The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-14
THE o-AFF OLD.
THE NEGRO HURDE1E1 QULIER.

Elizabeth, m. J.-Tbe Story 81 HIS Career
and Crsme-Hts Trial asd Cesfsssasa.
Sylvester Quisr, . nsgrs. charged viii ne murder
Of George rrnsr. In wsstnsid township. n g.. ne
night Of tho sn Of June Of the present year. sad q bis
trial at tho Criminal Court Elizabeth found guilty Of
murder In the nns degree and sentenced 70 bs hanged
on the lah Of November, will this DAY un1srao the
extreme penalty OF the Law at tho county jaA a. rAza
beth az ten O'Clock A. NJ
The particulars Of the crime arc a. fsiows:-
During the month Of April OF the present year the De-
ceased and his wife were obliged to remove TO barn
near oaier's residence IN consequence OF some mis-
understanding with their former landlord Qailer. ap-
pearing to sympahize with Firman's situation ten
dcred him and his wife apartments in his house untI
they could 1nd apartments elsewhere The house con-
tanned two rooms the entrance leading directly into
the front occupied by Quller the other room
being given up TO Flrman. About six o'clock A. NJ on
Saturday June s. m alteration ensued between the
two men in regard to FIrman occupying the room.
Both had been drinking freely. and, Is usual In all
such cases, the mon got to quarreng aud the result
was the death Of Firmsn. After hard words had
passed between the two Qaier proceeded 70
remove . portion OF dccoased's furniture from
the house, whom threats uttered both sides:
brother n-aw Of ths accused then called CUTLER aside
and told him TO let Firm,n alone he would DO killed
he did not; Qailisr then walked to the residence Of
murder and asked to borrow . gun, stating that he
wished to kill skunk under barn. He was At first
refused on tho ground that he would set nrs TO the
barn, but finally the gun given TO him. He then
walked directly back to within abolt ten feet OF the
house and called Firman. As the latter opened tho
door 10 get out Of the house CUTLER raised the gun
damned bigger" fred The contents OF the gun entered
the body OF deceased near the heart and literally
tore away the lungs and . portion OF the heart.
with shot The wound was large enough TO admit
q cIosed hand After committing the deed CUTLER
returned the gun 10 hr taed, remarkng that he had
KILLED The skunk but that it was two legged one"
He then asked where he could ind squire, "a he
desired 10 give himself into custody He directed
10 justice Of the peace but the story believed
aud VI Hatfield paid no further attention to the uator
until the ruth or the man statement was too truly cor
roborated Quer then walked TO pinned and offered 10
give himself into custody but his story not there
pleasure until his by the chief OF the Railway
police, Boddwel, BY whom he taken TO tho Union
County Jail at Elizabeth
A Coroner's inquest held on the following day
Suuday when verdict rendered that George Fir
came 10 his death from tho effects OF Gunshot
wound the gun being in tue hanis OF Sylvester CUTLER
and that said Sylvester ler Is guilty OF WI III murder
Justice Stephen Jackson, the Coroner, therenpon
NIT ed the accused 70 the County JAIL there to remain
until delivered by due course OF law.
CUTLER is lightly b lit man. OF short stature, aged
thirty his face conveying the Of deep earn
ostpess He has atvarious times during his coBine-
ment spoken freely OF the occurrence admitting his
guilt. but always that he had Intention OF killing The
deceased When questioned to his probable fate he
said he thought his punishment would b. confinement
in the State peuiteniiaty for about twenty years.
CUTLER possesses considerable intelligence ana
freely HIS own statement OF the occurrence Is a. fol-
lo.s:-
Deceased and wife had been Obliged TO live in barn
near his house. and feeling sympathv for them he
took them to live with him until ouch time
as they could procure apartments After thew had
lived with him long white he found out they not
looking for other rooms and he would not take any
money IRON them he felt they imposing on him.
and times he told them leave. Firman would
insult him and call him bad whenever could.
On The night Of the murder they had both been drink
ing Frman began the trouble by insulting the prisoner
usng bad language and he fQuIer) made up his mind
he sionid leave CUTLER took two OF his chairs and put
them outside, when Firman said don't touch another
law then called him as de aud told him Frman would
k him II he did not leave him aloae lie then borrowed
a gun, think ng he would scare FiTman away. After
getting gun he to the house and od deceased
70 come out He to the door and said something.
TO do H. He returned the gun and tried give
himself TO the esqures but tbey did not believe he
bad killed any one On Sunday following he was ar
Fmn,an, the deceased, had bad reputation, being
| known as common thief In his neighboihood. He bad
served several the jail Al New Brunswick, and
had once made his escape from that place OF connne-
| ment He was about sixty years OF age.
evidence sdduced NJ the trial. This evidence TO show
thas the murder OF deceased a cool premediated
that he had fought with deceased the morning
or the murder aud finding BIO stood chance with hun
be resolved upon some plan to revenge himself
him. After PROVING the gun he returned TO his
house. aud IN the vies, language deei his opponent 70
come out upon the road. The challenge was promptly
knife IL his hand but ho had scarcely e. The premises
when CUTLER raised the gum and taxing deliberate aim,
| shot him dead.
Al The close Of tho trial at the Criminal County Court
i where he was arraigned. on being asked BY Judge
Depuy he had ANYTHING to say previous TO sentence,
dcah by 4 gun 10 my hands, but / think II has not
been proved that committed wifui murder.
charge George Brown and the two women with having
/ perured themselves Judge Depuy then sentenced
Qilsr 70 be hanged on Thursday, November "a, be-
tween the hours OF ton and three o'clock. During the
reading Of ths sentence QuIer preserved stod, ind
fsrent MEN, seemingly not the least concerned Pre-
vious to his renewal TO his cell Judge Depuy warned
the prisoner to base hopes pardon, bat to pre-.
pare INNS II for eternity CUTLER had strong hopes Of
Al times his grief has been evidently Deep but he has
| not manifested u by any violent demonstrations. He
does not appear 10 be man hardened 10 crimc he has
we'll balanced head inelllgentiy aud
the Idea OF having Committed q deliberate murder
especially In Tho case Of Firman, he had no motive
ncc the passing Of the sentence OF death upon him.
| Qnier's dcmeanor has boon that Of man who fully
APPRECIATED the asful situation in which he IL placed
With such havo visited him converted freely
upon Indifferent subjects but appeared ayerse
entering upon discussion Of the decd or Of tho oves
10 It's cousnission, VIII ch has brought such terrible
4 Judgment upon him. He has been visit frequently
by The Rev. Alfred Chester Presbyterian Clergy man,
| OF Elizabeth from whose minlstraiions he 70
| have derived much comfort lie expresses hope in
The goodness and mercy Of tho Saviour exhibits much
| pcni'enco and seems resigned TO bis tate
Miss fasler, OF Elizabeth has contributed much. ~
her visits and religious conversation. to nduce In the
prisoner this state mind and she has been unrorn
ting Ia her efforts 70 prepare for the great passage
Is Tho wife Of tho prisoner has VISITED rcgu
Isry SINCE his Incarceration she svluces tho deepcst
sofrow tor her unfortunate husband offers him
consolation she with the most a;fcctionac solicit
tnde Rapidly the hours 60 By, fastening the oau
end the prisoner clutching as u were almost A. the
bright promises OF future peace which the holds
out to him seems strong and composed the shadow Of
the gaiows and rope Is put ASIDE but when brought
face TO face with the parephernaia OF death who tell
what the end may DO
During the day Quoiler remains mostly in his call
apparently broodlng over his fate or counting the
hooking bonrs az they glide rapidly away, bringing I'm
nearer 20 his awful doom. Sometimes he as occupied
himself in reading religious books duripg the morning.
and In the afternoon before the prisoners locked up
IN their cells for the night he would walk up down
In the corridor his head dropped and apparently alb
sorbed In deep meditation. He has slept we'll and par
taken heartily Of his food Quciller says he perfectly
resigned " die though he consders not
the doom 70 which the Law has consigned HIM.