, 1859-03-19
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
Horrible Wife Murder In HAftfofd-
Sudden Death OF the Murderer.



Yesterday Sunday afternoon about 10 o'e1oek,
christopher G. Colson, q fish dealer well known
IN this city, deliberately murdered hia former
wife, at the house Of his brother, James Colson,
at 81 South Hudson street. The particulars are
these::
Coison has long been known as fish dealer,
and formerly carried on d good business; but
drinking and gambling reduced him to com
mon toafcr md drunkard, who peddled fish
around town in & baskct. He vas Of IN ugly
disposition, and when intoxicated, Us was often
she had obtained divorre. Since the divorce,
bis wife assumed her maiden name Of Sarah
Burns, keeping the children-two boEs, aged Is
aud Tat the house Of her brother, Allen Turns,
No. 70 Hudson street, where she resided with
her mother and sister. Another son, aged Il,
ls living in Massachusetts,. Colson has repeat
the divorce was Obtained. which seems to have
been the chief proyocation to the murder, and
II u said he Inns been in pursuit OF an opportu-
Mi Tor some time past. Il is said that Mrs.
Colson often feared fatal violence before the d.
yorce.
Saturday night Chris. Colson stared at the
honse Of hi. brother, James Colson. baker, No.
81 South Hudson stEees; he went away in the
morning, bnt returned to breakfast, and stayed
during the forenoon. lust before l O'Clock he
was in conversation with John S. Barker, book
binder, in the basement Kitchen, when his for
numbers of the New York Ltdyfr. On seeing
him she started back, but soon came in, passed
through tue room and up stairs into the sitting:
room, where Nrs. James Coiaon and her nus
| band, and Miss Laura Wheeler. were sitting.
Aarkcrasked Cotson jokingly, "Nho was that y
lie replied, coolly and quietly, "She was once
NY wife," and soon followed her up stairs.
James Colson and Mr. Barker then withdrew,
thinking they might wish to converse together.
I His "lie was much agltated, and seemed to fear
him. She said to Miss Wheeler, "Uont leave
me- want yop to et:t;1 with me-
Il conversation ensued- Co4son said: !"
want You to speak to me-" She replied: "a I
ha!e got nothing to say to you; lyc said all I'm
gong to; you've pulled up and left me, and I
thought twas about tinle to leare you." He
asked her if she had ever told the children not
to speak to him; and khe replied, II never
harel but fou hare said they must not speak to
me-" They are father'ess,' be said they
are not notherless," she replied, but they will
be fnther1eHs." Colson then took her BY the
hand, and said be wanted to talk with her. She
sald What do you want Of my hand :: it's my
hand now. and mean to keep it," and pulled
her hand from, him. He then took hold Of hef
BY the back. and she endcayored to get away
| from him. He followed her, and while he had
one arm around her neck, took out sharp, two
edged fish knife with the other hand, drew ii
twice across her throat, aud then threw the knife
under the table. She fell on the floor By the
stove, and died in few minutes, her throat
being cut from car to car, the carotid artery
severed, and windpipe partially so.
] Ihc wrcfchcd nun Immediately atterWard:
took large quantity Of opium, from the effect:
| Of which he died next day.