Washington sentinel., 1854-01-13
6emeraI SnteIligenfe.
Murder or suicide Of DIR. Lutener.AWe

WthkAa* GH&tA4ADt tHkk.
Murder or suicide Of DIR. Lutener.-We
noticed this horrible affair in yesterdays paper.
The detailed account following is from the New
York Herald Of the llth:
Considerable CONSERVATION was manifested yes
terday morning, at the corner Of Broadway and
Grand street, consequent upon finding the llfeless
body of DIR. William r. I. Lutener on the floor OF
his Office, situated at No. 45S Broadway corner Of
Grand street. When discovered, blood was aow-
ing from pistol shot wound in the back OF the
head, and apparently but very short period had
elapsed from the time Of the murder until found.
The Office occupied by the deceased is situated on
the second floor of the said building and the room
where he was discovered fronts on Broadway
The noisy condition of Broadway is supposed to
be the reason why the explosion Of the pistol was
not heard by the inmates of the premises.
The woman who attends 10 the cleaning of the
doctors Office, named Azuba @. Shipman, al about
eleven o'clock entered the Office and there behed
the deceased PROSTATE. with his head under the
table. and bleeding profusely. Believing at irst
that the doctor had ruptured blood vessel, she
from the for assistance, and after inform
ing several persons in the building, she returned
back to the room and commenced 10 baine the
doctors head with cold water, supposng that he
might have only tainted; but, on further examna-
ton, il was ascertained he was dead. The neigh
bors came in, and AT first il was thought case OF
suicide, but, from subsequent examination, II was
evident that il was the deed of an assassin.
Coroner Gamble was notified, and that official
hurried 10 the scene Of death, and Instituted in
quires respecting parties who were known 10 be
hostile 10 the deceased, who had made any
threats recently against the deceased. The coro-
ner was then informed that lawyer, named Will
liam Hays doing business at No. /, Nassau street,
had been involved in difficulty with deceased,
respecting the coduct of Lutener towards Hays
wife. The woman Shipman asserts, that she saw
Mr.. Hays about three weeks ago in the doctors
Office, when angry words passed between them,
and Mr. Hays was heard 10 say that he would take
the life of the DOCTOR or words TO that effect, ex-
hibiting pistol, which, she says, resembled the
one found discharged on the floor by the de-
ceased.
These facts led the coroner to the suspicion that
Mr.. Hays might possibly be the guilty party, and
he accordingly proceeded in person 10 the Office OF
Mr.. Hays, and there ordered him into custody on
the charge. When arrested he did not exhibit
any signs of fear; and when informed by the eoro-
ner that DIR. Lutener was dead, he protested his
innocence in the affair. young man in the Office
then spoke up, and said, Yes, there was diff
Guilty short time ago existing between DIR. Lutte
ner and Mr.. Hays, in relation to Hays wife, but
that had all been settled"
The pistol found on the floor near the deceased,
is new, single barreled pistol, of Aliens patent,
and the doctor had never been seen with such
one The doctors pistol was found in private
drawer-it is one Of Colts six-barrel revolvers,
and when found, all the barrels loaded; there
fore, the identity Of, the small pistol may lead to
the detection ofthe murderer. In addition to the
above, il was shown that short time before the
doctor was discovered, he had borrowed a morn
ing paper from Mr.. Wood, one of the tenants on
the same floor; and when found, that paper was
grasped firmly in the right hand showing that if
he had taken his own life, the pistol must have
been held in his left hand and the wound being al
the base of the skull il is almost impossible TO
hnv auiva he 0f thn hal IN hat nos
ton.
Further evidence was shown that a day or two
since, Hays wife called at the doctors Office, and
asked for certain letters belonging to her. which
the doctor held. He refused to give them up,
when she threatened to +" have satisfaction" and
after an angry conversation, she left the office.
On these facts, the coroner ordered the arrest Of
Mrs. Hays. TO await the result of the investigation.
During the afternoon, DR.. Uhl, assisted by an
other physician, made post mortem dissection of
the body of deceased, and found that the ball had
passed through the base of the skull and into the
occipital bone, where it lodged, pointing towards
the right side This bullet fitted the barrel Of the
pistol found on the floor by deceased, and the inn
preston is now beyond doubt that a murder has
been perpetrated but by whom, is yet to be shown
by legal testimony.
The deceased was a native of England, and
about 35 years OF age. He resided in 12Sth street.
Harlem, near Fourth avenue, where he has a
wife and two children living His medical prac-
ear, but of late he was somewhat notorious for in
trgue amongst married women, which is now sup
posed to be the cause of his untimey death.
Mr.. Hays protests his innocence in any partici-
patton in the murder and says that he became ac-
quainted with Lutener some three or four months
ago. on the train of cars going to and from Har-
lem. Mr.. Hays residing within short distance
of DR.. Lutener, and being countrymen and ma
sons, they soon became acquainted. the doctor fre-
quently visiting Mr. Hays in social manner, and
the doctor embracing the opportunity, made HIM
self very pleasant with Mrs. Hays. A difficulty
arose between Hays and his wife she left the
house. and took up her abodeowith the doctor.
Hays then called on the doctor about the matter,
and some high words ensued between them and
the doctor, fearing personal assault, went be-
fore the police justice and procured warrant
against Hays, who was arrested on the charge.
Subsequently, q reconciliation took place between
Hays and his wife. and this week il was arranged
that she return back to England. Yesterday morn
ing Mr. Hays says he left Harlem for the city by
the 10 o'clock train, arriving at the City Hall few
minutes before IL o'clock that he went from the
car to the auction store of Mr.. Kemp,in Nassau
street, near Fulton street. and from thence TO his
Office, and then to the Office Of the EUentng Post,
and back again to his office; where, after short
time, the coroner came in and arrested him; and
that is all he knows about it..
The Express Of the same date gives the follow
ing details
There are some singular incidents connected
with this mysterious tragedy, which have come 10
our knowledge from sources entitled to credit
Il appears that Hays and his wife were living
on the happest terms, until within six weeks past
when they became acquainted with DR.. Lutener,
the deceased.
Lutener, one evening not long since, was in
vited to spend the evening at Hays house, in the
Fifth Avenue and while there, the guest and his
host amused themselves with playing game of
draughts
In the course of the play some dispute arose,
during which angry words ensued-al ending in
Luteners leaving Hays house in ill nature
A quarrel between Mr.. and Mrs. Hays. it is said,
then folowed-she accusing him Of inhospitality
towards the doctor. This disagreement between
the two was sufficiently serious, il would seem,
to have led to an immediate separation.
Mrs. Hays after leaving her home, went and
placed herself to use her own phrase, s'under the
protection" Of DIR. Lutener. Apartments were
provided for her in Luteners house, at the corner
of Broadway and Grand street.
Hinder the circumstances as might be ex Dected