The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-27
SHOCKING MURDER.
Brutal Affair ~ the Nine
ss.ssp.- - ~---sx.-r IT, =
tcenth Ward.
TEE vIcT1rIH A FIREMAN
His Head Nearly Se>7ered IRON
His Body.
TWO men ARRESTED! ON suspc'oN'

INVESTIGATION BEFORE CORONER COLLIN,
&C., &c, &c.
most unprovoked and brutal murder took place ss
the foot Of Fifty nth street. East river about half past
eight O'Clock on Tuesday evening" the victim being James
Smith, young man twenty -four years Of age who lived
In Thirty second street, Second avenue The real
facts connected with the tragic affair have not yet been
fully developed; but from what has TRANSFERRED appears
that Smith (ths deceased VIM. Robitaile, living In
Thirty first street. Second avenue another man and
TWO young women had been TO Jones' Wood eaetend
the meeting Of the Tenian Brotherhood On their return
In small boat they landed at what 10 called Aliens
Point foot Of Fifty fifth street, and entered Aliens pub
lie house 10 partake Of refreshments While they were
in the act Of doing another boat load of men
came down from jones' Wood and stopped
at the same place. When this last party
entered Aliens place Of the number accused Smith
and the man who came down with him with stealing
pair OF oars from boat and bringing them away With
out waiting for explanation the part of the accused
the Others commenced assault Smith and his male
companions with their fists and weapons. Smith was
knocked down by Of the assaiants who thereupon
drew knife or other sharp instrument and inflicted
three horrible wounds the back OF his neck, one Sc
we're cash across the throat besides other less severe
wounds. Smith jumped TO his feet, with the blood
gushing from the CHASTITY wounds, and after running
about hundred and twenty feet fell to the ground
and expired almost instantly The man who committed
this murder also attempted to take the life Of Robtae
with the same weapon. Fortunately he only received q
dangerous wound on the right side Of the neck Officers
Clark and Belmann Of the Nineteenth precinct were
quickly the spot and succeeded in arresting two men,
named Peter Carey and Frederick Hooker the latter
boatman and the former boiler worker suspicion Of
being the who committed the bloody deed Hooker
seemed determined not to be taken, and was not till
was induced to yield The prisoners we're taken TO the
station house and locked up Yesterday afternoon Coroner
Collin empannelled jury at the police station and COM
meDced an investigation.
Below will be found q copy OF the testimony which
was adduccd -
Richard Allen being duly sworn says:-I live at the
foot of Fifty fifth street. East river; keep boats to let
lager beer and rereshments between eight and nine
O'Clock party of two young ladies' and four young
came down In boat from Jones Wood got into
the store and saw the barkeeper serving them with
something TO drink; another boat containing three men
ashore and entered my place. immediately after which
heard difficulty in the house; came up and laid hold
the man now lying in Thirty Arst street RobailoA he
knocked him down, beat and kicked him. did not see
the big a knife but ne might have used one in
the bar before came in; did not see any blood
except the hand Of man who escaped his name is
Johnny Burns his hand he from the outside
and asked for water to wash with Burns then went
Burns said he the that licked the that he
could do 1t again the big man saw in my place now
recognize Frederick Hooker prisoner present. the
big Hooker started go down to the raft and the
policeman ordered him 10 stop or he would shoot him;
he got aboard of his boat when shot was fred and he
ashore; the officer then took charge OF him. saw
tho deceased lying dead about one hundred and twenty
feet from the house
foot Of street. and barkceper for Mr. Allen
about half past eight O'Clock sitting by the back
men and two young ladies' they came up from the raft
and entered the house; they had something 10 drink,
and while doing another boat up 10 the raft do
not know how many persons wore In the last boat;
this last party in and heard something said about
stealing oars, and the fight commenced they then got
the door, and OF the running towards
the raft saw policeman come up; got lamp, went
out and the deceased lying dead; one Of the men
who came In the second boat Is called Johnny Burns
when Johnny came in with his hand cut and bleeding the
girls got frightened and ran into the sitting room; ]
heard pistol go of and also policeman threaten TO
shoot ordered Burns TO go out, and he went out the
door that IL the last Of him. the deceased,
don't think, was in the store scarcely minute; when
the difficulty commenced the deceased must have es
capped, as1 did not see him Afterwards till saw him
lying dead
$40 First avenue; came down from Jones' Wood In
company with the deceased my Long and VIM Robi
taille and two ladies' and stopped at the raft foot
Of Fifty third street. TO take drink OF soda water and
ale; at that time another party OF five men came in and
made an assault on our party; saw the prisoner,
Hooker strike at of party named Johnny Long
did not Robitalle struck by any one Long dropped
the glass and ran away, and did not see him again
informed that man had been killed while l was
sitting In the room; heard man say who came In the
barroom, ~ have cut all the sons OF b-hs;n did not
see the man who made that remark; heard Mr. Allen
had been drinking quite freely.
William Clark, being duly sworn, deposcs and says-I
am an officer OF The Nineteenth precinct A. about halt
past eight O'Clock last evening being at the foot Of Fifty
Nth street, East river heard noise and ran mme
dately 10 where the noise came FROM aud met the de-
ceased coming towards with his hands up and blood
flowing from his head when he got near me he threw
his up and fell on bis back deceased never
same situation as he deceased. came towards me, and
asked him who II was that did IT, he replied TO me but
did not understand him he pointed down towards the
house at tho foot OF Fiftynfth street ran down, In
company with ofncer Holman, and saw a man IN his
shirt sleeves running down to the boats called to him
10 stop, but he would not told officer Heilfnan to
shoot; he fred one shot at the man the man got
into q boat and showed oil from the dock, and
said, God damn you shoot you dare not shoot and
finally shore and arrested him; on the way to
the station house he acknowledged without any soicta
ton my part that he had beaten the deceased but
that he bad not cut him brought him 10 the station
house and had him locked up know nothing further In
Deputy Coroner Joseph G. shaw, NJ d., made post
mortem examination the body Of deceased and found
incised wound inch and half in length on the
left temple and severing the temporal artery wound OF
nearly two inches In length the throat on the
back part Of the head found an incised wound or
skull and about half an inch below the above
described wound another ncscd wound two inches
In length and three inches In depth severng the arcu
laton with the spinal column and the skull and severing
the spinal marrow this latter wound, In DIT Shaws
opinion caused death the head Of deceased was nearly
severed from his body In the Doctors opinion the
wounds were inflicted with large doublo-edged dirk
/ knife
In consequence Of the absence OF important witnesses
the nquiston adjourned Till one o'clock this after
noon at the Nineteenth precinct station house Onicer
Clark formerly attached 70 the Mayors office, and other
efficient members Of the Nineteenth precinct are In pur
suit Of others supposed 10 DO concerned in this horrible
tragedy.
said To have been an industrious and peaceable man.
Il
/ City Intelligence.
SALE OF Corros AT Aucuos.-Unl'sd states Cotton
Agsn. Simeon Draper sold yesterday, at the Exchange
| saiesroom, Ne Ill Broadway, 1000 bales of North
Carolina and New Orleans cotton at auction There wa