The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-04
THE MURDER IN BROOKLYN.

purshsr Fs.rtscu,ars OF shis Awful Trassay
pho Mother Recovering.
The awful tragedy in South Brooklyn, Escorded In
vestA~,av,s HuALp, has been ever ssnoe the main
topic o. conversation smoag he residents Of our
sister city There Is something In this sorry affair
90 strocious, that the blood runs Geld ct Its recital
father numbering his own child and stru ygling to
take the life Of his wife, L. almost without paral-
lei In the history Of crime.
There have been rumors and conflicting accounts
published In regard to this sad affair." but this morning
we give the acts accurately they could be OBJ.
tanned. The murderer j. N. T. Tucker, has been for
some time past come ,tei with the Duly Fireman,
OF Brooklyn, "a ed tor, aud we understand has de.
voted some years of his life to the ministry having
been Baptist preacher.
The murderer and bi, wife, Frances Tucker, were
married about Eve years since, the husband having
been previously married to lady, by whom be has
living four children now in charge Of the relations
of his present wife, at Syracuse and 0nondaga. In
the beginning of their married state no troubles
marred their happiness; but, after WHILE quarrels
of family description, at times serious and alarm.
ing in their hatuIe, became Of frequent occurrence
and within the last two years have ELECTED from
the husband threats of the most demoniacal kind.
On Wednesday afternoon Tucker left the Office OF
the Brooklyn Daily Freeman about o'clock, with
the intention Of proc edng home to his family, as.
cordirg to his usual custom but on MS way he
met some friends, with whom it is asserted he took
considerable drink. In consequence of this he did
not reach home until later than usual, and found
his wife awaiting his arrival to take supper. Over
the meal discussion took place of very ulfrieud
ly kind, nd the names Of the wi;es relations were
alluded to, Tucker was nus custom on previous
occasions, accusn bis wife with the fact OF Settiag
her relatives in opposition to him. This the wife
denied, and when he was through he prevailed upon
her TO take walk in Atlantic street. in orrer TO get
thu beLeft Of the cool air.
Mrs. Tucke. at fir.t sefused, being In no mood to
walk on promenade, after the unfriendly words
winch had passed, AMI moreover she had just got
the baby to sleep, AMI did not want to leave II.
Her husband however, was urgent in his request
that che should accompany him, and, she finally
cousentiIg, they left their home to walk together.
The unfortunate couple had not proceeded far
when Tucker again called up family and domestic
anais, saying that every one in his home was
against him, ana he you'd be revenged upon them
all. This the wife denied, and urged her husband
not to repeat this again, or harbor such thoughts.
Tucker then drew Colts revolver and fourishing
it about, still declared he would have vengeance,
ana threatened to blow his wife's brains out upon
the spot IL she denied again that they were all
against him ut home. At this the wife became
herself excited, and exclaimed-"Well, blow them
OUT at the same time leaving her husband, and
At home the parties again met, Tucker having
arrived there first. Here the quarrel was renewed;
Tucker now fncing fault with his wife for leaving
him in the street, and making this desertion new
catise OF cOmpl Ait against her. II was In vain
that the poor wife attempted to excuse herself upon
the plea that he threat ned ia the public street to
take her life; that she was afraid he would alarm
the inhabitants and mako ho public spectacle; and
tn tally that she was fearful unless ehe left him. he
would execute his threats of blowing out her brains
The infuriated wretch still persisted that she should
not have deserted him in the streets and that this
act was new cause for vengeance. After short
time btth went up stairs to their sleeping apart.
ments, and upon reaching the bedroom on the third
story 'front.' where the little child was asleep on
trurdle.bed, he rushed to a drawer and got out q
small bottle Of brandy, then went TO the window
and threw It out and appeared DESTROYS to jump
out OF the window, but eventually came back and
said to his wife, "Now viii you project me, Ftances1
The wife answered that she would He then went
TO trunk ana took out . razor. He opened the
blade, and, rushing to the bed seized the helpless
child, and cut his throat from ear to ear, nearly
seyering the head from the body.
Upon seeing this the frantic mother rushed to
the window and balloed "MurdeI,n but had scarcely
done SO when the villain for her, and, seizng
her by the throat, inflicted horrible cash on her
neck. The blade Of the razor fortunately glanced,
or a fatal wound would have been inflicted.
The brute then struck her with the buttend of his
revolver several times in the face.
AT this critical moment the other child, an in
teresting little girl of six years, came into the
The infuIiated muI derer rushed towards her,
seized and cut her about the face and hands with
the razor, aud attempted to kill her. The poor
mother. to save her children, fought desperately
and successfully for the little girl.
The noise disturbed the other inmates of the
house, and Mr.. James Denysse the landlord of the
house, who occupied the lower part, in company
with two young men rushed up stairs to see what
was the matter Arriving at the apartments of
Tucker. they found the door locked, but hearing
the screams of murder in the room, without hest.
tation they burst open the door, when the tragedy
was revealed TO them il oil its horror. Upon the
manged corpse Of the infant little boy, its throat
cut as described. The murderer stood erect, with
glazing eyes, his thumbs and fingers clinching the
neck OF his wife, once sworn to love.
Blood flowed from wounds already received and
exhausted che lay Q piteous spectacle. The young
men instantly on entering the room made for the
murderer, and with blows and kicks feled him to
the floor before he had consummated his bloody
work.
Resistance was out of the question, aud the razor
was torn from his hands and the alarm given for the
police. The greatest sensation prevailed outside
when the murderer became known, and hundreds of
persons surrounded the house.
The police having arrived, he was hastily taken
of to the Third district police station where he WAS
iot kod up. His manner was not that OF crazy
man, but he appeared to exult in his numerous
acts He was placed alone under strict surveillance.
Dr. Hallett, Of Atlantic street, was then called In,
and be pronounce ed the poor child to be dead. He
ulStstu tOS WU0uuS Oh luCkcI, anu bnc WAS put
TO bed. and . nurse provided for her. Yesterday
morning she was In fair way Of recovery. MI.
Denyssc and he two friends having arrived just In
time 10 save hcS
Coroner Ball being notified of the bloody deed,
yesterday morning held an inquest upon the body
Of the murdered child who was an interesting little
boy betweenthSee and four years old, at the house
In which the tragedy was enacted, No. 403 Atlantic
STIR ct. A Jury having been summoned and sworn,
DR.. Halett testified to being called upon to attend
TO the child and the mother a. we have stated, and
the child with the razor were sufficient to cause
death.
The Coroner considering this q case requiring
mere than the usual time for investigation after
briet address to the jury, postponed Il till Monday
AZ we have above stated, this murder has excited
the deepest feeling in Brooklyn, and the house in
Atlantic street was yesterday visited by hundreds
Of eople. The murder cd innocent was promisinO