The New York herald., 1870-09-06
THE LATEST MURDER.
Watchman Shoots Man in Washington
street. Killing Him Instantly-sad End
ing Of q Street Dance and Break.
ing Up Of Gay Party.

murder occurred last night I'm front of tne
premises No. so washington street. which presents
few features or interest not found in the majority
OF those cases reported now almost daily Without
being particuary ou~e In conception or horrible
In the method Of Its execution, 1t Is an illustrator
OF the dangers encountered nightly at this time bv
all whose businesssoa them into the street at an
hour when prowlers and the insanely drunk usurp
control Of the highway.
1t appears that for a long time past the male ana
female denzens Of the vicinity OF No. so Washington
street (Babbts soap factory have been In the habit
OF congregating under the awning In front Of that
building, for the purpose OF nirting. singing and
dancing Among those who were thus engaged ~
about nine O'Clock last evening were Christopher
Higgins, OF No l23 Liberty street. and Mary A. Mar
shall, OF No. Is Washington street.
THY WERE wALTZING
in front OF one Of the doors at ten minutes before
nine, when valentine Rickle, night watchman en-
ployed In the building, came out and az he opened
the door the couple swurg carelessly up against it,
Rickle ordered them or in q gruff and offensive
manner, and was answered by Higgins In an equally
belligerent strain, whereupOn Rckle placed the
muzzle OF Colts revolver ut Higgins throat and
fred The wounded man struggled moment to
remain upright and then fell at the watchman's feet,
literally bathed in blood. The bullet entered the
middle OF the throat, cutting Off the button
Cd,u OF the collar, passing through to the spinal
remains In its course 1t severed several arteries
and the consequent hemorrhage was very great Medi
Cal assistance was ut obtained from the station
house In Church street. near Liberty but was OF no
avail, the wounded man living only a very few mo-
mentS after the shot was fired
THE MURDERED MAN.
Christopher Higgins was about twenty.eight years
brot1er-in-law, Robert Mckay, member of the Me-.
tropoltan Fire Department. at 123 Liberty
e DEAD Dps Se had ssr sisters Hs %
He had been out of health some time
back and went 70 sea for time. Since his return
Va In Ia nF al
SIDES as having been q temperate. quiet sort of a
man. He was OF dark complexion medium stature
residence In Liberty street. where at little before
midnight, were congregated many friends and
mOurners.
The watchman Is an unintelectua looking Ger
man, rather heavily framed, dark complexion, un-
kempt black hair and whlskers. Since his arrest
nearly every one who sees him finds traces OF
feroclty, cunning and everything bad In his face
observer at any other time would only presenJ
the picture OF an ignorant not malignant man. He
has been employed by Mr. Babblt for six years.
during the last three as watchman He has q wife
and seven children living in Hopkins Street, Brook
lyn, E. De- Is about thirty five years of age and was
born III Bavaria.
have been In the habit OF going out In the even
ing for pitcher OF beer three or four men in the
to 20, as I there % was % always crowd @ V outside.
ana they saay to make FAX tn r0uSs
and woman swung up against it; I told them to get
out Of the way, there was no use in their staying
aOout tne 1ool; & ne saiq NJ won't go ior yon,
tol ana put it up against mis-
breast pushing him away; don't know whether ID
was cooked or not; 1t went Off: don't know how;
! never knew the man; sometimes there were forty
or fifty people out under the awning in 'front.' and
they wore noisy and bad.
STATEMENT OF MARY A. MARSHAL.
Mary A. Marshall, who was waltzing with the mur-
dered man. says Ricke cooked the pistol Just before
shOting, and this statement is cOrrObOrated by
others. 1t stated by officers that Ricke said on
his arrest that he had shot at people there twice be-
fore and seemed to think IL was all right.
The pistol used was Colts belt size revolver six
chambers, all loaded. The number upon 1t is
1O1. 1874. The following are the witnesses who ars
ingtOn street; John Flanagan. SO Washington street;
Mary Hays 63 Washington street; Lawrence
Dempsey. 70 washington street; James r. DOnney,
rs Washington street; Michael Cullen. 129 Washing
ton street John Crogan, 81 Washington street;
Mary A. Marshall, 73 washington street: Ida Eddy
81 Washington street; Jane Shields 63 Washington
street.