The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-26
THE OYSTER MOOP TRAGEDIES.
Additional Particulars OF ! the u murders vn
the E. A. johnson.
TIE CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER
interview Between the Prisoner
and His Wife.
The Supposed Double Murder on
the Spray.
FLIGHT OF THE SUSPECTED MuRnrarp
@'A"sS hxtraordinary Coincidence
in Crime.
INTERESTING DETAILS.
IA, 10, Ia
Interview Between the Prisoner
and His Wife.
1he Supposed Double Murder ~,
the Spray.
'AosS Extraordinary Coincidence
in Crime.
INTERESTING DETAILS.
Ia, TO-. In
THE TRAGEDY ON THE OYSTER sloOp E. A, JOHNSON

THE TRAGEDY ON THE OYSTER SlOOP E. A, JOHNSON
-----~---~--~~-------
Additional Developments Yesterdays
Anxiety Of Citizens to See the Prisoner.
Johnson, Alias Hicks, Visited by His
Wtfe-Scenes at the Station House.
Another Important Chain OF Circum.
stantia1 Evidence-Demeanor of tho
Prisoner, &c.
The interest evinced in tho tragedy on board
the oyster sloop E. A johnson continues undated,
and the desire the part OF thousands to get
glimpse Of the suspected murderer was so great that
the Second precinct station house, in which the
prisoner confined. thronged all day yesterday
with anxious and excited crowd Among the visitors was
ohrsons wife, who arrived in the city any early hour In
company with her infant child and had interview with
her husband. When informed OF the real charge pre-
ferred against the prisoner she seemed very excited and
Exclaimed, " thought would be 3d." The large amount
Of money that the prisoner possessed of when be
Started from New York had created suspicion in her
mind that all was not right, but still she had
idea that her husband would resort to such
in order to acquire It, When brought down stairs
to the prisoner she seemed much affected, wept
bitterly. The prisoner, too appeared slightly moved and
tried to smooth matters to her satisfaction by assur
ing her that there truth whatever the charge
preferred against him. but she evidently did not believe
his statement and took her leave Of him in manner
which showed that there considerable doubt in her
mind as 10 his innocence.
AMER taking leave of his wife the prisoner resumed his
usual cheerful air, ana lighting segar, began to smoke
he was in possession Of quite new meerschau when
ourreporer visited him, and putting his segar as un
coneernedly though he sitting in his own parlor
About one O'Clock Coroner Schirmer paid a visit
10 tho prisoner. Captain Weed, in order to take
tho prisoner unawares, introduced the official
by saying that be the Coroner had held an in
quest upon the body Of Captain Burr, who had been
found murdered the day previously The announcement
that Of the bodies had been found produced but little
effect upon the prisoner He merely said Yes in an
inquiring Tone and then reapsed into his former
sleoc Inference. His imperturbable could not
have been NATURAL An innocent could not have dis
played such extraordinary GOODNESS under such trying
nustances The Coroner shocked at the audaciy OF
the fellow and went up stairs declaring he saw
anything like It in his life.
Police Commissioner Stilwel, number OF the Common
Council and sundry other officials paid visit to the cell
of the prisoner during the Of the day. and all agreed
In pronouncng johnson OF the coolest mortas living
Among the vsers at the station house matchmaker,
doing business in the Bowery who identified the watch
found possession Of the prisoner that Of Capt Burr
Il had been left with the matchmaker for cleaning ap
pears, some time ago. 30 that its number and genera
appearance quite familiar to him. and he enabled
10 identify it accordingly.
Charles lie Cost proprietor Of coffee and cake saloon
Ut the South ferry appeared at the station houSe in the
afternoon and identified the prisoner the person who
had breaasted at his stand Wednesday morning last
The prisoner he said dressed In pea Jacket green
pants and tall Kossuth hat he had white cotton bag
In his hand which appeared 10 contain clothing While
parakng his breakfast the prisoner asked Mr. lie Cost
! " he knew where there was private boarding house
In the neighborhood. LIE Cost said he thought Il
would be hard to find right off, and advised
the prisoner to 60 to Frenchs Hotel until he
| could find one. The prisoner said he did not
want to put up at a hoet as 1t was too
| public, and said he must find a private boarding
house The prisoner then asked for carriage but upon
being told that 1t was impossible TO get ct such
carly hour in the morning (eght oclock, he said he
would pursue his journey on foot He engaged the SER
vices OF newsboy to carry his bag and, as the coffee
and cake man subsequently learned this boy accom-
panied the prisoner No 100 Cedar street. When about
paying for what refreshments he had partaken of, the
prisoner offered lie Cost $40 gold piece payment The
proprietor Of nand handed him the1money back, and
asked him II Is had got smaller change, whereupon
The prisoner put his hand in his pocket and, drawing
forth handful of gold and silver gave lie Cost half
iollar The prisoner seemed very flush with his money,
and the impression left LIE Costs mind that he
vas returned Californian, who had made some lucky
hits at the mines.
II was understood yesterday that Captain Burr's wife
vas 30 shocked at the OF the tragedy that she
rendered speeches. She has hardly uttered word
nce she received the sad dngs Of the probable murder
N Ter husband low that the physician at
enhance gives as bis opinion that she will sink under
Sae blow.
The prisoners wife says tina. she that her
husband had recently gone voyage TO Virginia, but
igno Of the Of the vessel When
,hpson or Hicks, he calls himself, left home, he
hid he going a short voy age and expected 10 DO
hck less than fortnight He did not tell his wife
flo be was about to sail With the nature Of the trip,
1t merely remarked that he going down to Virginia,
s. would not be gone long.
fhe prisoner will be brought before the United
k..es Court this morning and examined
barge of piracy. He has engaged counsel
defend his in the person Of lawyer from Connec
t and hopes to be able procure his discharge at
lily day.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD,
What I am about TO state may afford the police some
e 10 the supposed murder on board OF the E. A John
A. am informed by Mr.. Burbank, who lives not far
I'm the point Of the beach Staten Island and within
he OF the Elm Tree lighthouse, that Tuesday very
pic,ous looking dressed in sailor clothes monkey
ket and cap) called his house. and inquired way
Port Richmond stating that he was 9 s.ranger-never
rtuIar and his coming directly from q remote part
pheach that Mr.. Burbank his wife and son, looked
"a him with strong suspicion
trAxS ISLAND, March %, 1860
me TRAGEDY OF THE OYSTER Sl0OP SPRAY.