New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-30
THE MERCER STREET MURDER CASE
NO CLUE TO THE PERPETRATORS.

Coroner Hills yesterday morning renewed the In
vesgaiion relative to the Of death OF Mr.. Au.
tustus I. vaDlew late of No. u Vestry srest, who
was found lying dead a cellar door in Mercer street,
near ths corner Of Canal, about o'clock on Monday
night. The evidence developed did lot point to any
one as being guilty of the dabOlcal murder, as it is
charged t. be- and the Coroner found it necessary to
close the case without any more light being thrown
upop the matter which would tend to clear up the
mystery.
The Jury, from the testimony of DR.. Finnel, as
given on Tuesday, and from all the facts obtainabe
before the Coroner AID elsewhere, are fully convinced
that the deceased murdered There are variety
of conflicting opinions relative to the manner in which
| Nr. yaplew met his death; majority Of those who
lave taken the trouble to investigate thoroughly for
themselves to iLeue to the belief that he died in
ft and was stabbed after d-ath by more rus
pIcious perseDs, whose names mentioned in the
t.etno ny. Below will be found the evidence, as
taken before the Coroner ard Jury.
" illam Lawson was the first witness called, and
being sworn, testified as follows: l reside ut No. 62
Varick street; l kew the deceased: l met him ut
from hty iDutes to haf-past O'Clock on Monday
evening the 9Th int, i'll Lsght street. within few
door OF Canal street; he asked me TO accompany him
in " ak ss tar As the st Nicholas Hotel Declined
because had alresdy walk ed far the corner OF
Fourth street back. and felt somewhat fatigued;
lie tbeA a.ked NE to wait for about half Gil hour at
No. 62 Varuk street, which PROMISED to do; re-
aired in the sutir room until alter III o'clock, and,
as he did up that time 1 retired heard
nehpg about d ceassd Until next ulorning, when
card that he was found dead in Mercer street the
Light before; | do not know whether he went to the
81. NicbcSs Hotel lot that Lght; lie used ofLen
t. ak He to walk with aim; understand he used to
20 to zee a man named Reeve. VINO keeps II news
ssnd at the ST. Nicholas, and who used To tell good
story deceased rather liked to with him, ana
lIst.n 10 bs yarns SO
To- Juroi-I never heard him complain Of dizzi-
uesh of eight as be able to reBa de spoke of
BIB bealih as bsvibg much improved during the last
ten dsys be did complain ii being i'll On Monday
evening; have often walked with Deceased We used
t. walk through Broadway; tue bluri9g Of the eye
eight bsIpened Ill the S2nng Of the year and
W AZ Ibs effect of biliousness, 81 he always tsd 1t
would last son etlnes for two three days. hs ply
stefan presume cal tell more concerning his health
than con.
cane t. the city last Saturday from Newport K. l.;
all staying there for few days. am q stranger In
hs city born here but have not been ia the city
Fl, &c years old; shout III O'Clock ON Mon.
day night was passing down the street toward Canal
street having come out Of the house, and SAW de-
eessed yirg the road GIL ~ two men were near
bim; he b & OIL biz back with his arm upon bus
breast: never saw the man or the girl before and
don't know Them saw them before saw the dead
body. aid got up TO them the gin asked ne II
knew him, to Nhkh l replied that l did not;
l asked her if she knew him; fhe said
Yes, be is a friend of mile, suppose
"fe ia drunk and somebody has been licking him."
ebe then ssid, Let's 90 and look at HIM We did So
ond said guess he's drunk she said Feel Of
hin and zee if he's cold; did go, aud finding his
band very cold, said guess he's dead, for he ia as
cold he be-; didn't notice how bis coat was,
or where his cap was, noticed nothing about bun only
took hold Of his band and then went to look Tor an
officer tavipg the standing on the corner; we did
Lot find any officer and returned, the men were
It'll stal ding in the same place, they asked us we
found the officer anc We said no, when they desIeo
l...t
for all officer from the other side; we
went Gown Canal street. and the girl met friend Of
hers who returned with Us, and after examining the
body pronounced him dead; don't know who the
ellis friepo was. as never saw him beiore the
W. Ut after officer, and found one; while he was
gobe three fellows came round and stood over the
nsp, swearing and saying he was dead; they 'Sld,
shouldn't swear if he's dead" the officer then came
NJ, aid the girl and went away, leaving the men
with The officer; went past the house No. and ief
the girl then returned aid went into the house. and
said TO Mrs Bennett, There's man dead out there
Mrs. Bennett said eve him carried past
when was in the houe minute or
two the other girl came in and SAID enc
to 90 home: said, will 60 with you, can ma
the way" the girl who attends the door LOUISE Boz
gent The colortd girl coming In from looking az
de,euseo went into the hall and into the front par.
Tor AID obody was there but Mrs. Bennett; l don
know if any was In the back room; the gir "io
ne she live d 10 North street.
Jurm-Was it not Worth street A. don't
know Sir; went little way with the girl, and toid
her should not be able to find my way back then left
her and she went her way have not seen her SINCE
lit will be remembered that the colored girl swore
that two strange girls into the house, and toa
Mn. B-nnet Of the occurrence; this the above witness
deuies
To aJuror-When l left the girl she turned to the
light twestwardl went with her three streets below
Canal street; the street she went down was DARK
| street and bad brick houses in it; think should
know the girl again if should meet her; looked for
| her lat night in Broadway, but did Not her;
| probably she had different dress on.
| After various other questions Of importance, the
| Jury came 10 the conclusion that it iato White
s, et the girl turned when witness parted with herl.
WitIess-I think the girl called the man whom she
| net john" che had a white ~. and white
| linen cape; her lace MAS not red ~ pale; the
man did not call her by name.
| Amanda BENEFIT, sw.n-I reside at No. ] Mercer
.trtet; did not know deceased; bav. hot seen aim
| sir ce he was dead; about Ill o'eleck On Mo0slay
| nicbt two girls came hunedIy Eto my houee; one
~ them il Anna Williams, who kas lust testified, the
other did not know, having never seen her before
| .br came in after Anna; l All positive ! d0At know
her maine or TesdeLce; never ssw her before, mol
| have ssen her rpce 10 my knowledge, the girl.
| said there was q man either dead or drunk on the
c,rper; they thought he was dead VI them sske<
| me If I wOplunt e. down and the man;
| rrfu,ed. sayiog I never went n such things
hut told the coiored 6jh, who just down stairs
that she might 20 she pleasrd; while she wss gon
the sTsnge girl told ms that che bad known the MAJ