The New York herald., 1864-02-21
CRIME In THE METROPOLIS.
Horrible Case Of Wife Murder
in Seventh Avenue.
A husband Crushes in His Wife's
skull with . Hatchot.

A Husband Crushes in His Wife's
| Skull with . Hatchet.
THE PERPETRATOR IN CUSTODY
INQUISITION BEFORE CORONER RlNNRY,
&e.s &s.s -.
One Of the most deliberate and cold boodsd cases Of
wife murder which II has been duty to record for
years past took place No 339 Seventh avenue about
ten O'Clock Friday evening, and resulted in the almost
instant death Of the victim. The perpstrator Edward
Hunter man forty.seven years OF age, and carman
Of considerable means keeping several horses and
IN constant motion. He was married at early age
and has two sons and two daughters all OF whom are
grown up Some fourteen years ago his wife died, and
Hunter subsequently married the woman whom he is
| now accused OF numbering.
appears that their union was far from being happy
one particularly for the last three or years. owing
70 disagreement between them about dispos ing o
tain property owned by Hunter Another cause which
tended TO increase their domestic unhappiness the
fact that Hunter spent much Of hstms business
hours away from his family; and those who knew him
best allege that be was unfaithful to bis mar.
riage vow. He also attributed improper conduct
to his wife, but her character As far a. known was
above suspicioa. She was an industrious, religious
woman and much respected by large circle Of friends
and acquaintance Hunter for she last year. has been
very abusive to his wife, and al efforts reform bis
character In that proved unsuccessful Some six
months ago Mrs. Hunter being fearful Of violence at his
hands, resolved = leave him. and TO live with
her mother, lady nearly sevoutynve years Of age.
Occasionally siAce she has returned homo 70 visit
the family, and on Friday evening Mrs Hunter went
was going to the theatre with her husband and
friends After supper Hunter and bis wife entered into
the interview except their little son Georss eleven years
Of He soon fell asleep, but awoke o'clock and
saw his father n the act OF striking his mother who
then prostrate the floor. Hunter left the house when
tho boy up, who finding that his mother insensi
bic and badly injured ran out IN bic bare feet % the drug
life was extinct Hunter. although having opportunity
to escape dd not IT, but returned TO the house
Coroner Ranpey was subsequently, notified, and yester
day held an nques. over the remains of Mrs. Hunter
Below will be found the most important testimony ELECTED
and the verdict OF the jury
THE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CoRoSKR's JURY.
George Hunter being sworn, saysI live at 339 Seventh
eleven years old understand the nature Of OATH
at home last evening ell the time after my father
from his work be is carman he In at about
minutes past O'Clock p NJ after he In,
and after We had supper. be sent me downstairs TO
get the key to the stable. which was on the mante my
father and mother upstairs 10 my brothers room
at the time. and as part Of the family were going TO
the theatre. all took dinner in my brothers. room
gone about five minutes after the key when
turned my mother washing the dishes closet
and my father sitting at the table holding his little
said about my mother understood that she him
OF bad things about her. my mother bad left her
home some mouths before on account Of difficulty with
my father, aud had resided with my grandmother,
so West Tc,th street. at the request Of sister she
up stay with the children last evening while the
family went to the theatre after my brother and the
ladies' the theatre father down to the stable
had gone down before him. took OF the horses
he stable TO the street. and got fish
and went into the house he gave them to my mother;
she cooked them and down together and ate our
supper my father then went out again and SAID he would
return soon alter he went out my mother got the
baby to Sleep and also laid down the floor and went
TO Sleep the last saw OF my mother before doing 50
sne was sitting in the rocking chair reading letter
from my nephew from Camden up TO this time there
had been no angry conversation between my father and
mother he admitted that he had said bad things about
her; about ten O'Clock | awoke and my father
hitting my mother with something, think said "on,
.nd my mosesr "ss Was on the moor, near my .ee'
sprang up, aud be went out without saying word;
looked a my mother and saw her open her mouth, but
as she did not speak thought she hurt aud went 70
the next and called Henrietta Teller: she came in
and went and took hold Of my mothers and aud told
carpet did NOT notice any wound; her mouth moved
little, ~ though she was not quite dead for the
asked me where going said my mother was nearly
dying and going after somebody 1he then gave me
told me to go in; but watched him. and he wen, into
the southeast corner OF Seventh and Thirty.
second street, porter house; ran to the druggists,
and he said he could do nothing bat would give me
line doctor; but was In my bare feet and could 20
no further; when came out met George Hefner the
barber, and told him TO come in that my mother
he (my iather) called 70 me from below, near the
and James Hannegsn 10, also John Kilkenny the
keeper Of the iduor store by my father
number Of tines one Of The policemen .s he thought
she was killed With natches soon after my father took
sSs '1s ssoS s: 81: n d.,
Ratchet In the stable: when saw him strike her had
Just woke up my father et. =. once cannot say GER
when he did % could tsli he was not in liquor les.
Joseph Oconnor being sworn. deposss and says:I am
policeman, attached 70 the Twenty ninth precinct Feb
y .SSS w'p ns %,'q: % ,yse re,
Seventh avenue: went there with officer Stevenson ana
ss Ss @ sSS s
inflicted with hstcnet then asked the boy George
accrse then ssS there were two hs,cSs but ssd he
did not know where they werc but they kept them In
the stable woodhouse; then examined The house 10
see could Gnd any one / found no Quo. asd then
asked the prisoner he know how the murder occurred
replied no da NOT Ssn asked & n a% ~ @ ?: knew % ~nes.
they In the vocdhoss then. In company with the
prisoner, procured candle and went IN search Tor the
hatchets found n the woodhouse, bus could not
The other just as We leaving the house, prison
whispered bis George but could not hear what
he said made dgent search through the house, yard
and prvy for the hstchet, but could not hnd IT. then
tho prisoner 70 the station house the prisoner
seemed very cool the least excited when no came
In; u was an sxe which found 10 the stable
Thomas W. Hunter, beng duly sworn saye-l live a.
s3e Seventh avenue and OF deceased, Elizabeth
Hunter, was not home at the time OF my mothers
DEATH was at the theatre with wife. sister and MI
and Mrs Harris in the afternoon about five ociook my
| sister Mary went down TO Tenth street and got nv
mother 10 come up with her b. take care OF my child IN
absence they returned about half past hve o'clock