The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-24
BROOKLYN SENSATION.
Attempted Murder and Suicide by
a New Yorker.
~~~-~~~~~~
A Young Man Shoots His Sweetheart and Then
Tries to Shoot aud Drcwn Himself.
AKRHST Or W. II. RUSS.
STATEMENTS OF EYE WITNESSES.
>~~~-~-~~>>~->>~--~~-.~->-
The Lady Supposed to be WOr-
tally Wounded.
~~~~~~~-~~>>~~~~~~--~~>~
Both Parties Still Living Last
Evening.
&c. &c, &c,
AKRHsE Or ". H. RUSS
STATEMENTS OF EYE WITNESSES.

is but seldom brought in tho way OF city paragraph
list and which will undoubtedly tarte tho reader it
is conned at the breakfast table this morning. and
probably cast gloom and sadness number Of
households in that city and in other places where tho
chief actors in the drama may have relatives and ac
quantances The facts, far as they could be asccr
tanned last evening, about rs foows:-
LADY SHOT BY HER LOVER.
Several persons who Glanced to be passing along Gin
ton street Brooklyn, at about halfpast Ave O'Clock last
evening" where suddenly startled by hearing pistol
shot, apparently proceeding from the vicinity of the front
of the Catholic Asylum. This report rapidly FOL.
lowed by three additional and similar explosions, ali
from tho locality and produced by the same
weapon. More than Of the parties snpposing that
juban urchin thus early ushcriug in Christ
festivities, passed along homeward without taking
the trouble to ascertain the OF the disturbance
But two gentlemen, Mr. Hugh Allen and Mr.. Fell.
being rather the scene, went To soc what the dis
turbance might be about In fact these persons had wit
messed portion of the tragedy and they passed along
saw more of When near Congress street they heard
of the shots fred Mr. Fell thought he start
and towards Congress street and he at yet ont
in hot pursuit. when he heard two more shots Cred the
fugitive man, still keeping upon the run In front OF
the asylum, or near It, he the body OF . woman
stretched upon the sidewalk, and blood freely iOwing
from her person. Not pausing TO learn further, the
pursuer continued to track the man who he was
almost sure had fired the weapon. He did not stop
to consider at the moment that the must have seve
rnl barrels oil his revolver unempted But the fugitive
quick for him. and finally escaped and Mr. Fell
then returned to the spot where he had the body Of
the woman
STATEMENT or MI. ALIEN
Mr.. Hugh Allen reports that while at a distance he
the lady fall after hearing the shots, but that he
supposed she had merely slipped on the ice and he con
nued TO think SO until he came up with her and found
she was bleeding profusoly just before reaching the
pla.e the man who had rea upon her , ea another
PROSTATE form moment then arose fired another shot
at himself and started upon quick run towards Con
gress street. When the last shot was aimed al the
man she screamed This tho first sound that had
escaped her lips Two OF the charges took effect in her
head, ono penetrating and remaining within the skull
or course the usually quiet ncghbornood at
thrown into tho utmost confusion Men ran after the
would be murderer and suicide. Women and children
gathered in groups about the place aud breathessy lis
tened to all that could then be related or
the terrible Transaction The injured person soon
recognized by the family with whom she had been
siding at 1913 Clinton street Miss Frances NJ Dayton
young lady Of unblcmished reputation, a native OF
Washington, Litchncld county Connecticut aud who has
brother engaged rs clerk In tho Mexican National
Loan Office No. 81 Broadway She carried TO tho
residence Of Mr. Kenyon and before CONSCIOUSNESS
tiroy departed informed of the family that the
shooting had been the act of w. H. Russ young
man also engaged at the Mexican Loan establishment
who had been sutton for her hand aud whose attentions
sho had for months received. The OF the
desperate deed she did not reveal But was evident
from surrounding circumstances that IL originated from
Jealousy or disappointed affection
Dr. Whalcy summoned to Miss Dayton'S bedside
and rendered all the surgical aid possible but up to eight
O'Clock last evening had not succeeded after numerous
careful probngs in extracting the bullet that rested in
the brain He pronounced her nearly hopeless II
IL possible however that she may not DO dangerously
injured at FIRST supposed. She was parayzed By
the effect UPON the nerves however and TO saw the
lies in a very critical condition.
1t was thought That she must have visited her brothers
place OF business in this city encountered Russ there aud
he had accompanied her 10 Brooklyn,
THE FUGITIVE.
II would appear that Russ had fully determined frat
to murder Miss DAYTON. then shoot himself and n,eot
In this attempt upon his life, and stll surprising
her dying he towards the river and threw himself
into the water Atlantic ferry, thinking there and
then end all his troubles Whether II that
tact with the cold water suddenly cured him OF tbis
burst Of passion he finally repentcd the attack he had
msdc upon his own life is not exactly known but he
really succeeded In escaping from the river climbed mp
the wharf, and when arrested at half paSt o'clock, in
the evening wandering about near the corner OF
Hicks and Atlantic streets the fatal pistol still in his
possession and the wounds in his head yet
and bleeding
THE ARREST or RUSS
made by officer Powers, of the Fortyihir precinct
and this officer Immediately conveyed bis prisoner the
station house Court street, between Douglass and
Harrison streets. where the sergeants in charge had
everything done for his comfort that could be performed
for man who had received two bullets in his head.
one Of which bad entered at the right temple psssed
around the frontal bone aud made ts xii tnrougn
the eye, destroying that organ in It's Surgical
assistance was instantly called tho wounds prujcd
and the prisoner mado and comfortable "a pos
sble while the papers FOR his transfer TO the hospital
were being prepared.
While setting before the stove Aoor miserable xe'.
wounded and repentant young man, Russ made ram.
bling and disconnected statement Of his case. WHICH
near as be remembered, as follows -
, | loved the young wsman, Miss Dayton. She pre-
tended to love but she only made believe ana
at length deceived me. was made the victim Of her
entertainments; was her dupe. ] spent money fof her
comfort and welfare, she promising to become my wds
and.to settle down here, where might be happy.
finally found out that she had been cheating me. and We
separated. But | was not happy without her
The quarrel made up and we became friends again
Al. H.
sill filed with only lngratitude There il nothing
against tho character Of Frances Dayton II all
from her ingratude she would al one time consent TO
a union and AZ quickly negative tina, assent Wo he
been talking together OF this when did the act witch
intended should end both OF our lives At Que and the
same moment
rnE rARrIxs IMPLICATED.
The young lady, the victim Of her hot.hesded lover,
before stated, native OF Washington, Connecticut
where her father resides her mother being dead and
q young or than usually attractive appear
ance Gentle In manner highly educated aud endowed
she Just the person TO captiyate young man Of
Russ peculiar temperament u ~ reasonable to sup
pose that she gave hn cause 70 think that his pas
sion was reciprocaed aud perhaps y wac, and
tho ingratitude " which he spoke only camera
of his own unhealthy brain. A. least for some
months he had been sutton for hor hand she had
sided In Brookiyn At the horss OF Mr. Kenyon with
whose daughter she intimate from abort the ist or
December. Mis-, Kenyon snd Miss Dayton had been
schooimaes together Connecticut The latter IL about
twenty years OF ago and highly respected by all VIII,
formed her acquaintance Her Christmas Day will be
sorry and unhappy one Anh inooen, sue may NOT SUE
vve 10 behold the rising IL the Of that joyous day
The young is soout thirty-one years Of age,
slightly bult r4ner thin in feature AMI very Ear fvou
appearing the parsonage from whom would naturally
expect such detsfmnej purpose. He does not look Ike
a suicide, mu9h less murderer. Had he succeeded
In his design he would have boon both But his lant
was unsteady, and vheu u came u a waery grave "
cold Decen,lar bis coukaRe deserted him Hs T.
dangerously though by means morally hut
Having No desire 10 live, however the sutgeon
In attendance not prepared 10 say that he would
tanly slrvive. Men who have little 10 tive Tor nnd
30 much 10 make them desire death seldom stand ~
strongly against disease tho results Of Serious wounds
The prisoner parents do not reside In this vicinity tie
has. Tor some tins been employed in New York ~
crk bookkeepsr and up To last evening wa occupy
Jog dosk at the ONCE OF tho Mexican National toaa
Company, on Broadway. Tho weapon WIN when hs
committed the deed IL q common seven ohambafed 70
volver small In sze but lust the deadly nsrnmen 70 ~
carried conveniently upon tho person To be used by %
considerate young who have not discretion enough
TO thom TO leave such things at home when tpeJ
walk upon tho streets with their sweothearts.
Tho case will undergo legal investigation.
4 The nd OF the Forty third pOlic9 pr,