The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-04-07
CRIME IN GREAT CITIES.
The Recent Tragedies.

duced by the horrors OF that which preceded it.
And thus the question has been started BY some,
Es TO the policy of publishing all the details
This latter view, however, IS not bated 4 cor
rect consideration of the subject for with many,
the very fact that the commission of crime mi ght
take place, and yet the offender escape the pun
ishment of exposure and the indignation OF the
community, would form powerful inducenent
10 plunge the dagger, to administer the poison,
or to WELD the bludgeon. The public, more
over would never be satisfied by the suppress
sion of all the particulars, while a thousand
fsise stories would be circulated from lip TO lip,
and many scenes of violence be produced, which
are now avoided.
The tragedies that have so recently taken
place would Seem In some degree, TO give color
ing and plausbity to the theory of the great
novelist. The excitement produced by one crime
has scarcely subsidized, before the ears Of the
immunity have been startled and panied by the
details of another. In Philadelphia, is well
known, have had four appalling murders in
the course of few months. That of the store
keeper Rink, that of the stevedOre Soohan, and
those of the two sisters, Mrs. Shaw and Mrs
Lynch. And these have just been followed up
by two awful tragedies in New York. In one
case, q Hretched husband named Thomas Neary,
animated by the spirit of fend, seized a mall
let, and in the presence of his children beat his
wife with such cruel feI ocity that she died in
the course of few minutes. The offender has
been arrested, and in this case, as in that of
Arthur Spring, his own son is the principal and
fatal witness against him.
In the other case, Frenchman named Mel
vile, called on Thursday morning, at half past
9 o'clock, at the store of a gentleman named De
Corn, of firm of butter packers, whose
adjustment is in Greenwich street, and inquir-
ed for Mr.. D.. who happened to be absent He
was told Of the fact Oh appearing at the s ore,
also that Melville had said that he would call
again. De Corn immediately went into the yard,
and as is supposed, 10 prepare his pistol. About
half-past ten o'clock, Melville called again, and
presented paper of some kind to De Corn.
The latter looked at the paper, and then delib-
erately drew pistol; and as he was presenting
il, Melville exclaimed, "Oh Mr. De Corn, what
are you going to do" tie had but finished this
sentence when he was shot through the breast
with bullet, and died almost instantly. De
Corn Immediately after committing the deed
made his escape, but was subsequently arrest
ed. The following is more particular account
of the affair:
From the .Nsw York Courier, of APrl1.
Another MURDER-DELIBERATE AFFAIR.-A
shocking and deliberate murder was committed
yesterday morning shortly after ten o'clock, in
the provision store of Messrs. Giraud Co.,
Nos. 20S and 210 Greenwich street, the particu-
lars of which are follows MIR. Eugene Mel
vile, Frenchman, called at the above store
in the morning about o'clock, and inquired for
Mr.. Louis De Corn, one of the firm, and Mr.. De
Corn being then temporarily absent, he left,
saying that he would return shortly. A few
minutes after ten O'Clock he appeared at the
store, and Mr.. De Corn then within. Mel
vile, upon entering, handed Mr.. d. a letter,
which the latter read and returned to his visitor,
saying ''wait little"
De Corn then went Immediately to the back
part of the store, and in few minutes returned
from behind screen with a loaded pistol, which
ne presented at Mr.. Melville The latter, on
discovering the weapon, exclaimed, ''Oh my
God, Mr.. De Corn, what are you going to do, y
He had but finished this sentence when De Corn
shot him through the breast with bullet. Mel
vile fell upon the floor, and almost instantly ex-
plred. Hedid not speak after the pistol was
fired. The assassin, immediately after commit
ting the deed, fled from the premises. This ac-
count OF the occurrence was given by Louis
Steamer, lad who was at the time IN the store,
and Witnessed the tragedy. The Fifth Ward
Police were at the scene of boodshed ii few
ments after the murder was perpetrated, and
took the above witness and another LAD IN charge
and detained them for exumn ,tion.
The body of Mr.. Melville was conveyed to the
Fifth Ward Station House, where 4 post n1ortena
examination was made by DR.. Finnell. Tie bul-
let with which he Shot found near the
right shoulder blade. 1t passed through the
region of the heart and other vital parts. 1t Is
not known to certainty what prompted De
Corn to commit the deed The latter IS Il French
man, and said to have been "A physician There
are some circumstances which would make the
fatal affair appear to have been the result o.
six months ago 10 young American lady o.
good connections. She was In the habit OF re
ceiyiug a small income through her guardians
and he received about fifty sixty dollars from
his friends in France They lived happily bu
for short period.
1t is said that Melville was in the habit of dis
sippating, and this and other causes resulted II
separation between him and his Wife Ii Il
GlSo stated that the deceased was jealous of hl
wife, owing TO an alleged improper intimacy
that existed between Mrs. Melville and De Corn
The latter heard that Melville intended to attacl
him in consequence, about two weeks ago, anl
armed himself with pistol. The letter presen
ted to De Corn at the fatal meeting yesterda
morning was to the latter from his mother, VIII
wrote that she had just sent his wife man.
presents The reason for his showing the lette
to De Corn is supposed to have been to inform
him OF the good circumstances and stand % hi
relatives IN France, and the painful condition h
was placed IN by being separated from hIs wife
In the afternoon Mrs. Melville appeared a
the Station House in company with some friend
and exhibited much grief. She became almoa
frantic, and had to be secured in the parlor o
the Station House until those reasoning wit
her had managed in some measure, to sooth he
afliction.
About four o'clock in the afternoon, Captain
Carpenter and Hutchings, after long and tedi
GUS search for De Corn found him secreted i
Mrs. Melville's apartments in the Frankli
Square Hotel, and took him into custody. Cor
ner Hilton held an inquest on the body of til
deceased IN the afternoon when the followin
evidence was elected. The prisoner was pres
est during the investigation, and appeared yer
much depressed He seemed to regret the ac