The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-17
THE SIXTH WARD MURDER.

.n. wounded Man, &c., DC.
,...,h,e ,ase of murder in Elm street <as briefly
.,'oao IN Yesterdays HERALD. Since The, full partcu-
If the bloody tragedy come r. light the perusa
A. which is enough to appal the stol'.ost heart.
COMMENCEMENT OF IuG DIFFICULTY
II appears, from what vas developed yesterday that
about II O'Clock Sp.urdsy night three men, two Of
Them named John Glass. and James Higgins, com
meuced rowdy demonstration upon the asslgnauon
house Of wilhelm Decler No 81 Elm street, by uncere-
ouously forcing oen front door, aud rushing pel-
me ND stairs breaking the hall lamp and other ARTICLES
of furniture in their They then entered one OF
,be bedrooms occupied by Decker and his wife, and de-
o,sbed no rror large china wash bowl and basn TO-
ge,her With several other pieces OF property Al nrss
Decker 70 and useless offer any opposition 10 he ro"
dies bot finally after struggle, lac suceeeaeu III
pcttrg them down stairs, and had Just closeu '"e on
door upon them when they turned upon hlm' anu hreu
two shots at him with revolver. The balls passed through
se door and lodged the head and body OF Decker nhcg
mortal wounds The shots fred from the sidewaS ana
evidently proceeded Glass although Decker seems 10
be Of the opinion that was Higgins who used Inc ps'
THE MURDER OF MR. OWENS
Decker fell to the floor crying "Murder, murder, aua
his assaiants turned to fee when citizen Of South Brook
lyn named Richard Owens, suddenly came upon teh aua
endeavored to prevent their escape Finding themselves
saan,s determined to get rid Of Owens and accordingly
they all three set upon him, and in few seconds sue,
ceeded in numbering him in the most cruel manner
One of the fellows dealt Owens powerful blow on the
head with a knife sluDg shot, while another put
pstol to his heart, and dis -hargpg the weapon killed
Abe unfortunate man instantly Having got clear OF
the interruption caused by the approach Of Owens the
Iurderers took TO their heels and managed Tor the time
being to make their escape Information Of the affair
rtatfnn hapea In
specor Bowling despatched policemen gil over the city
in search Of the fugtves Two of the officers went to
The Jersey City ferry to intercept the offenders
sbould they attempt to leave the city by that route
while others were sent to the Brooklyn ferries for SINH
lar purpose.
SCENE AT THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL.
The body of the murdered man was then conveyed to
the New York Hospital, while doctor residing in
she immediate neighborhood was called upon to
attend the wounded Decker, who was not
expected 10 live from moment 10 another. Upon
an examination of the person of the injured man,
ii was found that ball had taken effect in the left side
of the head penetrating the skull while the ether entered
HE body nearly under the lef. pitt and glancng up
wards lodged the cavity Of the chest Decker was attend
ed by Drs Quimby and simmons and after undergoing
most painful operation relieved of the bullets which
had entered bis head and body. The operation lasted
hours, and performed with much and Skill
TIE CAPTURE OF THE ALLEGED MURDEhEns
Was successfully accomplished in less than an
hour after the occurrence Of the event just mar
rated. In about half hour after the
alarm was raised policeman Flynn traced Glass
10 the corner of Broadway and Pearl street, aud
there arrested him. The prisoner was promptly con
viewed to the station house. where he manifested much
surprise his situation and asked what he was arrested
for At later period In the night Inspector Downing
apaged to arrest Higgins in Elm the
Of the tragedy and be also manifested the same surprise
prisoners both locked up in the cells and closely
guarded The officers continued in pursuit OF the third
party all night long, and, even up to yesterday afternoon
but without success.
STATEMENT OF AN EYEWITNESS.
The attack upon Decker witnessed by young man
named William Meyers, who is well acquainted with
Glass, and gave our reporter Inc
relation to the aTar-Meyers standing on the oppo
Bite eide of the street when the shots were fired and
Gays he distinctly Glass fire two shots at Decker
through The hall door. Being much frightened he then
turned his face and fed fearing be might be hurt Just
ii that moment he heard a third shot fired, which
doubtedy the which took effect upon Owens
Soon afterwards Meyers returned to the scene of the
murder and gave information OF the occurrence to the
police which resulted in the arrest OF Glass and Higgins
az principals in the murder.
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE CORONER JAcKMAN.
Coroner Jackman was upon the ground at early hour
yesterday morning. and took preliminary measures for
holding an inquest upon the body Of deceased. jury,
subsequently
OF Decker aud whose names will be found below,
panneled and upon view of the body give the
matter a thorough investigation post norton exami-
nation Of the body made by Dr. Ferguson, and his
testimony in relation TO the matter was the only evidence
elected The Coroner deemed it advisable TO adjourn the
case owe, until this morning and Therefore postponed the
guson's evidence was as follows
MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
John Ferguson NJ D., residing at 1se East Eighteenth
street, being duly sworn, says-I have made post
mortem examination OF the body Of Richard Owens,
lying dead at the New York Hospital found two incised
wounds Of the scalp about two inches in length there
was circular wound of the chest about and half
inches from the mesal line the left sde this wound
and inward to the upper border Of the b rib Which was
spintered at this point entering the chest opposite
heat passing through the right ventrice through 10 the
right lung, which II penetrated in obique direction
upwards and backwards, and lodging in the nercosal
muscles the lower border Of the third about two
and half inches from the vertical column death was
caused by Internal hemorrhage from said wound.
THE ANTE-MoRTEM EXAMINATION.
Coroner Jackman, on being notified Of the dangerous
condition Of Mr. Decker, deemed avsabe proceed to
the New York Hospital, and there bold
examination. Accordingly, he empanneed jury six
William G. Keelle, Al Amity street; Edward g. Eggles.
ton 81 Fulton street s. Eshorp 81 Broadway Loren
no Paten Beekrnan street, Wellington Browne 232 Sixth
avenue, John Harrison, 157 Sullivan street
They then proceeded TO the bedside Of the injured man.
when the latter gave the following statement relation
the affair." duplicating the prisoners Higgins and Glass as
principals in the murder
wilhelm Decker being duly sworn deposes and says
am conscious Of my dangerous condition; in the
house No q Elm street. at eleven O'Clock last night jan
uary 49, 1852 reside in that house. the prisoners now
before me, named James Higgins and John Glass re-
cognise as bebg among the parties who fired
night; James Higgins satisfied OF than the 9th
~ prisoner, as believe be the person who fred
cannot recognise them by their faces but only their
dress the door was aar when the shots fired and
was in the act Of putting them out there was trou
BILE between the prisoners and myself but they came 70
my door and wanted TO force their way in prisoners
are strangers TO me they not intoxicated, as far
rs could OBSERVE the prisoners the sidewalk
and went TO lock my door when they first attacked
me; j had no words with them, neither did I
give them any provocatIon for the attack when they
FIRST forced their way into my premises they rushed u
stairs and broke the lamps in the hall the second
story
The ante-mortem examination having been concluded
the matter submitted TO the jury, who after due de-
liberation, rendered the following