The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29
The Battery Murder Case.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
NEW YORK, May ~, 1854.
DEAR SIR-In your issue of oath March in the
present year, you published q statement in the
HERALD regarding the murder of the German on
the Battery, some two years since.
In that article you 20 on to state facts" &c. &C.,
substantiating your previous knowledge that the
German was murdered by Saul, Hewlett, johnson,
and Morse alias Frenchy, who, you say, corro-
b0rated your facts by confession which ne made
a few days prior to his death to keeper at the
Sing Sing State Prison, where he was confined,
Howlet, johnson and himself committed that deed
for the paltry sum of thirty-fve dollars. Having
on all occasions ever held the HERALD above all
other journals, as regards the correctness Of its
statements, what am | to suppose by observing q
most wicked and inhuman falsehood put upon the
public at the expense of the unfortunate men who,
after passing that dreadful ordeal of their coun-
try's laws into eternity, and their bodies now lay
Wondering beneath the green sward? Is 1t not
both wicked and inhuman, | say, to utter those
statements against those who cannot arise and
face their accusers? Is this all Where else does
the poisoned barb strike? Have not the fam lies
Of those men who suffered death, have they not
hearts to wound?
l, for myself, have been twice called upon to con-
radict statements of the same character alike viii
flying the dead. have an aged mother and fami-
ly, who as is my duty, am bound to protect and
respect, notwithstanding the wretchedness which
be- cen brought upon them through the unfortunate
eIN zone Of their relatives It seems from your ar
tice that this must not cease that the ignominy
Of the son must alike descend upon the mother,
brother, sister, and 70 down, until it shall have
driven every living fibre Of this family from OF this
earth. Is this law, human law2 Your article ID not
mere supposition; it runs thus" About the time
those murderers were convicted, we published the
fact from authentic information that the German on
the Battery had been murdered by the Saul and
Hewlett gang" Authentic information you say;''
where did you get that information fromS Bring it
forth now, for, armed as am with the truth must
denounce the whole vllc connection of lies. To
take up this matter had to trace the parties accus
SO far succeeded, that feel satisfied that win be
able to convince the public that have acted but in
the right to protect the dead from SANDER, and the
living from persecution. To commence ia uuravel
this matter 1t was necessary for me to visit Sing
Sing prison, for there it was the confession was
said to have taken place. What then, was the
statement Of Mr.. Childs, the geMtIemanly clerk
Of this institution, in regard to i'll He Says
1T is faseho0d, no such confession was ever
made to person within the walls of Sing Sing
His statement is corroborated by the warden and
other officers, who say it originated in New York
city. So far so good. Now we find that the Ger
man was murdered on the evening Of the 9th at
January.
Where were Hewlett, Saul and johnson on that eve
ning2 We find that ON the Esd Of December, over
one month previous to the murder, that VIM. Saul
was arrested upon the charge Of grand larceny, he
was sent to prison, where he remained until the 25th
Of February. Now how was 1t possible for Saul to
have taken part in that deed. Next we find John
son arrested, on the 9Th or 9TH of January put in
the Tombs, and on the 18th of January sent on
Blackwels Island, where he remained until the 18th
OF April. Can you inform me how VIM. johnson
could take part in the Germans murder on the 9th
OF January, when he was under confinement from
the 9th or 18th of January until the 18th Of April.
Now where is Nicolas Hewlett. We find that he
with seven others was arrested from a house in
Madison street, near Roosevelt, upon the 22d Janu-
airy, five days previous to the murder, and upon
the Path he was received on Blackwels Island un-
der the vagrant act, and there he remained until
the 10th of February, when he was brought down
upon writ Of habeas corpus. Now, sir, was it
possible that he (Howlett) could come down from
the Island and commit the murder, and then return
and remain ON the Island for some nineteen days,
Is it possible sayi can any conscientious person
answer Yes2"
This SIR, is evidence, not circumstantial, but posi-
tive. But withal, IL this any satisfaction for rela-
tives whose feelings have been wounded in the ut
most degree2 And wherefore is IT, because, sir,
the curiosity Of gaping community must be sa-
tisfied that the happiness of family-aIready de-
stroyed-must be further outraged by KbeiIous ar
tcles being put forth at the cost of the departed to
crafty the appetite Of the public? am sure you
viii at once see the error; and an further convinced
that you can sympathse with me and mine.
think It but proper that the public should see both
sides OF the picture; and by giving this publicity
through the columns Of your valuable paper, you
VIII greatly oblige yours, respectfully,
JOHN HowLErr.