The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-27
The CorIis Assassin alton.


necessarily leads to the belief that witnesses
have been tempered with. II the accused is
flush OF money, has been represented, such inter
unprecedented man carefully sift the evidence which
has been given, and he cannot fail OF arriving at the
conclusion, that Cotton either himself shot Corlis,
or hired some man to do it. Mrs Cotton never
killed COrs.
The affair, in all probability, occurred in this
wise There were most likely two women seen
with Coris on MONDAY evening The one small
woman, probably Mrs. Cotton, with him at the Sa-
loon; who likely was the same woman one witness
swore he saw leave rs Vesey street at about half
past six on Monday evening, and who soon after In
CURED for him at los Leonard street, and not find
ject of her visit, probably to tell Cors of her hus
bands separation, and that he on that day was
removing his furniture, &c: And that, on leaving
the Saloon, she probably privately returned home
and that her mental anxiety was produced by her
husbands separation. From the Saloon, Corlis
likely returned alone to Leonard street, as one
has testified to seeing him walking IN Broadway
with female.
The woman seen with him in Leonard street,
was described tall woman with thinner fea-
lures than Mrs. Cotton This woman, am led to
believe from the evidence, was no other than Re-
becea Hays, who was used on this occasion by the
real murderer, as decoy duck and that while
she was talking with Corlis, the assassin was con-
cealed in dark corner in Benson street, or Benson
in which the girl Hays resided. She probably kept
Corlls in conversation till the coast clear, and
then parted with him, while the assassin slipped up
behind him and shot him, and then suddenly re-
treated into Benson alley or street, and disappeared
The weman Hays also disappeared suddenly in Ben
son street, and probably to her own lodgings. Cor
lis was shot within five or six yards. OF Benson
street, so that the woman and murderer would
only have TO make few steps 10 place themselves
out of view, from parties passing up or down Leon.
ard street. No woman or man either could have
run down Leonard street to Elm street, or into or
along Broadway without having been seen by PER
sons alarmed by the firing. The only means of
concealment was to dodge suddenly into Benson
alley, or street, Immediately in the lear of the
Carlton House.
This being the case who was the murderer? From
the evidence, he can probably be no;other than Col
ton HIMSELF or some adroit scoundrel ne hired to do
the deed. The only evidence he has to rely on, to
screen him and prove he did not, with his own
hands, shoot Corlis is that if Parsons and his wife,
whose evidence, as to his absence on Monday even
ing ought to be received with some suspicion, con-
slderng the nature OF ,neI Pqs,d ana ss
watched, and finding she had paid visit to Corls,
or had communications with him in some way, had
all his jealousy aroused, if his first medtated re-
venge or thirst for blood had ever slept and then In
the manner supposed comprised the death Of his VIC
tim. That Rebecca Hays was suitable lnstru-
ment the occasion, the nature OF her character,
and her TESTIMONY to her own shame IN osder to
" establishes. And she should be secured as an ac
cessary to this deed; and all the inmates OF Miss
Places house should be arrested and examined as
whereabouts of the girl Hays that evening fully
ascertalned
The rude language of Corlis to the woman in Leo
nard street, telling her to go away, further tavors
the notion of its being Hays. AS he would not have
been SO rude 10 Mrs Cotton who had been brought
into so much difficulty on his account. Had 1t
been Mrs. Cotton, she would have passed up Leo
nard street, as her direct way home, and not down
That Cotton was Immediately privy, to the death
of Cors, appears from another fact the pistol with
4. cd tN bill vItc vuoc Nod ord
with slug The piece of lead fired from the six bar
relied pistol was a slug which killed Corlis.
Now, the usual thing to load pistol with, is a
lead ball, cast in bullet mouds. But to mould bull.
let's requires fire to melt the lead, and to use fire,
would attract the attention OF servants or other per-
sons. While to make a slug from piece OF lead,
requires only hammerlng it into square form, and
then to cut it into oblong blocks. This Mrs. Cotton
would not have thought of doing The first pistol used
by Cotton was charged with these slugs The pistol
found, was charged with sugs and slug was taken
from the brain OF Corlis The frs, pistol of one bar
rel, missed fire in the first instance; how natural
it, therefore, In the second case, to provide one
with six barrels 70 prevent failure In the next at
tempt. The pistol was thrown away To prevent 1t
being found on the person, in case OF arrest as hap
f iirst ~ ~ = -
That Cotton is adequate to the most cool and cum
ming devices to effect his proposes. Is fully apparent
Suppose he had succeeded in the rst instance, how
remote would have been the chance of conviction
Ii midnight-he looked Corlis in the face, to as
two back and snapped his pistol at his breast, and
then walked off briskly towards Elm street. When
asked by Waterman what the noise OF Corlls was
about he replied in effect Ut was as t fellow making
was carried to watch-house, said "Corlis
had knocked him down." which would probably
have been his plea, if he had then killed Corlis, and
afterwards had been arrested.
Stores retailing lead should be examined as to the
sale of bar lead any parties in Vesey street. And
the servants should be examined as to their being
sent for any lead, and as to the point Of having seen
street; and search should be made for 1t among the
furniture of the parties implicated!
There seems to be prejudice against Corlis, grow
ing out of his previous habits and occupation. As
far the latter is concerned, we can see differ
ence between the parties. Their pursuits were si-
miar, and equally reprehensble and guilty. As to
the former imputation let the character of Corlis
have been what it may it is certain no virtuous fe
male in married life, was ever led astray unless she
made the first advances. A single frown from vir-
tuous female can repeI the greatest hbertine that
ever walked pave. Then why is the sympathy in
this case all on one side! The past conduct of Mrs.
G. has not probably been free from guilt but how
much of that may have been induced by the lawless
pursuits, if not the cold neglect OF her revengeful
husband! Sympathy and money often go together.
But one thing is certain as blameful as Mrs. @.
may have been in other respects, we shall never
believe her guilty of numbering Corlis, till she is
proven so by the most direct and positive testimony.
A FRIEND TO THE TRUE ENDS OF JUSTICE.
THE SEAsoN-Here the weather continues cold
and the season backward. No signs of solitary
bud to be seen. Snow from six inches to two feet
deep. In Mobile and New Orleans delightful spring
has made its appearance. Sun-beams bright, and
buds and blossoms shooting out in abundance. At
Portland another severe snow storm set in last
Thursday night. And in Troy, last Wednesday
morning, the mercury was six degrees below zero.
OFFICERS, ArTEND.-The officers who are ap-
pointed as sennels to preserve peace and order on
the Sabbath in the vicinity of Fulton, Nassau and
Ann streets, uniformly very remiss in the dis
charge Of their duty. A number of dsorderly per-
sons infest the neisbborhood ad Hbitim, and no
officer is ever seen to check them. The proper au-