The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-10-30
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City Intelligence.

i
ING Sunday morning about six O'Clock, the inhabitants
| OF the vicinity of Broadway and Grand street.
alarmed by the cries OF "fre fire. which appeared to
proceed from the OF the taors store No ACC Broad
way, occupied by German tailor named William Leitga,
formerly of West Broadway. William Hccnbothsm,
who resides at the adjoining house. rushed to the scene
and breaking the sky light the shop where the fire
discovered threw upon the flames and other
neghbors assisting the fire extinguished, when
to the utter establishment and horror of ALL the body OF
the wife OF Leitga found the in the part
of the store burned to crisp The which she had
laid also burned up, the sackng of the bed destroy
ed and the whole part Of the charred with the
lames The cot had been placed within feet of the
coal stove in about the centre OF the store and had pre-
vously been protected from the view in the front part of
the store by curtain placed before it. About the time
the flames exnguished, Justice Matsel with off
Fream and Reyea, arrived at the store, and exo
Sweet, who had heard of the transaction, stationed
himself at the front door Broadway Officer Fream
found the key of the front door lying upon the counter
after he had entered the of the store with which he
opened the door. Leitga himself missing but about
twenty minutes before eight being nearly hours from
the time the FIRE discovered he returned the store
with two cells in his hand pointed out by Doctor
Putnam, and arrested by officer Sweet. The Cor
and Deputy then sent for, and Leitga
in the meantime conveyed to the city prison. At
IL o'clock the following named gentlemen selected
as jurors Henry E. Refill, foreman John S. Whigam
Thomas B. Wright, George A. Kinnard, John A. Hand
schuch, James Reed j. j. smith J. Jackson, John s.
Pollard, W. II. Charrngton, w Marshall, c. c. shurger
and VIM. A. Brown-total Is.
The prisoner present with his counsel He about
80 years OF agea expression Of although his
lures regular He appeared but little concerned
interested in the testimonyess than any other of the
persons present He arrested and held to bail in
large about two months since fer assault battery
with intent to kill the deceased by stabbing her with
pair taors shears and not appearing in the Court of
Sessions to answer the CHARGE his recognzsnces which
worthless, declared forfeited He was tried
also in the General Sessions months for receiv
ing stolen goods knowing them be SUCH but escaped
from lack of testimony to make the complete. He
gave out some few weeks since that his had been
robbed OF large quantity Of cething, cloths, &c-kept
the police the look out for several days the bur
glars, but his wife stoutly inssted he had robbed
himself and such also appeared be the general impress
sion.
The jury being sworn the first witness called was VIM.
Hccinbotham who resides next door to the store of Lett
ga. He merely stated that he discovered smoke issuing
from the sky light OF the house and assisted in putting
out. Afterwards found the dead body, and also
tanned that there then fire in the coal
which situated about three feet from the bed
whic. the deceased was found lying.
THOMAS DueAN, undertaken, next sworn.-He
stated that he lives at 40 Broadway, few doors above
the shop OF Lega; that at about ten minutes after six
O'Clock on Saturday morning, he the prisoner Lett
ga, on the side walk passing up Broadway by his I'M
dertskers ablshment with umbrella in his hand
about twenty minutes after this he heard the alarm Of
fire that proceeded from Leiga's house.
LUKE CoLBuRN OF 464 Broadway, also stated that the
FIRE Yves discovered at or about half past 6oclock.
Justice MATsELL testified that he arrived there the
neighbors were putting out the fire. in company with Of
cerslF and Reyea and then gave directions as to
proceedings until the Coroner took charge of the pre-
misses.
he or MA ahaut mini hnfot
o'clock found the deceased lying some feathers
the floor; she living her right SIDE with her face
head. Think removed 1t after assisting in getting the
fire out She was dead when went In. The spirit lamp
some in the can but the lamp, there
any cork in the can piece of tied on the end Of
stick which was mpregnated with gas and appeared to
from the remains of the bed found key the
ter which put in the front door and opened it. The cot
JAMES ooKER deposed that he resides at 422 Broome
the prisoner and his wife, the former since
about the first of May when the recognzances of Lega
forfeited for the assault and battery with intent to
kill his wife. She came to and said that she in
the Heraa-she wished me to cut outs this was about
door above the shop OF prisoner had not the wife
stabbediwith pair of alor asked If she the
one She said yes; asked her Letga her husbands
and she said he was She said she did not live well with
him; that Lega dirty fellow, and had been with
other women, and was diseased On Friday evening last
went into the store of prisoner to get coat that he
they appeared to be agreeable each Others
came in while was there and she received them at the
the handsomest man in New York.
EeBERr @. SWEET late police officer, testified that be
arrested the prisoner opposite the door Of his store 1866
Broadway, at few minutes before o'clock; he came
there alone and had two cells in his hand, lone in
piece of straw paper searched him at the Police Office
soon as arrved he had in pocket 81 TO- another
done adark rag there So So; in his pantacons
pocket siO4 in bank notes. done up In newspapers
he had silver watches also on his person.
silver pencil cases. and bad money in bills in his
pocket book; he had umbrella with him he said he
had been to Washington msrket to buy the eels did
not ask me why arrested him. enquire any thing
about his wife, he had key open the front door with
when asked him why he went up Broadway to go to
Washington market, he appeared confused but gave no
answer All the keys found him small; it was
about twenty minutes of eight when arrested him
ABNER MrLIKIy, deputy coroner, testified that he ar
rived the fire half past O'Clock in the
ing was out then; the body laid about two feet and
there quantity oil vesng there, and other goods
partly burned also pieces picture frames that
appeared to have been thrown there's there were some
light pieces wood also under her the floor burned
through in two places where her feet lad there were
appearances of racas in the ROOM piece of butter YVES
found sticking against the wall of the room, and some
turnps beef scattered about the floor though
they had been thrown about by somebody
FREprRIcK A. PUTNAM deposed that he lives at 474
Broadway-kuew the prisoner and deceased-they did
appear to live happily tOgethershe was complaining
almost every day Of her treament-she appeared to be
singular woman-I think have her under the in
huence of lquoI called to visit her professionally
about two months since-to examine wound in the
back-I went into the house, and found prisoner with
pair of shears in his hand, in great rage-she
beeding-he in the act Of striking her when went
in-he ssid she damned bitch, and he would kill
herhe attempted to strike her, but stepped between
them- told him to get me some adhesive plaster which
he reluctantly she then boarding at 80 Grand
streetthey not living togeher-she then said she
could not live with him--he then requested to take
charge Of her. dress her wound and he would pay for
1.-THE principal stab on the right SHOULDN'T had
gone to the bone and was about an inch and half long
there two other slight stabs and injuries
her which she said he bad given her by pnchng
her-1 do not know OF any difficulty between them since
of Prince street and Broadwayshe appeared to
be sober and was dressed neatlyabout o'clock Satur
day morning. heard that the house fire in which
the prisoner lived, and then dressed myself and went
outI was some time at the doorwhen Lcitga came up
TO the door, he asked what the matterI said to Off
Sweet, "This is the man" and he arrested him- at
tended the post mo, TEN examination in company with
Drs Tompkins, Rogers and Neson--the lower part of