That's all right enough; I thonght it @aid cursed, MOVING TO THE GALLOWS. The hour of noon had scarcely rang from the town clock when the melancholy procession moved. Firkt came the Sheri, then Jackson, his hands tied behind him, but the shackles off his feet, the rst time tor sixteen months, Alter them the inister# aad members o! the Christian Associa- on. i waa raining hard. and the erawA whieh | worked satisiactorily to all concerne: ma nov exceed four hundred, was ‘ked under umbrellas, All the oMeers carried a! arriving on the scaffold Jackson came forward out in the rain, and in a high, pitched voice, evident! carried away with excitement, he spoke as fol- Jews, in spasmodic utterances :— I am going. I have nothii cep from God, rt re I am and there rod aaikren: 7 have nothing to Foep bac from a8 If'l had auything to Keep back I would tell it to the Lord. Lord, I never re- member that I killed anybody. If I aim a wilful murderer Tdonot know it. Though this gallows 1s to recelve me me, If murderer, Jesus of Heaven, take i the Lord understat . am ut Tam not. Father before Thy charge of'me i into Paradise el of me; ive me way into Para throne. Friends look atime. May God kive you wari ing for Jesus’ sake. Gentlemen, please take warning. Tam gone. Jesus, 1 want to come to Thee. Oh, nerve my soul! ise tae care of me. Oh, Lord, how near! Farewell! Farewell! Jackson here took his place on the trap, and. after the rope was adjusted about his neck, asked for a drink of ter, Some time was occupied in wetting the water from the jail, the doomed man Meanwhile standing upon the gallows and prayin, aloud, “God forgive me,” “Give me help in tha! ‘terrible world,” and other broken sentences. The Water was brought and he drank; then he said, “This is nothing strange; I saw this rope Sunday night. Father in Heaven catch my soul.’’. The cap was here put on, THE TRAP DRAWN. No sooner had the cap been placed on him thai Sheriff 0’Neale stepped te the spring and dropped the trap at twenty-four minutes past twelve, with @ thud. The doomed man was not dead; rolling his head, twitching his shoulders and jerking bis legs, he struggled fifteen minutes with death, which held firm the gripe upon bis throat. At last all was still; At forty-seven minutes past twelve Drs, 't, I. Addam and Garrett examined the body and pronounced Iife extinct, and the remains were lowered and placed in a plain pine coffin that stood under the gallows. The undertaker took charge of the remains and in a few minutes the yard was deserted. PILOTS AS GOVERNMENT OFFICERS. te Opinions of Pilot Commissioners Relating tot Contemplated Change of Making Pilote Government Officers—The Pian Pronounced To Be Not Feasible. An announcement from Washington which ap- peared in yesterday’s HERALD caused considera- ble speculation and various surmises among Pilot Commissioners tn reference to the subject matter of the statement—namely, that the pilots should be licensed and employed by the United States gov- ernment, instead of their acting under the State system, as at present. The plan proposed would make the pilots government officers, and the bene- ficial results of this step, as was said, would be to secure better attention to the equipment of ves- sels before sailing and better protection against smuggling after the arrival of steamers here. In a conversation yesterday with Captain Snow, President of tae New York Pilot Commission, a HERALD reporter was informed that such a plan as that proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury ‘was not at all feasible, and Captain Snow did not believe that such a step, on the part of the Secre- tary of the Treasury, was seriously contemplated. The present system, he said, was entirely in ac- cordance with the laws of this State and had worked well. There were now twenty boats un- der control of the New York Pilot Commission, and these, he believed, did the work to the satisfaction of the mercantile community. He did not think that the advantages that were presumed at Wash- ington as probable to arise from making the pilots government officials were likely to iollow from the change said to be contemplated. It was said that the presence of a government oficer on board @ steamer, some distance out to sea, Would act as a check against smuggling, But it was @ well known fact tnat very little smug- gling, and that enly perhaps at long intervals, was done while vessels were out to sea, and it was equally we!l known that all, or at least nearly all, the smuggling done was the result of an under- standing with the government officer, and was done after the arrival of the vessel. Captain Snow did not see any particular benefit that could arise under this head by making pilots government officers. As to pilots seeing to and reporting upon the equipment Of steamers or other vessels, he con- sidered that absurd. Owners of steamers and ves- ir Own sake, were likely to attend to the saiety of their own vesseis and to their patrons’ comfort. ‘to understand whether or not a vessel was properly cquipped required an examination by @ practical master of @ vessel or one who had been @ master, and none of the pilots have sufficient ex- perience to venture upon a decision in regard to such @ matter. Altogether, Captain Seaman did not see any advantages that could arise from a change, and did not believe, so far as he had yet known of the intention of the Secretary of the Treasury, that the proposed governmental action was feasible. Mr. Thomas Negus, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Board of Pilot Com- missioners, was also called upon, and that gentle- man agreed with the opinion as given above by Captain Seaman. The New Jersey law, he said, was similar in regard to pilotage to the New York law, and both boards worked harmoniously in develop- ing the system. New Jersey had seven boats, and these, with the New York boats, were constantly, in foul weather as well as fair, out at sea watching the arrival of vesseis, He believed tie system he could not see any cause for a change or any good that wou'd come of it. There was a slight clashing be- tween the State law and the powers given to gov- ernment inspectors. The latter in giving masters Of vessels their certificates seemed also to have the power to give them the power or the privilege to pilot their own vesseis, but, with this one point excepted, he did not know of any cause for com- plaint under the present system, and even in cases where the Captain o! a vessel refused to accept the pliot the owners of the verscl have paid the asual fees for pilotage. He did not believe that the pro- posed change wouid in any way diminish the ex- teut to which smuge¢ling (s practised, nor could he see any advantage to be derived from interfering with the State law. FELL FROM A BUILDING. A German. about forty-five years of age, whose name is unknown, by trade a carpenter, yester- day fell from the third story of the new building 135 West Forty-ninth street to the ground and was killed, Deceased was five feet six inches in height, with black chin whiskers and mustache, and wore hee colored pants, dark colored shirt, &t) hat with black band and low shoes. The body was sent to the Morgue and Coroner Young was notified, KILLED BY A PALL. Mr, Fayette Coates, aman forty-two years of age and born in Connecticut, who lived either at 205 or 205 East Sixty-third street, was killed by fall- ing into an area, northeast corner of Sixty-third street and Third avenue, while intoxicated, at least 80 Says the report of Captain Whitcomb, of the Nineteenth precinct. Coroner Keenan was notified fo holt an inquest op the body. BROOKLYN POLICE COMMISSIONERS, More Changes in the Force—Appoint- ment of Bridge Keepers, &c. Further changes among members of the force were made by the Commissioners yesterday morn- ing. The following roundsmen were appointed and reappointed:—Lawrence J. Phalen, democrat, reappointed Second precinct; Thomas Walsh, democrat, reappointed and transferred {from Eleventh to Third precinct; Albert J. Van Brunt, republican, Teappointed Fourth precinct; Oliver H. Smith, republican, promoted from patrolman Fourth precinct, ‘and taking the place of Thomas Dolan; John Graham, democra' reappointed Fiith precinct; Edward Writnour, re- ubilcan, promoted Sixth precinct, vice Bennett; james Hamilton, republican, reappointed and transferred from Ninth to Sixth precinct, in place of Wilitam Gates; Samuel Stiliwagen, democrat, romoted Seventh precinct, vice John W. Warnell; Edwara Lupney, democrat, Eleventh precinct, re- | appointed; John W. Kirby, repubiican, p:omoted | from patrolman First to roundsman Eleventh pre- cinct, vice ‘Thomas Walsh, transferred; Patrick Slatterly, democrat, reappointed Third precinct, William Gear and, Willlam McKelvey were reap- pointed telegraph operators at the Central Ofice. Thomas Williams, operator, was removed and Lewis Ebell appointed in his place, Williams is a | eae | resolution was adopted directing the captains | to furnish the Board with a list of the lensed and unlicensed whiskev fie beer saloons, res ties ot &c., within their respective precincts, | together with ail the information they can obtain | respecting the reputations of the proprietors | ba Sy? e he Board then appointed the following bridge- keepers:—Philip Marer, Union aeeete bi dee; Thomas Carney, Carroll street bridge; Francia Walker, Third street bridge, and Edward Farrell, Ninth street bridge. The Board has yet to appoint a superintendent of police in place of Patrick Campbell, a captain | of the Fifth and @ captain of the Seventh precincts, \ @ drill capta: id a@ stenographer, A POLICEMAN AOOUSED OF PERJURY IN BROOKLYN, Richard W. Wright, an officer attached to the Broadway squad, New York, was charged with perjary, before Justice Wal yesterday, by one Hannah B, Maylan, of No. 222 East Broadway. The allegation is that Wright testified in the divorce | suit of Laura Sanford ys, Addison Sanford (before a@ referee) that the husband had been on terms of improper intimacy with this nah Maylan. The latter pronounced this statement false, and pre- ferred the charge of porary again the onicer, On the cross-examination of Mrs. Mayian, who ita widow, she admitted t she had once been sent to State Prison for shoplifting, and had been ar- rested two or three tmes—once im London, for pawning stolen property. The further he: ing 0 the case was jurned by Justice Walsh until Sept tember & ‘ ‘NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1873.—WITH © SUPPLEMENT. ‘THE ALBANY ATROCITY. Working Up the Case of the Mur- dered Weston in Brooklyn. The Wife of the Victim and Two Female Rela- tives of the Deceased Conveyed to the Capital as Witnesses. Last evening Detective Malone, of Albany, in company with two officers of the Brooklyn depart- ment, left this city for the capital, having in custody three females who were arrested in the Eighteenth ward, Eastern district, Brooklyn, and are held as witnesses, upon recommendation of the District Attorney of Albany, in the case of the murdered man who was found in the ravine, three miles from West albany, on Thursday week last. It ap- pears that on Thursday week last the vody of a one-armed man, about forty years of age, five feet two mches in height, weighing 125 pounds, wearing @ blue coat and vest, dark pants, and baving in his pocket @ card, with the name “Theodore Grune- wold, barber, Nu, %5 Atlantic street, Brooklyn,” was found on the farm of Mr. Isaac Jones by one of the laborers employed on the premises, There Was also found on THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY @ razor on which was engraved the letters “L. V. J.J.,” and the blade was covered with human gore, The man’s throat was cut, and there were no tées than than ten bullete found in the body when the post-mortem examination was held. One of the balis had penetrated the heart, one had passed through the head, two through the hand and the remainder were lodged in the body. All the circumstances were of a nature to clearly illus- trate a most atrocious butchery. The Albany officials went to work on the case with creditable skill, ana found that there were footprints, evidently made by two men, leading from the depot of the New York Central Railroad, The detectives came to the conclusion that the victim had been followed from the eesnt of arrival to & prominence over- looking the ravine, and there the bloody deed was consummated. The intormation souncctins rhe case with Brooklyn was telegraphed to the Chief of Police of the latter city and that. official proceeded . to look into the matter. Tue result was the arrest of Mre Mary Westen, wile of the murdered man, a Mrs. Emil Livingetou and a sister of the latter at No, 116 Palmetto street, Eastern district. These parties are held as witnesses, WHAT DETECTIVE FOLK SAYS, Detective Polk stated to the writer yesterday that as soon as they received the Albany telegram concerning the case they visited the barber shop of Tneodore Grunewold, in the basement of 35 Atlan- tic street, near Hicks. Grunewold informed the officer that he had no recollection whatever of such @ person as the one-armed man whom he described ever having been shaved in that place. The proprietor of the barber shop subsequently, however, brought the officer up stairs to the street floor to have a cigar, and while conversing with him there remarked that he had some recolicction of one of his journeyinen barbers, a man named Emil—he did not ‘know his sirname—telling him that he had shaved a one-armed man. On Tuesday morning, August 5, the man Emil left his employ very abruptly. Subsequently the wile of Emil brought back a razor which her husband had taken away by mistake. One of the men in tne barber's shop accompanied the detective then to 116 Palmetto street, where the deceased had re- sided. At the house a search was made, and two revolvers, seven-shooters, with twelve chambers empty, were found aud taken charge of by the officer. (The pistols were shown aud are of an unknown make.) The name of THE MURDERED MAN was John Weston, and he had a wife and three children. He lived in the same house in Palmetto street with Emil, The “real name” of the man the detective said he would not give, but was free to assert that he had not been arrested up to the present. Weston owned a@ house and two lots in the city of Brooklyn. He lost bis right arm during the late Union war, in which he served as a soldier in the ranks of the Fourteenth New York State Mi. litia for three years. Weston was well known as apedier, and gold the Soldier's Friend and such papers on the city railroad cars. WHAT THE GRUNEWOLD FAMILY SAY ON THE SUBJECT. A HERALD reporter visited the store of Mr. Grunewoki, and during a conversation with Mrs. Grunewold that lady stated that they had been told by the police that nothing was togo in the papers about the case. Therefore she did not want to talk on the subject. She said, however, that it was very strange that Emil should buy a barber shop in New York so soon after the murder. He bought the shop in Eighteenth street jor $350, and then, when the ey story was in apers, he for half the money for the business and_ cleared worked for two weeks in thetr shop, Was apparently very quiet and very fond of money. He never spent acent. He is a native of Brooklyn, though of German parents, and about twenty-lour years of age. On Tuesday morn ing, the 5th instant, Emil called at the shop ata very early hour and procured the key there and opened the place, and then left. the wife of Emil, to whom he had been married only two weeks, visited the store with her hus- band’s dinner, aud on being told that he had gone off she replied that it did not agree with his health to work there, and tat she supposed ‘he had gone away, as he had been GIVEN FIFTY DOLLARS BY A WOMAN to take her husband away.” John Weston, the mur- dered man, was the landlord of the house in which Emil lived. The police have since Sunday last been on the alert for Emil; but the suspected murderer appears to have got ‘wind of the word,” and, in common parlance, has managed to “make himself scarce in these parts.’ The Albany prose- cuting officer ‘‘wants” the three women, who are by this time within his jurisdiction. tt ts reperted that Weston and his wife did not live on amicable terms, sold out ENLARGING BROOKLYN. The Proposed Annexation of the County Towns. The Commission appointed to prepare a plan for the consolidation of the five towns of Kings county with Brooklyn met again yesterday. There were seven members of the Commission present, and Judge Scott presided. The chairman announced the iollowing committees :— 1. On the terms of consolidating the city of Brooklyn and the towns ot Kings county, and the divi-ion of the territory therein into wards—George C. Bennett, Ber- Wyckoff, Hamilton aud Drigys. On the Legislative Departinent—Bergen, Fox and Peter Lott. 3. On City Officers, their election, duties—Peier Lott, Bergen and G. C. bi 4. On Finance, including the subects and matters em- braced in titles 4, 8, 6 7 anJ8 of the present clarier of the city of Brookiyn—Baylis, Driggs and Wiliam Ben- nett, 5. On Taxes and Assessments, embracing tho provided for in title 10 of the said charter—Dri; and Peter Lott, 6, On Police, Excise and Public Health—Wiiliam Ben- nett, E. J. Lowber and Wyckoff. 7. On Fire Department, including the matters embi in ‘title 18 of the said ch rter—Wyckorl, Hamilto wher. &. On City Works, including the matters embraced in title 14 of the said churter—Lowber, Baylis and William nett, 9. On Public Parks—Baylis. Hamilton and Wyckoff. 10. On Street Openings and Land Improvements—Fox, Bergen and Driggs 11. On Laws—Peter Lott and Lowber. 12, On Public Instruction—Hamilton, Baylis and G. C. Bennett. A discussion then ensued as to whether it would be necessary to have certain changes made in the charter in case consolidation took piace. The Chairman said that the duty of the Commission was simply to devise a plan for the proposed con- solidation, and he did not suppose they were to re- model the present charter. The meet ng adjourned until Wednesday next at two o'clock P. M. THE BROOKLYN BOARD OF ASSESSORS. Comptroller Schroeder and Auditor Shaurman met yesterday and appointed the four additional city assessors provided by the new charter, There has been considerable strife among certain politl- cians for these offices, and a republican caucus went #0 far as to dictate to the appointing officials as to whom they should Ms Two of the cau- cus nominees, Jonathan T. Norton and John Mc- Diarmid, were designated by the Comptroller and Auditor, who, however, ignored tie other two and appointed John Trusiow and Jacob Worth. Mr. Trusiow was desig- nated as President of the Board at a salary of $5,000 per annnm. The other assesors receive $4,000 each. Worth was made a member of the Board because he failed to secure a Fire Com- missionership, which, it is said, had been promised him, but jor which he was deicated by Mark Phraner, The new Board of Assessors will be com- sed as follows:—John Trusiow, President, repub- ican, term expires 1876; Jonathan T. Norton, re- ublican, 1876; John McDiarmid, republican, 1876; jacob Worth, republican, 1876; Benjamin Wilson, republican, 1879; William Bryan, democrat, 1874; Joseph Smith, democrat, i876; John Snearon, ere 1876; William ney democrat, ok rtin Breen, democra}, 1478, Total number assessors, 18; Lota sal are $41,000, be! gen, 2. ppointment and nett. A BROOKLYN ‘wrrpg gUICIDE. Mrs. Mar 'y Bonehard died at 097 Pacifig iret YGsterday morning, trom the emects of Parl, gree ‘ administered by herseif the Previous evap’ 1 bg. The deceased had been leadin, for some time, and on "Thoreday. sien cured the poison and took it, she pri subsequently summoned, but too) ° waician Was , Was Jortv-three vears of awe, Lagoeased During the day | pere ate life the temporary absence of her Husband,» during THE COURTS. John Moorehead, alias “Blinkey Murphy,” was charged, yesterday, before Commissioner Shields, with dealing in fifty cent counterfeit currency. After @ somewhat lengthened examination, in the course of which the defendant was, at his own re- ‘quest and contrary to the advice of his counsel, examined as a witness on his own behalf, the Commissioner held the accused in default of $5,000 ball to await the action of the Grand Jury. Some time since Moorehead was tried for dealing in what 1s called the “Greeley” fifty cent counterfeit stamp, but was acquitted on a technical point, Yesterday George Kneipert, 31 avenue A, was charged, before Commissioner Osborn with tav- ing passed @ $20 counterfeit bill on Theodore Miller, keeper of a lager beer saloon, at 106 Third street, Defendant was discharged on $500 bail for examination, ‘SUPREME COURT—CHAMBERS. Interesting to Escaped Convicts. Before Judge Davis. In September, 1871, John Fogarty was convicted in the General Sessions of an assault, and sentenced for eighteen months te the Penitentiary. After serving out two months of his term he got dis- gusted and took French Jeave, An abnormal pro- clivity for striking out from the shoulder got him subsequently into diMiculty again, and he was senc for a second time to the Isiand—this time fora pees of three months, He served out this latter term with commendable fidelity, but at the close the Warden insisted on holdin, on to him and making him serve ou the unworked balance of his previous term. Such infringement ot the fundamental rights oi! Magna ta was not to be tolerated, and the result was an application yesterday for his discharge upon awrit of habeas corpus. Colonel Fellows, who made the application, was unwontedly eloquent in behalf of his client; but it produced no effect on the judicial mind, and the writ was dismissed and other day, when the case was being examined 10:0 Justice Cox, the friends of the prisoner told Plausibie story that it seemed probable rate would be compel to dismiss the it when the little son of Mr. Geigerman, it lad of eleven years, who witnessed the was put upon the stand, he told such a that Justice Cox immediately e prisoner. YORKVILLE POLICE COURT. A Saloon Keeper Charged with Theft. John Keller keeps a saloon on Third avenue, be- tween Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth streets. On Thursday night Hugh McAleenan, of 587 Second avenue, spent a iew hours therein and tnen left for his home, accompanied by Keller. Both were intoxicated, or appeared to be 80; but McAleenan was suMciently sober, so he claims, to know that when he left the saloon he had his gold watch and chain, worth $150, in his possession. When they had reached the corner of Thirty-second street and Second avenue Keller turned {rom his friend and ran back through Thirty-second street, McAlee- nan then missed his waten and caused Keller's ar- rest, and Justice Coulter held him for examination. Catharine McDermott, an Irish lady of advanced years, was placed at the bar on a charge of intoxi- cation, Her indignation as she emphatically de- denied the charge was worthy of a better actor. She told the Magistrate, in an affecting manner, that she was a victim of a bowel complaint of a very painful nature. Laudanum and oll, the dooc- tors said, would cure her, and she sccordingly took the prescription on Thursday evening for the first time. The effect was disastrous, The next she knew was when she found herself in the station house yesterday morning. Justice Coulter, after hearing Mrs. McDermott’s excuse for getting drunk, suddenly asked her how oiten she got drunk in the week. “Oh, Judge,” said she, appearing two have forgotten all about the oil and the jaudanom, “if you will let me go this time I will promise you, on my bended knees, never to touch a dhrop o! whiskey again. I will take the pled ¢ now belore Your Honor if you'll let me go.” e Court took her word and she was let ES. Mary O'Donnel), of 386 East Thirty-second street, charged Elizabeth Colwell with the larceny of $26, which Lizzie Carney, a comrade of the accused, Fogarty ordered to serve out the remainder of bis unexpired term. Deeisi By Jndge Ingraham. Marianna Jennys vs. John L. R. Jennys.—Motion ranted directing ab attachment to issue against he Saeriif; costs to abide the decision on the at- tachment, COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS. - ‘nae Before Recorder Hackett. Close of the Term. Yesterday afternoon this Court adjourned for the term. Since the Court has been in session over one hundred and thirty cases have been disposed of by the Recorder and Assistant District Attorney Horace Russell, which is the largest number of risoners ever tried In the Genoral Sessions during he month of August. Sentences. Henry Blackman, who was convicted on Thurs- day of stealing two gold watches, was sent to the House of Refuge. Timothy J. Gilmore, who pleaded guilty to forgery in the third degree, wa3 sent to the State Prison for four years. James McManus, who was found guilty of grand larceny, was sentenced to Sing Sing Prison for the period of four years and three months, Patrick McCarty, who pleaded guilty to an as- sault with a dangerous weapon, was sent to the State Prison for three years and three months. Larcenies and Burglaries. Samuel Robb pleaded gulity to grand larceny. On the 5th of this month he stole a pawn ticket, which represented a diamond ring valued at $100, the property of Betty Hamilton. As this prisoner was previously tried, a short time ago, for larceny, when the complainant conveniently forgot all about the case, the Recorder remembered Robb and gave hima severe sentence, which was four years and nine months in the State Prison. John Saunders, Alexander Morrison and Charles Neyman pleaded gulity to burglary in the third degree. They were charged with entering the dwelling house of Benjamin P. Baker, 129 East Thirty-fourth street, on the 8thinst. The sentence was jour years’ imprisonment in the State Prison. ‘The same sentence was passed upon Barbara Wurtemberger, who was charged with stealing $59 worth of clothing trom the nouse of Henry Oher- onny, 127 First avenue, in the nighttime, and who pleaded guilty to grand larceny. Obtaining Money by False Pretences. Charles Voty was convicted of obtaining $15 from Valentine Schiacier, at the cerner of Bleecker and Perry streets, on the 19th of July, by handing im @ check and stating that he kept an account in the Bank of North America. Larceny. - Catherine Rubury pleaded guilty to grand larceny in stealing a gold watch and chain worth $35, on the 19th of July, the property of Mary Huntley. These prisoners were each sent to the State Prison ‘or three years. Edmund Walsh, who, on the 15th of January, stole an overcoat worth $30, the property of Alex- ander Engleman, pleaded guilty tean attempt at grand larceny. Ferdinando Bonturi pleaded guilty to stealing three plated watches, worth $75, the property of John Columbino. ‘These prisoners were sent to the State Prison for: | two years and six months, Patiick Devlin pleaded guilty to an attempt at grand larceny. The indictmen; charged toat on the 30th of June he stole a gold watch worth $85 and $111 in money irom Andrew Healey. Two years and three months in the Penitentiary was the sentence. George F. Wolf pleaded guilty to stealing, on the 28th of July, ee worth of wearing apparel belong- ig to Frank Helwick. He was sent to the Peni- tentiary for two years. Louis Martin and Louis Solomon, who were charged with striking Christina Lindermuth with @ loaded “‘billy’’ while they were attempting to rob her till, pleaded guilty to assault and battery. Martin was sent to the Penitentiary for one year and Solomon was sent to the House of Refuce. Lewis McDonald, a youth, was also sent to the same institution, he having pleaded guilty to stealing $102 in money on the 7th of October from Calvin B. Waterbury. Discharge of the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury came into Court at noon with another large batch of indictments, They passed upon 149 cases, and were discharged, with the thanks of the Court. Keeping a Disorderly House. James Sweeney was found guilty of keeping a dis- orderly house in the rear of 17 Sullivan street, on the evidence of Jeremiah Daiton. He was sent to the Penitentiary for one year, An Assault. James Waters pleaded ,guilty to assaulting Her- man Vogel on the 19th of July, and was sent to the Penitentiary for nine months. Acquittals. Stephen Byrne was tried upon a charge of bur- glariously entering the laundry of Mrs, Mary Butler, 137 West Twenty-fifth street, on the 26th of July, and stealing a number of shirts and collars. The proot against him was very slight, and a number of witnesses proved his previous good character. His Honor instructed the jury to render a verdict of acquittal. Jonn Curtin was tried and declared not guilty of an attempt to steal a gold watch and chain from Frederick Evers, who keeps a sailors’ boarding house in Cherry street. John Bailite was put on trial, charged with steal. ing @ gold watch, worth $45, from his employer, James Butler, at 1,245 Broadway, a few days ago. ‘The proo! Was circumstantial, and as Mr. Kintzing showed, to the satisfaction of the jury, that the accused had an exceilent character, they rendered @ Verdict of not guilty. ° Harry Puils, an old man, was charged with a e ing a sailboat belonging to Wm. Smith. that time ai Apion will be in truth, it complainant stated that the accused, he under- | will from tha ise come of its own accord. stood, was sent for a boat which resembled his, | Aut really, Loan 't tor the life of me kee how the fact and he believed Puils only made a mistake. He | ° Cromeein Caknaiar ty jations at ‘ was promply acquitu | Jobn Cummin, awe tried for burglariously en- | tering the stable of ames Lawrence, at 144 East | Twenvy-iourth street, on the sotn of June, and stealing a horse valued at $600, The evidence | owed that the boy took the wagon of his employer, | Mr. Odell, who kept it at this stable; that the horse ran away, aud smashed the vehicle. He was afraid to return and was arrested some weeks after. The complainant himsell was of the opinion that Cummings did not mean to steal the horse. And 80 thought the jury, who discharged him by their verdict, The Court adjourned for the term. JTFFERSON MARKET POLICE COURT. Grand Larceny. John Jobnaton, of 553 Crosby street, was yeater- day held in default of $1,000, on the complaint of Eli Banks, who charged him with stealing * watoh valued at $35, ‘oo eold Larceny of a Diam~ o4 Ring. Uh gtopd orig bi wis committed on Thursday Ave" vox, Reeins to have been quite ex- haa vm wy @Ngaged in the swindling business, He was committed on the complaint of Henry Geiger- mat, Of 686 Broadway, Who charged him with steak. ing three watcties, valued at $200, Anew victim now appears on the scene in the person of Mr. Bias, ayo chaby / jewel wpe. . ‘that Curtis had aiso been ih the habit o! i im, and that about three weeks ago he | oe. oan ‘and took away a diamond ring, ed a4 $400, saying that he haa Toveralice that time he has nat wean him, The Ve ru! to be redeemed @ purchaser for ceased has & Saw ber take, Elizabeth was held for trial. OUR NATIONAL DEBT. Treasurer Spinner’s Letter in Reply to a Pro- posed Plan of Liquidating It—His Refu- tation of the Argument in Favor of a Sinking Fund—The Fallacy of the Plan. WASHINGTON, August 15, 1878, The following letter of Treasurer Spinner has just been made public:— ‘TReASURY OF THE Unitep States, Wasninoron. August 11, 1873. Dear Sin—Your interesting letter of the 2ith of June was received onthe 10th ult’ An answer was deterred because you stated therein that my answer to Mr. Riddle in Australla would be published in your then next Satur. day’s paper. I desired to see what part of the letter spoken of had translated and pub- lished, to which y ts thereon referred. Various arts ol have been pub- lished and commented upon in this country. The whole of it never appeared, thus doing me it injus fice. No part ought ever to have been published, unless the whole had gone out together with Mr. Riddie’s letter, to which it was an answer. As it was, with extracts trom it here and there, without coherence and without the knowledge ot its application to the arguments to which it wae intended as an answer, it made me appear in_a ridicuious liht. Mr. Riddle is a political economist of considerable reputation; he is an expert in mathematics, and thinks that he has invented a plan for puisideuce mmeGonal debt through the iustrumentality of a pecaiiar sinking fund, which, if adopted by our government in lieu of our Present plan, he insists would save our nation hundreds ot millions of dollars, and tor which discovery and its adoption here he claimed a very Iarge reward. My en- vor was to show him thé fallacies of his theory, and to prove were pur: suing * De nation" or any other spollart you to iced could pursue for the ayment of a debt in the shortest time and with the least expense. Under the circumstances, Iam very glad that you did not publish any part of the letter. I ayree with you in regard to what you say as to the refundin, of the “five-twentv” bonds, and am entirely satistic that your views, that a larger percentage should be al- lowed for the placing of the new loan, are correct. Your proposition in regard to NDING A THOUSAND ¥ in instalments of have doubts about. There are sev way for the process of such a plan, tl would be that noone would want the short bonds. ih £ st of whi to be troubled with Every series would have a different ‘time to run to matarily, and, Coeeeanen yy wouke, havea different price in the inoney markets of the world the issuing to the final redemption of the stock. would be required twenty diferent quotations in stock list, what to outsiders would seem one kind of se- curity. To purchasers, and to sellers as well, this would be a source of constant vexation and annoyance. One reason why the British consols stand so high is their uniformit, therefore, understands all from Everybody, 8 0: re able, are worth in the market from one halt of one to one per cent less than the shorter bonds of 1867. In this par- ticular case the rale is, to be sure, reversad: but ves stocks are confused, and value of all our stocks suffer thereby. Your other proposition to make ten per cent of the sub- scription to the contemplated new stock payable in legal tender notes would REDUCE THY PAPER CURRENCY OF THE COUNTRY about thirteen per cent, an amount, if withdrawn in so short a time, large enough to bring disaster on the business interests of the country, but too small to bring about the result we both desire—the speedy resumption of speeie payments. You secm io think that such an operation would bring per cent of eash other, 2 amount gold and paper within five or and that gold wouid come into circulation 0 Teater than the amount of currency withdrawn. Even it the first part of your proposition should turn out to be true the eccond would certamly prove to be fallacious. A difference of one-quarter of one will decide which currency wil!, and which will not go into circulation. It is always the cheapest currency that goes into circulation, the iFuction of a per cent will ex- clude the better kind. The poorer will always drive out the better kind of circulating medium. After reviewing your four propositions you will, I think, fina, that ey are adopted and carricd out, the refunding ‘process would be much more complicated, that it would require .more time ai our government would be much greate} greeny plan, and that no corresponding benefit woul! attained thereby. Bat from the whole tenor of your letter, it is inferred that your object is not so much'to devise the best way to retund, or rather reinvest our loans at a lower rate of interest, but to bring about AN KARLY RESUMPTION OF SPRCIE PAYMENTS. While I, ag much as you, or rome else, desire thie letter consummation, I do not see any beneficial results that can flow from combining the two objects in one. Moved singly, the course of each is plain; combined in any way, embarassment will follow at every step. ‘by. letiers then r cent lore ‘than seven years ago I urge: written, and otherwise, the enactment of a law com- ling the resumption of specie payments on a day in e future, to be fixed, say three yearsfrom the pas e of such act; and I still think this to be the safest and the surest way of any that has as yet been proposed to bring about the much red result. Under the operation of such a law the whole volume of paper currency, that of the national banks as well as hat.of the government, would immediately begin to ap- reciate in value and would continue to do so gradually, ut certainly, until, at the time fixed for resumption, th Daper currency woilld become the equivalent of colt any obstacles hive thus tar been and they continue to be in the way ot resumption of specie payments. The friends ef a sound currency have themselves retarded the retura to specie payments by insisting that the only way to bring about the d t result is to reduce the value of the paper currency; that the first duty of the government is to return to specie payments, and that the exchange of loans bearing a high rate of interest for a lower one should be deterred until after that event. This has enlisted the opposition of@ very large class ot our clt'zens, who are oilicrwise sound on the main question. but who contend that itis better and more economica withal to retire the loans on which a high ra‘e of interest iy paid than a loan on which no inte: ‘whatever is paid. Then come THE REAL OPPONENTS OF THE MEASURE PER SE. Chiet among these is the debtor class, which, in this country, is largely in the malority. ‘The persons consti- tuting this majority desire to eir debts with cheap G These have rotection t paper money is depreciated 2 which impost duties “are collected. Then come the national banks, which, by = Heved from the to them the redemption of their ctrewlating There arc many other interests that ith those named, all acting in the fir spension of specie payments is beneacial to | them. Our government being stric:ly representative, of course @ large ma‘ority of the members of Congress are | elected to represent and to carry out these views ot their constituencies. Thus resumption has been, and I think Will continue to be, put off until the time you speak of, “when the balance of trade shall be in our favor.” When re in coin. resaly sti) Paitin ai tl pressed in dollars of the present gold coim of the States. ‘The conversion of government stocks from a higher to a lower rate of interest ls now progressing quite as fast as the present available force ot the Treasury Depart. ment can comiortably manage it, and the prospect of its cont r€ seems to be pretty certainly axsured. It is now a question with the secretary whether he will continue the gxchange for s Ave pe cent stock or walt until he can place the new stock at four and a half or even at four per cent. Thanking you in behaif of our government and people for your expressions ofgood will and for. your ¥ indly offers of assistance, T Nave tke honor to be, very re- specttully, your obedient servant, FINNBI Treaster of the Cmteed States. re, Germansd Econo wany. a. Detenarng, Frankfort, A. Ge; THE REGENT pa Aaa IN BROAD- AY, Identification of the Body. ‘The body of the man who was run over, corner of Broadway and Walker street, on Monday @fter- noon last, by a Madison avenue stage, and almost instantly killed, has been identified at the Morgue ‘as ‘that of Michael Milan, @ varnisher, twenty-nine f age, born im and @ resident of this city. The rematua were identified by Mr. Frederick Murphy, living at 154 Spriny street, who at his own THE WAWASET INVESTIGATION, Testimony of the Officers of the ' - Unfortunate Vessel. “NOBODY TO BLAME.” A Thin Attempt at Ex- culpation. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE RETOLD. A Cross Violation of the Vese sel’s License. WERE LIFE PRESERVERS ACCESSIBLE? Wasurncron, D. C., August 15, 1873. The examination into tne Wawaset disaster was commenced to-day at the Treasury Depart- ment before George W. Taylor, Actiug Superin- tending Inspector General of Steamboats; William Rose, Inspector of Hulls, at Savannah, Ga,, and John E. Edgar, Inspector of Bollers, at Norfolk. The main matters of inquiry were—first, the equipment of the steamer; second, thé origin of the fire, and third, the conduct of licensed officers, both prior and subsequent to the alarm being given, THE FIRST WITNESSES examined were James D. Lowery, Inspector of Hulls, and William 0. Saville, Inspector of Boilers, at Baltimore, who made the last inspection, from whose testimony it appeared that the steamer wag thoroughly inspected in March last, and everything which the law requires was found there without a single exception; there were three large boats capable of containing from fifty to sixty persons each; there was an abundance of life preservers within easy reach, and fire extinguishers, and all the pumps were in good order; they considered the boat A. No. 1 in all respects. BXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN WOOD. Oaptain Wood, of the Wawaset, said he was in the pilot house at the time of the alarm of fire; one of the firemen gave the alarm; the Captain calied to the passengers to keep cool, as he did not see any reason for excitement on board; he thought there Yould be time to put out the fire, but in less time than he could now relate the facts the flames burst outin heavy volume; he then knew the boat was gone and his effort was to beach her, but this he could not do, as the engines suddenly ceased working; the pilot was licensed from the United States but the Captain was not; he was ignorant of the law that he was required to take out a license from the United States; it was impossible for him to get aft after the fire was dia- covered; what he did on that occasion he woula repeat under future similar circumstances; he thought the fire originated in the firemen’s room; from what cause he did not knowy unless from matches or the overturning of a lamp; no doubt the fire had been burning for some time before the door was opened, which gave draught to the flames; the engineer was driven from the room in an instant; the mate and the clerk i peel, have charge of the passengers and freight, but at the time of the fire were trying to save passengers; novody was specially attending to the boats an life preservers at the time o/ the firc; no passen- ers, excepting one, were lost forward; the reight was general merchandise, including a barrel of whiskey; the Captain said there were on poard 125 passengers, not counting the children, THE WAWASKI'S LICENSE TO CARRY PASSENGERS. The Commissioner exhibited a copy of the license, which showed the boat was permitted to carry only fiity passengers. Instead of that she had three times as many. The Captain replied that he was under the impres- sion he was allowed to carry 150 passengers; fifty passengers would not pay the expenses of the Steamer; the captain was not commander of the boat at the time of the inspection last March; he said the boat was well provided with all the ap- ied for saving the boat and lives; there were tween four and five hundred hife preeervere only two of which were known to have been used; not @ soul would have been lost if the engines had not suddenly stopped. TESTIMONY OF THE ENGINEER, Robert Nash, engineer of the boat, was ex- amined—The tillers were chain and rods and Part of rope for ten feet cach side of the wheel; he had always found the firemen attentive to business; the steamer was as well equipped as any boat couid be; nothing whatever was the niatter with the boiler to cause the fire; all that was possible to do wag done to save thie pi ngers; the lames @ppeared so suddenly and the boat was so soon on fire that no one had time to think. Mr. Saville was recalled, and said he had known Mr. Nash four years; he was strictly soper and a competent engineer, and was always found at his post; bis character was as good as that of any engineer in the witness’ district, TESTIMONY OF THE CLERK OF THE Boar. J. W. Wheeler, clerk of the boat, testified that hé was on board of the Wawaset when she burned; he tried to calm tno fears of the passengers, say- ing they could iad the fire out, and if not they could beach the t; there was alterward such a panic that the Deamrnners were beyond control; he ave @ circumstuntit count of his efforts to save ue until he was driven away by the flames, which burst from the wheelhouse, ani with dimculty he reached the forward part of the boat; there were about one hundred registered passengers on the boat, not Soatieg the children; the boat had all the appliances for saving life; but for the sore of the engines the boat would have reached the shore and probably all the passengers would have been saved; every man connected with the boat did the best he could under the cir- cumstances; the Witness did not see any ol the male eceergets assisting others, with tne excep- tion of Mr. Keed, who threw some planks over- board; he thought it more than likely that a ma jority of the pussengers were males. TESTIMONY OF THE MATE. Robert W. Gravall, mate of the Wawaset, testi. fied as to his knowledge of the burning of the boat and his efforts to suppress the flames; he threw boats and planks overboard in order to save the eae ers; he saw the clerk tryi: to get ladies forward over the wheelhouse, but they were driven back by the flames; everything was done that could be done to save thé boat and passengers; there was no neglect on the part of any one con- nected with the vessel; every rack was fitted out with fire buckets; there were thirty-six of them. ‘Tne witness having sald he was not licensed, the law not requiring it, the Commissioner said he was mistaken—that a license Was pecessary. TESTIMONY OF A PILOT. John W. L. Boswell, pilot, had a license as such, taken out April 1, 1873, testified as to the circum- stances of the fire; the boat at the time being three-quarters of a mile from the shore, he sug- \d to the captain to run the boat ashore; tha was assented to by the captain, but the object was not attained, owing to the stoppage of the engine; the witness’ was burned in the hand and leg; he had no knowledge how the fire originated; he did not see any male passengers assisting ladies; he had been keeping his eyes on the bow of the boar, and jumped from the plot house into the water, when he commenced picking up passengers and rescued tea or twelve of them; he saw no efforts made to get the metallic boat over; there was nos more than four and a half tect of water forward when the boat stopped; all forward of the wheel house were saved except Miss Bettie Reed. TESTIMONY OF A PASSEN J. W. Reed, a passenger on board the Wawasset, gave a statement of all he knew of the fire. Soon alter the Names burst out it was impossible for any human being to go aft; he saw water thrown on the inflammable part of the tiller rope; server® were accessible on both sides of the boat, but he didnot reach for one, although he could not swim; he made his escape by jumping into shoal cere ne one gentleman who had used a life. preserver, thus saving hirrself and a little girl on whom he had placed one; everything that could be done by the officerg to save the boat and pas- ba 2 was done by them, 80 lar as he could see or know. a TRSTIMONY OF A FIREMAN, John Foreman, the fireman on the Wawasset at the time of the disaster, testified that ne went below for a pair of overalls, but as soon as he opened the fireman's door the large volume of smoke and flames drove him back; he seporeed, the fact to the captain and mate; the fire occures in the back connection in the fireman’s room; 4 never saw any sparks from the boiler catering t ie room; he had been employed on the boat for “4 past twelve months; no oll or other combustible Material was kept in the room; ee allowed there; the lamp there was not lighted, TRITIMONY OF OTHER EMPLOYES, Lorenzo Brown, fireman on the steamer when she was burned, testified he was in the engine room only onthe morning the boat left; he did not | smoke at that time nor use tobacco in any form; he saved his life by swimming; there was no chance for those forward to get alt; there was | an interval of teu minutes from tbe alarm of fire until the boat beached; lard oi! was used on board both in lamps and on the machinery; there was only one coal oil lamp, and that wae in the engine m in Calvary Cemetery. De- Soave haa. s prother living in Boston. Coroner Keenan will make investigation of the matter, | CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.