The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-25

c<rME IN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF SAUL
AND HowLETr or THE MuRDER OF CHARLES nAx-
TER--ATTEMPT TO ExcULPArE JOHNSON
II viii be recolleced that the 2Sth Of August last
watchnan named Charles Baxter, board the ship
Thomas wilson lying at the foot of Oliver street.
shot in the by the discharge of pistol and in
short time died. the City Hospital from tho eject
Of the wound.
The police ARE ted William Saul Nicholas Hewlett and
William johnson, three young men, who were charged
with the murder The three prisoners 1t seems started
together that night for the purpose of robing vessels,
ana While in the act of pundeng the cabin Of the ship
Thomas Watson, Baxter aroused, and the rogues
Hewlett and Saul who detected In the cabin, in
their endeavor to escape made attack the watch
man. Hewlett struck at him with piece Of wood while
Saul fired pistol which resulted fatally
The prisoners were tried convicted Of the murder and
sentenced 10 be executed Friday of week An at
tempt being made to procure the executive Glenn
ency behalf OF Johnson who his associate, have act
forth in their confession accompanied them ON the night
in question bot remained in the small boat while thew
boarded the ship in search OF plumber Their confession
was made and to the of the keeper of
prison. who had the facility allowed him TO visit the
cupts Sunday night and who caused the same to be
Saul aud Howetts confession merely corroborates the
evidence given the trial. Saul acknowledges to the
firing OF the pistol and denies that johnson cOgnzant
of the murder They aege that johnson very drunk
lying in the boat and therefore unconscious Of all that
was going on This latter part of their statement does
correspond with the testimony at the trial but
how far it will affect the judgment of Governor Seymour,
in granting repreve communication of sentence is q
matter to be seen in a few days.
We're this the only offence In which these cuprts have
extended but we are most credbly infornsd that al
though young in years. they old in crime There APP
tic police as ock thieves who have adopted the sys-
tenn of dsposng of their victims when occasion
the principle of 'dead men tell tales.n This
gang consisted Of nineteen who would plan their jobs
enlist such members Of the gang commit felonies
| as were capable Of carrying out the design.
the Battery, robbed of thirty dollars and his body
thrown the railing but the tide not being sufficient
| to carry il of the deed was discovered.
Shortly after four supposed have been
accidentally drowned from boat instead Of which they
| thrown out of the boat and drowned.
Spanish brig was robbed while lying In the East river,
in the stream anchor and trunk belonging to the
captain containing money and jewelry, stolen,
amounting to several hundred dollars diamond finger
ring part Of the property has been found in the
session of young woman who states she received it
from one Of the condemned criminals.
1t frequent to find the bodies Of drowned
quest and verdict is returned Of Death Of unknown
man by drowning The thieves having boats at their
and his body precip,ated into the river In other
stances two OF the gang dress sailors and the third
man ITS as the boatman up to vessel lying at
anchor, the two sailors jump board and il not dis
covered plumber the cabins but should the Waterman
deck be awake they would then pretend to be ntox
Gated ask the Of the vessel abuse the boatan for
bringing them board the wrong ship, retreat the
side, take to their boat, and row OFF again.
Astounding disclosures have been made by one Of the
condemned criminals to official of this city, who has
taken them writing, and will make such of it
hereafter the wants of public justice may require.
Mr. Blunt the District Attorney arrived from Albany
yesterday morning and states that on his last interview
with Gov seymour, while there the Governor requested
him to inform the .hsep culpritsHowlett Saul and John
son-to prepare theelves for the day Of execution
tive power Up to last evening Sheriff Orser had not
ceved any message from the Governor concerning the
murderers
| On Sunday afternoon, Hewlett remarked how
strange matters turned out and related the following in
sentenced TO be hanged for the murder of policeman Gill
lespie he applied to the Sheriff for permission to witness
the execution However stay Of Judgment was grant
had been sentenced to be hanged Clark's execution
having been set down for the 18th Of next month Nu
applications made yesterday Sheriff Orser
for permits to witness the executions.