Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-03

STARTLING TRAGEDY IN New York -
John Walton, OF the firm of Long & Walton,
owners of an extensive distiIlery on Eigh
teenth street in New York, was murdered on
Saturday night, while going from his store to
his residence. In the pursuit of his murderer,
John w. Mathews. a well known railroad con-
tractor, came very near him, when the MUIR
derer turned and shot him through the breast
In the confusion incident upon this second
murder, the criminal escaped. The history
of the case reveals one of the most deliberate
and startling crimes upon record. 1t appears
that some months ago, Mr.. Walton married
widow lady named Ellen NJ. Russell, who
represented that she bad had two husbands,
by the first of whom she had two sons living,
Charles and Edwin Jefferds, aged twenty two
and nineteen years respectively. Soon after
the marriage he found he had been deceived in
her character, and applied for divorce, he
himself taking separate residence 1t was
alleged that the woman, instead of having had
two husbands, had had three, two of whom
were still living; that she was the mother of
an illegitimate child by man named Yelver-
ton of New York that she had formerly kept
house of i'll repute; that her boys were ac-
customed to bring females of doubtful fame to
his house, and that their mother also still re-
| sorted to improper places for improper pur-
| poses that she had been intimate with Isaac
V. Fowler, late postmaster, under whom one
of the boys was clerk; that she was wo-
man of violent temper, and that both she her.
self, and her boys had frequently threatened
his life. The legal. proceedings commenced
by Mr. Walton, were exceedingly obnoxious
to his wife and to her boys, as if the applica-
ton was successful, they would lose all claim
to his great wealth. They began to threaten
him with personal violence, and one of
the boys procured pistol with the pur.
pose of shooting him. AT another time
MIR. Walton was suddenly taken sick, and
expressed the belief that he had been poison.
ed. He was afraid to walk the streets alone
at night, and never dared to venture into the
presence OF either his wife or her sons. He
frequently remarked to his friends that he was
fully convinced that he should meet a violent
death at their hands About three months
since, he summoned a lawyer and made his
VIII, saying he stood i'll fear of his life every
moment, and thought it absolutely necessary
After the document was drawn up he express
ed himself as feeling much easier in his mind
and said he then felt less dread of his wife and
step-sons. On the night of the murder he left
his store at eleven aud half o'clock, in COM
pany with his cousin, and while crossing Third
avenue, a man started from the shadow of a
tree, and shot him through the head. Walton
fell with low groan, and died without utter.
ing word. He had many relatives in the
city, and was much esteemed by his ac-
quaintances. Mrs. Walton called at the
hospital, on Sunday, to see her muir.
dered husband. She manifested great grief
at his untimely end, weeping excessively
all the time. Her evidence before the coroner
was given intelligently and in perfectly audi
bic voice. She is an educated woman, pos
sessing an intellectual countenance, and has,
in her younger days, been quite beautiful. She
is now something over forty, and still retains
pleasing appearance Warrants were speed.
| lily issued for the arrest of Charles and Edwin
| Jetferds, but as neither has yet been found, it.
supposed they have fled the city