The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-13


journment of the case. They asked TO postpone 1t
ill Friday, but Mr.. Commissioner Rapelyea very
properly refused TO accede to that, but adjourned
the examination Till this afternoon, at-.,hree
O'Clock
Shocking snicide--supposed Murdsr-and
Imputed Auditory.
Yesterday morning the glorious sun rose over the
extensive village of WiIliamsburgh, Long Island,
and in a small and neat, though humble apartment,
Of az unpretending cottage Remsen street, above
Union Avenue, coroner's jury, the coroner of that
district OF Kings county, Squire Remsen justice
OF the peace, and some few other persons were
found-and they had sat there from ten o'clock of
the previous Notwithstanding into the circumstances
attending the unilmely death of an freshman, named
Robert Whitierd The deceased was found with
his throat cut, the juguar vein being separated, the
wlndpipe completely severed, all the arteries cut.
and the threat presenting an awful cash. The place,
too, il which he was fosnd--in the bed OF man
named Nix, with whose wife it was understood he
had held criminal intercourse for some time-was
sufficient 10 give rise TO rumors of foul play; but
mere especially he was said to have been disco
vered by Nix himself, from whom the intelligence
OF his death was received by neighbor, was MUIR
der most foul, attributed by the villagers to some
one whom they hestated to name. The coroners
jury, however, after weighing the evidence adduced
before them, found that the deceased had commit
ted suicide; but the circumstances are so singular,
the excitement great, the doubts welghty, that
we deem II necessary TO give all the evidence
wlsch we could collect on the spot to throw as
much light as possible on the awful transaction.
The following is the evidence taken before the CO.
roner and his Jury -
MATILDA ROM, the wife of German Doctor, who &C.
cuped the lower part OF NiXs house the first witness
called She deposed that she the deceased and Mrs
Nix come through the yard into the house. about quar-
ter past nine O'Clock on Tuesday morning; Mrs Nix
went out shortly afterwards ard was absent about three
hours. The witness did not see Whitiord Afterwards
The deceased was In the practice OF visiting the house
frequently some times two or three times day; he did
appear deranged on Tuesday, but he somewhat
ntox cated; the witness heard until Mr.. Nix
came home, which by her clock about ten minutes
past when Nix had entered tn room up stairs the
front which he occupied for household purposes
she heard noise like person falling the foor jar
OF the fall caused the back windows below TO shake; 1t
appeared TO her that Immediately after the noise Nix went
into the back room (nis bed room in which the body
ound) and got lights Nix then went downstairs and
knocked at the door o. the witness and when Yves open
ed Nix asked the witnesses husband was at home; she
called her husband into the front from the back
Nix entered the same room ith light in his hand; he
appeared much agded; he came into the room In about
three minutes alter he home; Nix asked witnesses
husband if he had the deceasedcom TO the house;
her husband replied IN the ALTERNATIVES; Nix then said che
will not aga ain" he illnot any more" she
understood Nix that the deceased had killed him
sell by hanging himself OF cutting his throat; witnesses
husband thea went Immediately up s.ars.
HARAIAH ROHR was next called, aud he deposed that
the testimony Of his vile was correct He then added
that ho saw Whitiord Tuesday morning; he saw Nix
20 from home quarter before O'Clock in the morn
ing Nix had the clothes when he LETT home that
he at the nquest he mad jacket when he came
down stairs to speak to the witness on the subject OF
Whiiords DEATH but he put his jacket on when ha re-
turned stairs; witness told Nix To go down stairs and
take some tea IN witness apartment but he took cup OF
tea up stairs and then down and took more tea in
witnesses room; from the time Nix went up stairs to the
time he down about three minutes elapsed; Nix
asked when he down if witness had Whltord
that days witness replied that he had and that he had seen
him there many times Nix then remarked, he will not
come any moTe; the window curtain was down. and the
sheet round his when witness first saw the de-
ceased who then ly in the position as he did when
his evidence being TAKEN the deceased was drunk
when he there about hali-past eight o'clock
Tuesday morning; when he he inquired for Mrs.
Nix, and witness told him she was out; he went away
and IN about halt hour the deceased and Mrs. Nix
turned together; witness did not see deceased again until
he was dead.
EDWARD Nix was next called and deposed es follows
He said he returned home about half past O'Clock,
and found his wife sitting armchair by the window
the front room; lamp burning he asked his wife
how she was, but ne received answer he looked at
her again. and discovered that she was in liquor Wit
then walked her and put his hand her shout
der and told her she drunk she then fell from the
chair the floor her face and remained in that posi-
ton until the Coroner came which was about an hour
and half afterwards He got the Doctor to feel her
pulse; witness then made tea poured out cupiul, and
drank about half OF it. thought struck him whether
the bed was made, and he wento il it were; he sup
posed had not then been made in consequence OF her
being drunk; he wet into the without light and
found the door Of the bedroom closed, which was I'M
usual; ne opened the deor and felt for it, and found bit
Of wood which used for proppng the door, and
with il he propped open the doors he next went to the
bed, and that the bed bare, the clothes being
drawn the far sides he by the light OF the moon;
when he approached the bed he smelled curious smell
smell las OF some person. he put his hand On thu
bed Which alarmed him he then got light, and
the and looked at the face OF the deceased
and saw II Robert Whiord; witness blood and
thought the deceased had been fighting; be had no idea
thing wrong at tho tme the deceaseds mouth was
wide open and he supposed him to be slecpng closer
inspection he his face looked deadly PALE and then
ne the cash in his throat He went down stairs and
called the doctor TO up stairs The doctor at first
declined going up, but witness told him he must-that
something awful had happened, for that had cut
ms throat The doctor first went into the 'front.'
and felt Ills wes pulse; TO do which he must have pass
ed the door OF the which the dead layD and
afterwards went with the witnsss into the back room
The doctor at first declined coming up stairs, until wit
told him what had happened The whole occurred
in two or three minutes time Whiteord wai dead when
witness first him. he did not move; his Jaw wide
open but II soon closed he did not Otherwise The
kettle was over the fire boiling, but the fire burned down
very low.
CHAUrcEY L. Cook, the medical man called in TO
anime the body deposod as ioows:--Be had examine
the body aud from the position OF the body the appear
found the wound, and the instrument in his hand
he Of opinion that the deceased came to his death by
his own hand; OF this witness had no doubt.
DIANA Nix, was next called She swore that she was
the wife OF Edward Nix and that she had lived for the
last four Eve years where she resides. She left
home Tuesday morning about nine O'clock and went
to Cross Roads TO work Deceased came TO the place
where she was at work that might have been couple
Of hours before she returned Robert Whord returned
with her. He asked her TO go TO his brother and ask if
he would not do something for The deceased She went
the easeds brother leaving The deceased in the house
Whtsrd brother said he would do nothing for him. but
that il he dead lac would fad him a coffin she
turned and told the deceased what his brother had said
she then told the deceased he the house. and
that she must go to her work again. The deceased did
leave the house. and she locked up ana returned TO her
work They did net leave together. She went
out of the front door and deceased left by the
back way; it was about o'clock when he left /;
she returned from work about hall past o'cleck It was
then quite dusk, with her when she return
ed there any in her apartment at that time;
the deceased IN few minutes slterwards be said
he had place to and did know what he should
TO- she told him he could stay there any longer than
until MIR Nix home; he complained Of being very
sick and unable TO sat up; he said be had home nor
any victuals to eat he then asked ii he might lie