The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-18
TRAGEDY In HoBoKEN.
A Night Waterman Murdered and
Thrown Into the River.
ARREST OF SUSPECTED PARTIES.


While HobOken was rejoicing over the tri-
umphs of her musical societies and holding
festival in their honor murder was perpetrated
Of SO revolving q character that the little Dutch city
Is overspread to-day by gloom and excitement. 1t
was one of those fendish deeds OF blood which
never finds palaton even from the obdnrate, and In
which the demon Of blood riots and revels leaving
behind his inefaceable footprints. The story Ii
brief, but the mystery which envelops the case
makes it only the more terrible.
William Lawrence, man thirtythree years OF age,
who with his wife and four children occupied por-
ton OF the house No. IL Newark street, has been
employed for the past two years as night watchman
at the Hoboken ferry. In the performance Of his
duties he often encountered many OF the leading
thieves and desperate characters OF New York, and
as he seldom showed them any quarter 1t is plain he
did not maze many friends among that
crowd. on the other hand, the vagabonds
in the cells were frequently heard uttering
imprecations on his head as the most in
exorable enemy they had to contend with.
This circumstance may perhaps be material point
In arriving at satisfactory solution OF the case. At
all events Lawrence had enemies, not few and far
between, but every side. Night after night he
made his rounds, but before the midnight bell had
toled Thursday his last round in this world was
completed. But the world did not know it. A
report made on Friday morning that he did not
wake up the employees at the ferry as usual. His
wife made inquiries, but did not feel much con-
cerned, thinking he had gone with some friends to
New York. Yesterday morning, however, the ques-
ton was solved. About eight O'Clock the wOrkmen
at the wharf lying between the dry dock and the
ferry saw body in the water near the mud scow-
The tide had ebbed and the water at this place IL
quite shallow at low tide.
A CHASTITY SPECTACLE.
The body was drawn out and at once recognized
as that OF Lawrence, but horribly mutilaed that
the stood aghast Every stab indicted was
murderous. There was one broad and deep, under
the chin, one under each ear, two the left eye,
inflicted above and below the pupil of the eye ana
one over the right eye. The face was swollen, and
the countenance presented picture OF unutterable
anguish. No one could look Oh 1t for a moment
without reading of the terrible In that
dread struggle How he was clutched and how
he resisted, how the butchers triumphed flor
there were certainly than One) ana
how he appealed for mercy in that contest
may never be known. The bloody work Of that aw-
ful Thursday night ia thus far sealed DOCK to the
authorities. The body was stretched on the barge,
with sheet thrown over 1t, till Coroner White was
notified. 1t was then removed to the Office OF Mr..
Parsow, followed on the way by a crowd, mostly
women and boys. The news spread rapidly, as such
tidings always do, and the excitement permeated
every quarter or the city. AstOnlshment and alarm
were depicted on every countenance. When one OF
the workmen communicated the intelligence to
the family of Lawrence the scene was in
descrlbable. Nothing remained in that house
| ton. To be deprived OF a husband or
father by natural death is great afiiicon under
| all circumstances. but to have one brought home
murdered-that word murdered freezes the blood
In every vein.
THE POLICE ON THE Scent.
In the meantime the police were busy. Officers
Thomas Burke and Patrick Hayes took a survey OF
| the locality and made such inquiries might en-
able them to ascertain the movements OF Lawrence
when last alive. AT half past eleven O'Clock
Thursday night II appears that he left Jesse Woods
restaurant, near the ferry, in company with four
York, named Vic Morgan, allas VictOrIne Hugg, but
more probably Kitty Carroll. Her presence in this
| alude to without any remark. AT all events,
| all the individuals were placed under arrest.
The police first went on board the propeller
Galatea OF tue old Neptune line, which was lying
on the dry dock for repairs, but which was hauled
or during the day, arrested Martin S. Persons
the second mate, and Andrew NJ. Douglass, the en-
gineer The replies given by these as to the hour
they left the RESTAURANT connicted with the state
ment OF the proprietor, and In this, thought the
astute Burke there was little significance. Hayes
was making a tour at this time through the rooms
OF the vessel and succeeded In picking up
and and which, Se Observed, looked i Somewhat sVi
uN.
too Penknves Of formidable dimensions were
picked up, and an examination showed that the
one naa 1eeh en- ra and Inc prs0
Soon afterwards well knownl character, named
buggy" Natlas, who resides at No. SO Adams
street, vas placed In durance. Billy Mccullough
followed suit, and vctorne the night prowler, VINO
had been on visit TO h0boken, completed the num-
Der. All OF these were In company with Lawrence
at Jesse Woods. One fact worth observing here IL
that Buggy" was the most communicative Of the
party before he was arrested, and was the
fire. nf
Douglass and Persons. According to his state
ment Lawrence whispered something into vic's
said .It's all rights lbs all 1xedn Nattas states that
he left the saloon at this time ana the party re-
NAMED.
PERSONNEL OF THE PRISONERS.
Both Douglass and Persons are large stout, mid
dleaged men, intelligent gentlemanly and OF re-
years younger than his companion. They manifest
no anxiety III regard " the result OF the inquest 10
Judge from appearances there Is nothing in either
to warrant the supposltion that they would embark
In such desperate enterprise as this deed OF blood
One of the agents OF the Providence line OF steamers
spent the afternoon with them, and engaged Mr..
Samuel W. Carey as counsel IN their behalf.
Mccullough Is a young man. about twenty-five
years old rather tai, and thn and OF sturdy, pas
sionate disposition. lie seemed most concerned OF
oil the prisoners He resides In Hoboken, and his
friends and acquaintauces have an opportunity
never before afforded OF judging the young man ny
the company he keeps. 0fhis antecedents prudence,
II not fairness calls for silence, placed rs he Is in
Nattas is one OF the b'hoys OF HoboKen. He IL
known In every quarter. Short, thick set, with
piercing eyes aud features denoting great frmness,
he would make tough antagonist III any scunie-
He Is about twentysix years OF age. He con-
Quoted himself with an air Of levity, evidently
with the design Of leading people to believe
IN his innocence. A close scrutiny OF the fellow,
however would beget an impression that he was q
shrewd lad. who has the faculty of seeing his way
out OF difficulty and pluck enough to meet any
emergency. or his reputation 1t Is only necessary
To remark that any of the police should be placed
on the stand TO testify In the matter his case win
not be much improved. For what particular quan-
cation he obranedthe soubriquet Of "Buggy has not
been satisfactorily ascertaned, but an explanation
suggested by the etymology OF the word, which, as
Tom sullivan remarked, would not look well on
papern Reasoning from the facts in the possession
OF the authorities, In addition to the reputation aud
antecedents OF Nattas his position Is an unenviabe
one just now.
Oi the dausel who glories in such u romantic
name as Nlctorne, and who withholds her real
name, regard for public decency dictates that the
less SAID about her the better sac IL somewhat
below the medium SIZE about twenty-five years OF