The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-04
Rithmunn qispattt.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. JULY 4. 1850.

Nlrtntnnn g1spatrt.
WEDNESDAY MORNING JULY 4. 1860.
TRAGEDY IN NEW YORK.
TWO PERSON sAssASsINATE d.
A double assassination occurred in New
York, Saturday night, the victims being John
Walton, wealthy distiller, of the firm of
Walton & Long, and John W. Matthews,
railroad contractor. Mr.. Walton was going
to his store about II O'Clock at night with
Richard H., PASCAL, his cousin. The News
says: sts4- 3f.l
At the corner of Eighteenth street and Third
avenue they passed q man who was lean ing
against tree. They had passed this man but
i've or six feet w hen he daried up behind Mr..
Walton and discharged pistol at his head -
The slug from the weapon entered Mr. Wal
TOMS head just behind the left ear and he fell
senseless to the pavement. The murderer in
stantly ran off toward Irving Place. Mr.. Pas
call cried m urder! murder !" and started in
pursuit. Several others Joined in the chase,cry-
ing Murder !" and calling for the police
Among the foremost in pursuit was Mr. Jno.
w. Matthews, who was followed closely by Mr..
PASCAL and another person, the rest being
short distance behind. As Mr.. Matthew's
neared the fugitive, at the corner of Sixteenth
=
about, drew his pistol and fired at him. The
shot struck him in the breast and he fell ex-
claiming, "I'm dead man." The shock py
this second murder produced on the pursuers
caused them to halt for moment, and in
stantly all trace of the murderer was lost
Several OF the police kept up the pursuit Tor
while, but without avail. Mr.. Matthew's was
taken up for the purpose OF being conveyed 10
a drug store in the vicinity. but died before it
was reached. In the meantime ME-. Walton
was taken to another drug store and thence to
Bellevue Hospital where ne died q lew hours
after being admitted. Neither he nor Mr..
Matthews spoke after falling to the pavement.
From inquiries made OF several parties VINO
were AGO uain ted TO some extent with Mr w al
toms domestic relations, tram OF iacts nas ne.
been elected which are calculated TO leave lit
tie doubt as TO who were, at least, the lnstlga-
tors of his murder. 1t appeared that some
time ago he married a widow named Ellen M
Russell, who, at the time, was keeping a
boardi ng house in this city. Previous to the
marriage this woman represented to him that
she had twice before been married, the nrst
time to q Colopei Jefferds. by whom sne hao
two sons, Charles, aged % years, and Edwin.
aged 10 years at the present time. Her second
husband was Captain Russell, by whom she
had a son named Frank, now IL years OF age.
She fur rther stated that she had adopted her
sisters child, a daughter, now four months
old. =--' -'-- --- - Dr.
Since his marriage Mr. Walton, rs appears,
discovered that there had been an lntermedi-
ate marriage between the first and second
that his wife had married one Morrison, who
is now living in Dayton, Ohio. Further, that
the adopted child above referred TO was an H.
legitimate lighter of his wife, and still fur
ther, that she had kept what purported to be
a cigar store in a low neighborhood. but was
in reality a house OF 1ll-fane. In aoolLon 10
this terrible array Of misfor tune, MT WaIton
was compelled to endure the vllsst treatment
at the hands" of his wife and her two sons,
Charles and Edwin Jefferds, all OF whom
were members Of his family and occupied the
house No. 25S West Twenty third street
These boys. he has stated, brought improper
females 10 the house at ali hours of the day
and night, and Mrs. Walton associated with
most degraded class of people.
She and the two young men, he said, mad
freq uently threatened his life, and on one oc-
casion one of the sons showed him pistol
which, he said, he had purchased expressly TO
shoot him with. At another time Mr.. Wall
ton was suddenly taken very ill, and he al
ways expressed belief that on THIS occasion
he had been poisoned. After months OF Tor
bearance Mr.. w. resolved upon separation,
and rented a house in Twenty third street for
Mrs Walton and her son, Frank Russell. She
lived there but a short time, however, prefer
ing to board in the family OF Dr. Slade IN
Twenty second street, near Seventh Avenue,
where Mr. w. paid her board bills Shortly
after leaving the Twenty-third street house
she returned one evening and began smashing 8
up the furniture, and for this she was arrested.
Mr.. Walton now commenced legal proceed
ings for separation, and this was terrible
blow to Mrs. Walton and her. two sons, as
Mr. w. was Wedltuy, ana IN inc 6NeuL VI ulS
getting divorce she would lose all claim to an
interest in his property. The abuse OF the
SONS and Mrs. w. now became more violent
than before, and Mr.. Walton became con-
vinced, as he said, that he would be murdered,
executed will. The proceedings in regard
to the application for divorce were pending at
the time of Mr.. Waiton's death-the testimony
was, however, all in, and the decision was
soon 10 have been rendered. During the pro-
gress of the case facetious reports OF II ap-
peared in the newspapers, copies OF which
were found on Mr.. Walton's person. Coro-
ner Jackman has issued q warrant Tor the ar
rest of Edwin and Chas. Jefferds, but up to a
late hour last night they could not be found.
The supposition is that they have fed the
city. A revolver, with three charges in 1t,
two having been previously used, was found
at the corner Of Irving Place and Sixteenth
street. se .aaf,f 4gt- Lsr. sa he7 tH
Edwin Jefferds is in custody for the murder
of Walton and Matthews. The crime attaches
more to Charles Jefferds, who is said to answer
the description of the murderer. The Express
says: tlaAa
Mrs. Walton called at the Hospital yester-
day to view the tody of her murdered hus-
band. She manifested great grief at his un-
timely end, weeping excessively all the time.
Her evidence before the Coroner was given in-
She is an educated woman. possessing an in
teiiectual countenance, and has, in her young.
er days, been quite beautiful She is now
something over 40. we should judge, and still
retains a pleasing appearance. -sf,
WOMAN SoLDlERs.-The Moniteur de l.
A AVv, Sar hn unfa doC In ra hac has