The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-26
mother Daring Murder In the CITY.

AhOfner Earring uurusr HI Inc Okty.
MOST DARING MURDER ON BOARD sHIP-ARREsr OF
THE MURDERERs CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES At
TENDING TIE ARREST or THE ACCUSED PARTIES
About o'clock yesterday morning, the police Of the
Fourth ward were alarmed by the announcement that
murder had been perperated board the ship Thomas
Watson, Captain Lyle of Philadelphia, lying at the
foot Of Oliver street On fastening to the spot
by the name of Charles Baxter engaged watch
on board said ship found the deck mortally
wounded from discharge of pistol, the conteots OF
which had lodged in the throat The injured was
forthwith conveyed to the Fourth ward police station DR..
Taphagan examined the wound aud advised his removal
to the City Hospital where he died in about ons hour at
ter The facts and circumstances attending this bold and
bloody murder very remarkable. Two men, Of no.
torously bad character known to the police dock
thieves, by the names of Nicholas Rowland ails How
lett, and William Saul arrested by the Seventh
ward police about an hour after the murder was perpe
trated. These men on board brig lying at the
foot of Gouveneur street. in the act of stealing when
detected They identified as the two men who
pundered the ship Watson and shot the deceased The
details of this murderous affair very curious and go to
show the daring of the villains who boat around the
shipping in harbor nightly robbng vessels aud when
detected murder is resorted to with the utmost nder-
in order to effect an escape and cover up their
crime 1t that about the hour of O'Clock We'd
nesday morning. the two thieves boarded the ship Wat
to rob the cabin and to do the job quietly they took
off their shoes and left them the deck Charles Bax-
ter the deceased, who Waterman board had laid
himself the cabin door guard, thu.
could pass without stepping him. and thus he would
know who they were; however Baxter fell fast asleep
and the thief Rowland carefully stepped over Baxter
entered the cabin and took possession Of the mates silver
watch and mate being asleep in his berth.
On the thief making his retreat from the cabin he stubbed
his toe against Baxter which woke the latter up who
aprang to his feet and seized hold Of Rowland Knowing
fnll we'll No wa n hat his
chance for escape doubtful drew from his pocket
pistol loaded with small shot which he discharged At Bax-
ter the contents taking effect in the threat penetrating
through the wind pipe and lodging In the neck Baxter,
when shot let go his bold of the rogue and fell the
deck The two villains then jumped from the ship,
the end of the pier scrambled schooner,
and Joined their companion in small boat who was
awaiting their return The boat Immediately rowed
away Now it appears the darBg robbers satisfied
with the deed of blood already committed. and the
money besides but proceeded the river far Gou
street in the Seventh ward Here they boarded
another vessel but luckily the mate heard them in the
cabin, gave alarm. and the two robbers found
secreted in the forecase not having had time 10 escape
to their boat They both secured by the seventh
ward police and conveyed to the station house. As
both prisoners barefooed and the fact Of the
der becoming known to the police Of that district in
formation respecting the arrest was sent down to
the Fourth ward police station, and policeman Duffy
OF that district shown the patent leather shoes
derers. These identified by the police officer to
be- those OF Nicholas Rowland from the fact of the officer
having arrested Rowland about week SINCE and noticing
identity of the Shoes named John Desmond Of
No. 70 Oliver street and Charles Shaw, Of No. 10 Oliver
street, have both identified the prisoners the two
men they run from the ship Watson and 20 of in
the small boat as already described man named Perry
also testfes to about the facts In addition to the
above evidence Of guilt when the police arrested How
lana in the bunk where he was secreted was found
c LIS pdss nsS
the two prisoners to the City Hospital with
view Ito have them identified by the injured mar
dead about five minutes. The prisoners then con-
yeyed back to prison to await the Coroners inquest
The deceased was about forty five Of age native
Of Philadelphia. and has left family of four children In
that city Yesterday Coroner Ives empanneea jury,
and the following evidence was elected, but in
quence of the absence another Witness the investiga
ton was adjourned UNI Twelve o'clock this
day, at the Coroner's office. man by the name Of
Jackson has been arrested suspicion Of being the
third man who was seen in the boat -
TESTIMONY.
Charles Shaw sworn, says-I reside at No 70 Oliver
street. last night between IL and IL o'clock in company
with John Desmond and Robert Perry went down upon
the end Of the dock at the foot of Oliver street,
manned In conversation there with the above named per-
sons for perhaps hour then and there saw the flash
ship Thomas Watson; saw two men run hastily from
the ship upon the dock, at the end OF which lay a
schooner q don't know her name these two jumped
on board the schooner her side into small boat
and put of into the ver they must have passed within
two or three feet there was no moon 1t was dark;
not acquainted with the prisoners; Of the
In his shirt sleeves the other had dark clothes
not say whether he in his shirt sleeves not; did
not observe as they passed me- whether the had
shoes or not; when they jumped upon the schooners
deck they made no noise they alghted upon her deck
very lightly after the report heardhe cry of watch
twice from the chips the who passed the to
me had on light coored hat the men who passed mo
not very tall pretty stout these men answer to
the size of the two men who passed the dock
near ms can judge
John Desmond sworn says-I reside at No. 90 Oliver
street, last night between eleven and twelve clock
was in company with Charles Shaw and Robert Perry
the said dock as we sat in conversation together heard
the discharge OF pistol or gun board the ship lying
alongside the pier; saw two rush off from the ships
deck; they jumped of and ran towards at the
white hat raised small stick of wood or club which he
had in his hand and said, you of b-h IL you
don't get out Of the way I'll you the wayn
words to that effect did advance upon him; these
two men jumped on board of schooner at the end of
the dock and into small boat lying aongside the tall
est in his shirt sleeves and had striped pants
they were both barefooed; think they made noise
IN running or Jumping board the schoc ner; (he pr
their persons said the pantaoons resembed those
saw the man have but could say positively; have
no acquaintance with the prsoners the taest had
white hat the other had dark cap; it was about
twenty minutes past o'clock when heard the report
Of the pistol stood in the rigging Of the schooner and
saw the men in the boat rowing up the stream with the
tide towsrds Catharine market; it was flood tide.
street was IN ccmnnnv ,b shaw and No. noO Jver
night en- the dock in question it was think twenty
minutes to one O'Clock when went on the dock am q
seafaring man am cook and steward 1 heard the
report of pistol think she was heavily charged;
saw the aashjust abaf the mainmast heard man call
men jumped over the gapgway fthe ship got up from
where was sitting upon the end of the dock as the
Two men came towards US one OF the persons with me
said what is the matter upon which, of the men, who
came from the ship Thomas Watson, raised rough club,
looked If II had been taken from a wood pile and
said "you son Of Abb. I'll serve you in the same
way he addressed himself to the my party who
had spoken do not know which one II they then
jumped the schooners deck and got into
boat and put of and went up the East river got int
the schooners rigging and called out fire watchmen;n
meant for them to fire at the men in the boat the
passed within three feet of me II was not very
dark could see the shortest dressed In dark
clothes; had dark cap onhs head the taest had
WEI mi iipht uO dark. thav
were summer pantaloons he white Panama hat,
with black ribbon around they were both bare footed
am positive Of that At this stage the examinations
the persons stood up the witness said after viewing
theml the wearing the plaid pants (Nicholas
Howand) Of the who passed him on tho
dock; the other do not think there; have &C
quaintance with them no knowledge Of seeing them
before think the voice Of the prisoner Rowland re-
sembles that the who threatened us with club.
/ did not 90 board of the ship; remained ON the