Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-11
Horrible Murder in New York.

On Tuesday evening, at 81 o'clock. a most
horrible murder wa| perpetratcd IN the
Fourth Ward. hv Chinaman. The house
at NJ. t. Oliver street is owned by a Mr..
Fletcher. Il hard working and industrious
mechanic. who also occupies the lower floor
of the dwelling. About three months since
, he let the second floor of the building to Il
Chinaman named Charles Apo. This APP
po has heretofore acted ~ IL sort of intcrpre-
ter for his rrumtrymcn. aud is well known
about the Courts. where he was frequently
seen in attendance upon the duties "t ms call
ing. He was born III ChuSan. China. and
came 10 this country about II wears ago
Shortly after arriving here. he married an
Irish woman named Catharine Fitzpatrick
native Of Duhl;m. The Chnaman and his
Irish wife were accepted IL tenants by Mr.
Fletcher. "u the surposition that they were
quict and anl inotfenSiye people. but 1t was
not long before thc contrary was discovered,
and in consequence they were ordered t."
leave their residence on the lst Of the com
Ing May. Almost every night there was
lighting hctcrn the couple. and their expul-
sion was frndIy looked for by the Fletcher
family Who desiring 10 live quietly. had no
idea OF allowing their quietness t" DE dis
turbed.
On Tuesday evening. the Chinaman came
home ut about : o'clock, and Immediately
began To abuse his wife and beat her. The
woman screamed and cried murder" 50
that the whole ncighborhooi was startled.
Mrs. Fletcher was down stairs AT the time,
engaged in eating her supper with the taml-
". Hearing the noise up stairs, she imme-
diatrly started to the room where the quar-
rclling was going on. At the head of the
stairs she was met hv a widow named Gaffi-
gan. who resided with her family up stairs.
and both went into the room. There they
saw the Chinaman Charles Appo, beating
his wife most hrutally. With woman
save Il murdrrous blow aimed ut the head of
of Mr.. Apo, when the Chnaman turned
around and saw her coming. tie turned
from his victim Immediately. caught Mrs.
Fletcher by the throat, dragged her 10 the
stairway. and then drawing dagger. thrust
it into her neck To- the hilt. The blow sever
eel the iusular vein, and the murdered wo-
man. with the simple exclamation of oh.
my God" fell upon the stairs and then drop
ped dead. Her body rolled down the stairs
~ though Of lead. and with a dull sound fell
quite in front of the door If her own dining
room. where her husband and five little chill
drcn were engaged in tnishin. their evening
meal.
After This murder of this innocent woman.
the fiend. now savage turned upon Mrs. CAT
tigan. who stood horror stricken in the hall
way, AMI sweeping his dirk knife at her,
split her arm to the bone. Painting, she
dropped 10 the floor. Another woman, nam
ed Margaret Butler. who, hearing the noise,
had rushed to Appo's apartments, was next
set upon and stabbed in the head and in Ser
eral places about the body; she managed.
however, to escape the fate which seemed t.
await her. by the aid of Providence. for at
this time the police were hurrying 10 the
seen" Of death. aud had already got into the
house. Apo. hearing them. darted down
the stairs, aud managed Ia escape. 1t is
said that officer Young was in the house
at the time. but naturally stopped to care
for the dead before he looked for the living.
The police now started in pursuit of the
murderer. They knew pretty well where
he could be found, and proceeded To uChinere
boarding house corner Of James and Cherry
streets After littlr search. he was found
,rcreted under the bed. Finding that he had
been discovered, he Immediately gave himself
up To the officers. who were led by policeman
Young. and ne was taken To- the Fourth Pre-
cnrt Station House. aud locked up i'll 4
cure ccll.--Ne~ l"rk ELpreSS.