Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-06
the Murder In brooklyn.

yesterday afternoon, Tucker, the murderer OF
his child, was confined in the cells of the third
district police station-house, in Court street, To
which he was taken when arrested. He was
placed under the immediate care Of Assistant
Captain Oswald, who had done all he could to
alleviate his situation. A bed had been pro-
vided, and orders given that all his wants should
be supplied. Captain o. had not spoken to
him at all on the subject of the inhuman deed,
which had led to his incarceration, nor would
he suffer any one else to do 80. The prisoner
himself is, or affects to be quite obivious of the
whole of the circumstances but conscious that
he is in Jail. He says he does not remember
ANYTHING at all about how he got there, but he
is very weak and sore. This is attributable in
a great degree to the beating which he received
when he was arrested-the policemen finding
it necessary to use great violence, even to re-
sort to their clubs, in the first place to rescue
his wife from his infuriated grasp, and second
ly to secure him in custody. He has received
a considerable bruise on his right temple, and
the left hand thumb is cut.
The sincerity of this affected total uncon.
seriousness is much doubted; though there is
little question but that his reason was unseated
and has of late frequently been SO. Yesterday
morning he complained of pains in the stom-
ach, and Captain Oswald gave him a dose of
some medicine, with which he is provided for
cholera cases, consisting mainly of paregoric,
laudanum, or some other strong sedatives, and
this, it is supposed, has enabled him to dis
pense with some accustomed stimulants which
he has mentioned, but not asked for. He told
the captain that he had been drinking very
hard over night, (which, it will be remember
ed. was not the fact but that he did not know
anything about the last part Of the spree, or
something Of that sort. In answer to ques-
ton about his wife and family, he said the last
time he saw her was at sea, and she and all
his family were quite well. He also said he
had used good deal Of opium lately, but, be-
yond the medicine above mentioned and some
cold water, he neither took nor required any
thing to eat or drink until nearly FIVE o'clock,
when he said he should like some tea and toast
This was Immediately ordered for him. lie
has mentioned his family, but apparently with
out any emotion, merely saying he would like
to 60 home, and that he wanted o'see his wife
and get some clean clothes. In the evening he
was removed from the police station-house to
the county JAIL by officer Russell.
The prisoner was born in Wayne county, in
this State, and is now 43 years of age. He has
been married three times and has six children,
three of whom are living at Canandaigua, and
three have lately been residing with him at
BROOKLYN, during the last two or three months,
since he took the editorial charge of the Free.
men, Two Of them, the murdered child and
one little less than year old, were the issue OF
the marriage with his present unfortunate wife,
whose maiden name was Ferris. Her mother
resides in Michigan.
He is said TO have followed several different
callings, and was at one time living at SYRIA
cuse, following the business of printer. de
has also been a Baptist minister, at vincent,
Pennsylvania, whence he removed TO Brooklyn,
but his chief occupation has been in connection
with the press, as a reporter and correspond
ent, generally attending the session OF the legis
lature Here his eccentricites were frequently
remarked and obtained for him the soubrlquet
Of" Mad Tucker" He was generally addicted
to intemperance, but would occasionally abstain
entirely from drinking, and has even appeared
as a temperance lecturer. At these seasons
he would resort to the equally baneful practice
of chewing opium, which he did to great ex-
tent, and which habit he had Of late resumed.
Mrs. Tucker continues under the medical
care of Dr. Halet, and is in a fair way OF re-
covery.
The pistol mentioned in our previous &C
count, had been lent to Mr.. Tucker by Mr.. De
Nyse, (who lived in the same house, on Sun.
day last, when he (Tucker) was going to attend
some streetpreaching near the city hall, and a
disturbance was apprehended. 1t was then
loaded with buck-shot. When Tucker entered
the house on the fatal night, De Nyse asked
him for this pistol, and he said it was up stairs.
1t was soon after he had left De Nyse's room
that the screams were heard. Mrs. Tucker
Il. p,ohf e,poa tbo
Sunday with this pistol in his hand, threaten
ing to shoot her if she moved.
coRogER's INQUEST.
Coroner Ball yesterday morning empanneled
a Jury. and they proceeded to view the body Of
the child at the house. The examination was
adjourned until Monday next.
We find the following in the Daily Freeman
of last evening, Of which paper Tucker was
the editor at the time Of the commission Of the
crime:
The shocking case which appears in our col
umns today of J. n. I. Tucker and his unfor.
tunate family, is to US at once affective, as
founding and embarrassing. Some weeks
since, Mr.. Tucker made our acquaintance, and
through the recommendations of men of char
acter. we engaged him temporarily in the ca
pacity of editor of the freeman. OF his
spirit, enterprise, and activity, we were soon
convinced, and hoped that our relation to him
might be continued, and be useful to ourselves
and others There we're times, however, when
his appearance alarmed our suspicious in re
spect to his abstinence, Of which we frankly in.
formed him, aud received from him solemn
pledges of sobrlety.
Mr.. Tucker was altogether stranger TO us
but since the dreadful occurrence Of last even
ing. we arc briefly informed Of his history
He and his unhappy family arc the wrctched
victims of the rum trade. Some fifteen OF
twenty years ago he commenced life as Dap
list minister man of good heart, powerful
! impulses, and excellent abilities. The tempe
rance and anti-slavery excitement met him a
the outset. He engaged in them with all hi
strength, and was not little distinguished
among the active agents Of those enterprises
| Some ten years since, we. are informed, he con
nected himsefwith an anti-slavery newspapera
Syracuse, at its editor. Soon, thereafter, hi
| friends discovered occasional evidences Of hi
use of liquor; nevertheless, from his talent
and address, he maintained the confidence 0
very many Of his friends, continued to preach
though independent Of the Baptist connection
and was appointed clerk Of the senate, whic
Office, we believe, he held two or three years.