The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-21

saw the glimpse of man passing down Leohaiu
street and turn into Elm.
After the Coroner had arrived, IN company win
Justice Matsel, and several officers, including
ourselves, we proceeded to the recent lodgings OF
Cotton, In Vesey street. OnIenterlng the houses
the Coroner questioned Mr.. Parsons and his house
Keeper relative to whether Cotton had been out OF
the house or not during the evening and also
whether he had been visited during the day by any
female. Mr.. Parsons stated that he had not been
out-that they had been sitting together since be-
lore seven O'Clock in the parlor on the first floor
he also stated that Cotton had taken lodgings at his
house on Tuesday last with his two children, who
were still on the premises, and that the wife of Col
ton was still remaining next door at the house of
John Wallace, where Cotton had previously board
ed. The females attached to the house of Parsons
were then all called into the room in presence of
Mr. Hackett, but he could identify none as the per-
son he saw in the Bowling saloon.
Justice Matsell then left the house, and went next
door to the lodgings of Mrs. Cotton On obtaining
entrance he requested one Of the colered servants
to inform Mrs. Cotton that he wished to speak with
her. The message was delivered, and she informed
the servant that she wished neither to or speak
with any person during the evening. He then as
cended to her apartments, which were on the third
story, and asked for admiance, but she refused to
answer. The Coroner now arrived, and knocked at
the door, and called to her, but she still remained
silent He raped upon the door a second, third,
and fourth time, but no answer came. He then
told her that he would give her three minutes to
open the door, and if she did not, it should be bro
ken open. The three minutes passed, but the door
was not opened Her colored servant, Ann Rus
sell, was then sent for but she could obtain no an
swer, and fearing that she might have tainted, or
committed suicide, or taken some narcotic poison,
the Coroner broke the pane Of the door open with
his feet, and entered the front parlor, where Mrs.
Corliss was found seated on q sofa, dressed in
white, with black cape thrown loosely around
her shoulders, and her head reclining on pillow
He raised her head and finding that she was alive,
asked her why she did not open the door. She
turned her eyes towards him, gave stare, but
no answer. He then asked her if any thing
was the matter with her? She refused to reply, but
dropped her head, and appeared to be fegning par
tial insanity He asked her if she had been out of
the house during the day, and number of other
questions, to none OF which she would reply, but
rolled her eyes and closed them, without uttering
word He felt her rulse, which appeared strong,
about the room, in order to restore her if it had
been the after effects of fainting She was then
held in the armsof Justice Matsell and Frank Smith,
and walked into the bedroom in the rear, and laid
upon the bed. The Coroner then appeared to think
from her BREATH that she might possible have taken
some narcotic poison,-a stomach pump and an
emetic were sent for. Before they arrived, she
appeared to recover, and they sent back with
= a. l-If
past 10 o'clock, when the coroner left, and Justice
Matse by his directions placed her under charge
Of officers Frank Smith, McKibbon, Drinker and
Cockefair.
Her colored servant stated that she had taken no
food during the day cup Of coffee in the
ing and cup of tea at night, and that for the past
several days she had eaten food enough to keep
person from partial starvation.
Her apartments were thoroughly searched by the
officers and her shoes examined, 10 see if she had
recently been in the street, but nothing found
to sustain suspicion against her, nor nousht to
cite thst she had any knowledge of the death of
Corllss, her singular conduct when the coroner
broke open the door of her parlor. straw hat and
green veil was found 10 band box, in an adjoining
room from the bed room, and miniature of Cotton
on her dressing bureau. No vial that had contained
narcotic poison found in her apartments or any
thing else to induce belief that she had attempted
to commit suicide last evening, and the fact that
she came TO her bed room door and spoke to the
colored servant, when Justice Matsell first entered
the house, induces belief that her strange conduct
was feigned for some cause best known to herself.
The woman who came into Parsons house where
Cotton was arrested, while the officers were on the
stairs, and who appeared to have been running at
the extent of her speed, stated that she resided in
Green street, but had not been down to the house
before since the first of last week. In her dress she
appeared to resemble the woman seen In the Bow
ling saloon with Corss previous to his murder, and
on this fact being stated TO Justice Matsel and the
Coroner, officers were sent Immediately to arrest
her. and is to be hoped they have been successful
She may not be the woman, but the fact of her en-
tering the house at that particular time almost out
of BREATH from running like race horse" as she
termed it, should have induced her detention by the
officers when first discovered in the house.
-SALEM DucHER, Esq, who had been engaged as
counsel for Mr. Corliss, informed h Carlton,
that Mr.. Corss had waited upon him in the morn
ing, and stated that he believed his life was in dan
ger every hour, and desired to know if some other
security could net be afforded him for safety. Mr.
Ducher informed him that Cotton had been held
to bail in the sum of $1,000, on the criminal charge
of assault with intent to kill, and $4,000 additional
on civil suit for damages, and unless he could
show that Cotton had threatened his life since, he
could not be again arrested undo he same charge
Mr.. Ducher then gave him letter to the District
Attorney setting forth his fears, and he then left his
office, still asserting that he believed his life would
be taken, which anticipation has been too sadly
ased.
Immediately on hearing the particulars of the
murder, Alderman Crolius returned to the Board
of Aldermen, which was in session, and presented
resolution, offering reward of $3.50 for the arrest
of the murderer of Corliss, which was immediate
y sent to the Board of Assistants and concured in.
The vicinity of the Carlton House was thrensed
with citizens to late hour last night, all anxiousy
inanrlnR into the circumstances attending thiebare