Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-21
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
Policeman Stabbed and Killed in the
Eighth Ward-A Notorious Courtesan the
Alleoed

A Policeman Stabbed and Killed in the
Eighth Ward-A Notorious Courtesan the
Alleged Assassin. ..
Citizens vending their way homewsrd at
the hour of hall. past eight o. lock last evening
had their attention directed to the disorderly
conduct OF woman, who, under the gaslignt
at he corner OF Mercer and Canal streets, was
making herself conspicuous by mutfered raw
ings and actlons that al drawn together quite
a throng OF the curiou 8, ana many of the ques-
tionable characters th at nightly throng the sur
roun ndiDR quarters OF that locality, and with
commendable zeal that the unsightly exhibi-
tion might not continue. crossed Mercer street
and notified officer Robert S. NcChesney. of
the Eighth precinct, who was on post in that
vicinity. OF the circumstance, adding that she
had in her hands knife which she was wh,rl-
ing In menacing manner around her head,
coupled with expressions that boded but li,lle
that has characterized him in his duties during
the limited period he has been upon the police
force, hurri-d TO the spot designated. and
be recognised as Fanny Wright, reeRing with
the fumes Of recent potations, disturbing the
peace ~ her unseemly conduct As he 40.
preached her the open blade Of the knife
proved afterwards to be q three bla ded pocket
knife-was seen to glisten in the light of The
gas, and the quick eye OF the officer detecting
!, IT. made MIN W very a, cautious; Drawing near to
got a knife" "No l ainr," and with this re.
ply she sprang with the rage of q maniac at
the officer, plunging the blade of the knife
into his neck, ono inch below the left ear. The
blow, driven by the arm Of the desperate and
infuria ted woman, maddened by drink. sew
cred ihe jngular vein, from which the blood
eaed, but still with presence Of mind, officer
ID cChesney Immediately gave the alarm rap,
when officer Seaman Of that post instantly ar
rlved upon the spot seaman" SAID the
CHASTITY cut, GIVE been stabbed by this woman.
arrest her" Officer Seaman then Iurned to
the woman, who at this time was surrounded
by an excited crowd, and attempted to take her
into custody, bur with murderous intent in her
heart. she quickly drew back, raised her hand,
in which she held the bloody knife, and at
tempted to renew the deadly assault; bat,
stepping back, officer Seaman quickly struck
her upon the wrist with his club, and the
knife fell upon the sidewalk. Pinioning her
arms he. with the assistance of citizens, con-
where she was Immediately incarcerated in
the darkest cell As officer Seaman dtsarmed
her she remarked to him, "I1l 60 wit you,
bat not with that man."
Oficer MeChesney with a feeling that his
life was fast ebbing away, the blood squirting
in thick led stream over his coat, and satu-
rating his shirt, rushed frantically up Canal
street to Broadway, through that street to the
upper side Of Howard street, a block beyond,
followed by an excited crowd, and stopping a
moment began TO sink upon the side ewalk,
that man had been stabbed, rushed to the
spot and With the aid of citizens prevented
the dying man falling. Their CONSERVATION at
the discovery that he was a brother officer,
the clotted blood gurgled from the wound and
from his throat, falling upon the sidewalk in a
clOtted mass. A carriage was Immediately eb.
tained, the wounded officer carefully raised
and placed inside, and word was given to
drive hurriedly to the City Hospital. But
when near Franklin street the death rattle was
heard IN the officers throat, and all that few
minutes before was an embodiment of kind
cOnTteOnS Y n NJ q
ceased to live. Knowing 1t was useless in
taking the officers body to the hospital, or.
ders were given that the coach be driven to
the station house, corner OF Prince and Woos.
ter streets. where. in few minutes, his body
was resting.
The victim of this foul murder had been ap.
month, ana had just beer commissioned pa.
troiman In the Eighth precinct He was a dne.
looking man, six feet in height and well pro.
portioned to his height. He had been married
but few days previous to his being placed on
the police force. He resided at No. DC Carroll
street, Brooklyn. When the officers, who took
charge OF the body, were bearing 1t from the
hack in which he died into the station house,
large crowd of excited men, women, and
chlldren copereeated around the entrance,
eagerly endeayoring to push their way into the
office. The body was laid out on q stretcher
and covered with sheet, and remained all
night an object of terror and dfsmay to the
many bloated, cursing drunkards that were
below the office floor.
The murderess Fanny Wright, living at No.
81 Grand street, is a hard featured looking
woman, thirty.eight years Of age, and when
placed In her cell, crouched into one of the
dark corners, where, with her hair hanging in
d'shevelled locks about her haggard face, and
her clothes besmeared with mud and half in
tatters, she refused to answe any q questiou put
to her; '1'm troubled enough now without
anybody giving me more trouble" she snap
pishly answered when questioned about any.
thing concerning the bloody deed she had
done. 1t is said by the officers of the precinct
that she has been q VIGOROUSLY bad character
and was an almost daily inmate of the cells of
the station house.
AT late hour Of the night q telegram com.
mnnicating the sad tidings Of the death Of the
ofhcer was sent to certain OF his wife's rela.
tives in Brooklyn, who were instructed to
break the dreadful news to her by degrees, and
as gently as possible. When our reporter left
the station house, at half past one O'clock this
morning, the sergeants and officers on the re.
serve, connected with the Eighth precinct,
were awaiting her arrival; all dreading 1t, and
yet wishing that she would come, and the
most heartrendlng scene in the tragedy be
over.
An inquest will be held at the station upon
the body this morning.-NeW York Sunday Her.
aid.
RECEPTION TO Archbishop SPACLDINS-