The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-07

The late murder Of Mary Anne Stephens 81 a. Hiton at
the negro tenement house No las West Twenty eighth
street, was the subject Of investigation by Coroner
Gamble yesterday The evidence adduoed on he inquest
went 10 show state OF facts precisely similar TO those
already published in the columns Of the HsRArp There
did not appear to be any positive testimony against the
prisoner but nevertheless the circumstances pointed
strongly towards him that the jury convinced Of bis
guilt, and rendered a verdict accordingly. Hilton was
present during the progress of the inquest and On more
than one occasion manifested deep grief for the loss OF
his wife, He protested strongly against tho charge that
made against him. but said he felt quite happy for
his conscience clear.
The following Is report Of the proceedings q they
transpred before the Coroner
Thos Bayard residing at No. % West Thirty second
street. being ssysIhAve known deceased about six
months also know the prisoner they lived together
man and wife, and deceased went by the name OF MIS-
Hilton; frequently visited their house; never heard
ihem quarrelng; was home at 10 o'clock Thursday
morning last, when young girl named Mary came up
and asked TO down Mrs. Browns room In the
same house; came down. and there the prisoner he
said to me that his wife had shot herself aud that he
going down town to jersey City get his father and
mother and 10 bring them up TO bs place IN Twenty eighth
undress had persuaded HIM put clothes
which he did, anc then left the room with his brother and
myself the prisoner left us on the corner Of Thirty third
street and Eighth down TO Twenty eighth
street when heard that could not the deceased
later In the day policeman came and arrested me- saw
the pistol shown hanging the door In Hons
ROOM but never I with the prisoner did hear
any one say that il was his property.
Mary Anne Sanford deposed that she resided at 9b
West thirty second street, knew deceased and her hus
bsrd they appeared 10 live happily together board
with Mrs Brown at said place. about 10 O'Clock on Thurs
his wife shot asked Mrs Brown TO lend him
clothes gave him the Clothes when the prisoner and
company with Mr. Bayard and the prisoners brother,
went towards Seventh avenue; Mrs Brown and left
them the corner Of Thirty second street. and then
came down to Twenty eighth street saw the deceased
lying the floor in pool Of blood the prisoner did not
say at the time whether deceased shot herself or whether
any body else did So but my impression was that she
Cherries Ross deposed that be policeman attached
TO the Twent precinct poce-Abou half past 10 clock
on Thursday morning he came TO No. las West Twenty
eighth street. and there found deceased lying the
floor in pool of blood there was blood on wash basin
in the room he found the pistol shown him under chair
the bedroom door, about four feet from the spot
where the body lay the exploded cap the nipple
the pistol had the appearance of having been recently
Elizabeth Brown, being sworn, says--I reside at 96
West thirty second street. In the rear house, was slight
y acquainted with deceased; know the prisoner more
intimately understood that they lived as man and wife
together they appeared to live happily deceased and
the prisoner ii my house on Monday last heard
Hilton say lately that he was going away 70 Port Jervs
on Thursday morning the prisoner to my house
very much excited and cried "Ohl my God, my Mary is
shotp' he did not say who shot her; wanted him to
come with me TO his house-that might not be bad
he though-but he said he would 60 to his mothers he
did start Of In company with two other men And came
[
wife dead cannot say further furnished the prisoner
with shirt and pair OF shoes, as he was undressed
Peter ORielly police officer attached the Twentieth
precinct, being sworn saysI was returning from Jeer
saw crowd in front Of I46 West Twenty eighth street
came up and heard that woman was shot went into
the house, and deceased on the floor officer steele
in the room made inquiry and heard that the man
who shot deceased had run up Twenty eighth street;
pursued him Thirty second street. and there found that
arrested Thomas Bayard and Mary sandtosd, who
stated to that she present when Hilton came TO
Mrs. Brown, and that he told Mrs. Brown that he was
foolDg with the pistol that went of, and decreased
brains blown out had no conversation WITH Mrs
| Brown.
| resided at No. las West Twenty eighth street for
| the past two years; | have known the prisoner
and deceased since they lived in the house; on
THURSDAYS morning last ] 10 bed, about ten O'Clock
When heard the report Of pistol jumped up and look
ed the door and heard Mr. Hilton cry out My God my
God he then out o. the house think he was bart
headed and in bis shht sleeves up stairs subse
quepty and deceased the floor in pool OF blood
her feet towards the steetand her head towards the bed
door.
Thos Steele being duly sworn, affirmed and ssys-I an
apoce officer attached 70 the Twentieth precinct was
duty in Eighth avenue, Twentieth street, on Thurs
day morning last when a man ard woman came TO m
and said there was woman shot In Twenty eighth street
accompanied them TO las West Twenty eighth street
and arriving there went up stairs ard decease
lying the floor; saw wound in her eye; her heat
ards the bedroom door and her feet towards thu
street nom appearance she had been moved: shc wa
not dead en- arrived; there the remains Of
breakfast the table, found the smaller pistol
show the mantel piece after making inquiry as
the went In search OF the prisoner he was
arrested upon my return to the house where deceased
Msry Aure Sandford bong recalled, says Il remember
ssyrg the officer who arrested that HIT IN said al
Mrs Browns that the pistol went off accidenallytha
deceased was playing with II.
Geo. N Dspment Sergeant OF the Twentieth ward DO
Ice being duly sworn, says hal conversation will
Mrs Brown when she arrested aud brought to thu
station house she told tha, Hilton 10 her hous'
and stated that che had shot his Mary that they wer'
playing together, and tina, the pistol Went @, thai sh'
supplied him with some articles OF clothing that no wen
away from her house. and thai she did know wher,
be was going and that no did not say himself where hi
was gong to- she omphaticay denied AL knowledge Of
where Hilton had gone 70, while was In conversation
with her the prisoner brough. ino the
and examined him, and asked him how the circumstance
occurred he replied that be lev 10 bed Thursday
ing about half past O'Clock that bis wife IN the
ether room preparing breakfast she asked him why be
went away 70 long the previous day and ha replied that
his corscience troubled him and that he would 20 away
20 bis brother she said then, that he must leave her
that she would leave him first ~hereon he heard
the report Of pistol and sprang out Of bed and caught
Thomas Byard previous witness denied all knowledge
Of The whereabouts Of Hilton previous 10 hrs hilton -
arrest and also denied having furnished him with clothes
John Brady, IT, Of the Twentieth precinct police, de
posed as follows;-l WAS sent here about O'Clock
Thursday afternoon; saw the body OF deceased ar.
rested Bicn he into the house he said he
there with the intention Of giving himself up took hin
70 The station house aud while there hesrd him make
the statement 10 Sergeant Bsnnet 10 which the Sergeant
has already sworn, and which Confederate az true in
| every particular
louisa Burton deposed that she resided at No ia West
Thirty third street knew NE deceased from her birth
| Der maiden Brund: she born In Phisdel-
phia few years. she married named Stevens;
she aed from him ast December she has lived with
the prisoner since that time deceased at friends
house in Twenty ninth street had no conversation with
her about her family aars occasion she told
that she separated from stevens account OF Hilton.
Elizabeth Jenkins OF No las West Twenty eighth street.
deposed thai the morning OF the murder she the
prisoner rushing down stairs Just before that she heard
the report OF pistol she asked the prisoner what
the matter when he exclaimed, my wife, my wife and
then out into the stree, he dressed his under
shirt pants and drawers tainted, and after this have
| no idea Of what happened.
|
| noctors Fpnel o'IIanlon and Fergusou beiue duly
sworn depoee and sayOn entering the Of house
No i4b West Twenty eighth street, found deceased
lying on her back With the lace towards the entry door
the head within foot of the bedroom door blood
was flowing from the wound In the face ada the left
was covered with blood from the shoulder dosn 10 the
nneer the clothing covering the anterior surface Of the