New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-17
HORRID MURDER IN THE SIXTH WARD.
ONE MAN KILLED AND ANOTHER SUPPOSED
TO BE FATALLY INJURED.
,r,vo up TIP PARTIES ARRESTED

From the facts, ss At present Developed, u appears
that John Glss, young man, AID exconstabe Of the
Sixth Ward, james Higgins, associate and another
man whose name Is unknown, while partially into1l-
Gated went TO the sssguaton house No. q Elm strset,
kept by Wilhelm Decker, German and hs wife, I'M
tremendously bursting open the front door,
which they fcuud 20 be locked, rushed Up
stairs and commenced breaking the chamber
furniture. A lsrge china wash-bowl and an earthen
basin were speedily demolished, together with mirror
end other articles. Decker up after the malicious
villains and endesv to put stop TO the depreda-
tiens, but when be approached they broke and e1-
tngusbed oil lamp hanging in the hallway 60 that
Decker could not see. Toe latter however managed
to pet the ruthless invaders down stairs, and elected
them after great resistance their part As Decker
was about closing the door upon them, Glass, as IS
alleged Drew a revolver aud fired two shots through
the panel Of the door, both balls taking effect on the
person Of Decker who fell TO the floor nsensibe and
bIed most profusely from his wounds.
At that moment Richard Owens, stevedore, carry
ing on an extensive business and employing large
number of men, who lived at No. l2l Union street,
Brooklyn happened TO be passing by on his way home,
when, it is supposed he inteerel in some way with
the murderers.
Finding Themselves detected, Gass and Higgins, as
s aedeed 10 pnt the witness out OF the way, turned
On the upoffending Ovens, snd, dealing hin power
fol blow on the head with knife some other deadly
wespop, shot him IN the left breest tire ball
penetrating tue heart and lungs, causing death sooa
afterxsrj.
The murderers then fed, and Information Of the
tragedy reaching Capt Bowling OF the Sixth Pre-
cinct he mustered all his available men and dispatched
them in every direction IN search Of tue fugitiyeS.
Officers Jourdon and Woodbridge fastened to Jersey
City 20 intercept the Offenders, should they attempt
10 leave the State by that route. Iu the mean time,
Owens, the murdered msn, was conveyed TO the New
York Hospital and DR.. Simmons was called to attend
Decker. who was supposed to De mortal'y wounded.
On examination, it was found that one bullet took
effect back of the left ear, and, penetrating to the
skull, fattened and logged there The other ball
entered under the left arm, and, gancing upward,
lodged in the breast, from which it was
extracted by DR.. SimmoDs. Decker was subsequently
conveyed TO the Hospital, where Dr. Quinby, the at
tending surgeon, after an operation which lasted
nearly two bours, extracted the bullet by piece, from
the head Of his patient Such was the vigilance e1er-
csed by Capt. Bowling and bis men, that in thirty
minutes after the murder committed Officers l.
gan and Flynn Of the Sixth Precinct apprehended
Glass on the corner of Broad way and Pearl street.
lie was taken to the S.atOn-House, and locked up.
The Dst appeared 10 be astonshed at bis arrest,
aid asked what il was for. Still later, Capt. Bowling
arrested Higgins in Elm street. the scene of the
bic ody tragedy; and this prisoner also exhibited the
same sulen Indifference that shown by Glass, the
reputed principal in the murder. The third man
alleged to have been engaged in the bloody deed
is still at large, and unknown. Glss had been in
this dereputable house on other occasions and
was known to Mrs. Decker, and her con, William
Myers, by former husband. AT the time the prison
ers were elected from the house young Myers stood on
the opposite side of the street and distinctly cav Glass
fire through the door the two pistol shots which took
effect on Decker. Myers being much frightened lest
he should be killed himself down the street and in
a moment or two sfterward heard the third and last
shot fired. II was this discharge that killed poor
Owens The boy secreted himself and as soon as the
crowd had dispersed he returned home and noticed
large quantities of blood the sidewalk. Myers saw
DO pistol in the crowd except that used by Glass.
Owens the deceased was q man about 45 years Of
age and netive Of Wales. He has left wife and
two children Owens was stevedore and said 10 be
an hon, It, industrious lie WAS at work foot OF
Wall street all cay Saturday and some time during the
evening ne went to his employers Office on the North
River side to receive his wages 1t was while return
ing from this place that he met with his sudden and
sad death.
The prisoner Glass was elected constable Of the
Sixth Ward in the fall of 1867 and his term of Office
expired with the year just closed. He is sbout 80
years of age, and has been hard case for many
years. He hes been repeatedly arrested for assaults
and ruffiansu, but never suffered any lengthy impr-
sonment. He is active politician, and doubtless
strenuous Efforts will be made to relieve him from his
present troubles. Ii does not appear that Higgins fol-
lows any legitimate badness for a living. He hiss
most forbddi, and murderou.. looking countenance,
his face being much scared from other.
Coroner Jackman vas duly notified Of the murder,
and yesterday proceeded to the hospital, and after
empaneling jury, took the ante-moltem examination
of Decker, which is as follows
Wilhelm Decker, being duly sworn deposes and
says-I ain conscious If my dangerous condition. was
in the house No 81 Elm street at III o'clock last night
Jan. ID 1859; reside in that house; the prisoners
before me, named James Higgins ard John Glass,
recognize as being among tue parties who fired at
me last night; James Higgins am more satisfied Of
than the other prisoner believe he was the person
who fired; cannot recognize them by thar faces
but only by their dress the door ajar wnen the
shots were FREQ ano in the act of putting them
out; there quarrel between the prisoners ami
myself but they TO my door and wanted TO force
their way in the PRISONERS are strangers 10 me- they
were not Intoxicated far as l could observe; the
prisoners the Sidewalk, aud went 70 lock my
docr when first they attacked me; hsd no word with
them neither did give them any provocation tor the
attack on me- when first they forced their way into
my premises, they rushed up stairs and broke the
lamps in the hail on the second floor.
This concluded the deposition Of Decker, and the
Jury rendered verdict that he "same 10 his wounds
Z" at the hands Of james Higgins aEd his confederate
John Glass, Jan. II, 1889"
(Sgpsd) WILLIAM O. KETTELLE, No. q Aurty-s.-
EDWARD y ECGLESroN, No. 81 Fultons st.
s. B. ELLTTHoRP No. 81 Broadway.
LORENZO PATrES, Nc. Beekmanrt-
WELLINGTON Brown, No. 80 Sixth 49,.
JoHy HARRISON, No. 1877 Sulivsn-st