New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-01
THE NEWBURGH HORROR.

the sad affair are as follows The horrible occurrence
took place Grand-st No. 1l6 opposite st. Georges
Church The victim John L. Seavern, proprietor OF
the Paper Machinery Works on the Washington Iron
Works Dock The murderer gives his name as Lieut..
Button At the time stated above he walked
into the residence named, going through the
main hallway in q steathy manner, till be
reached the which opened into the dining In
the latter room at this time seated at the supperabe
were Mr. seavern and his wife, Mr. seaverns back being
toward the hal-dOor, and his wife sitting opposite.
Silently and cautiously the assassin approached his vic
tim entering dningroom unseen by Mrs. Seavern.
Once in he walked quickly up to his victim and fired
single The ball entered Mr. seaverns neck about an
inch and half below end behind the passing through
the spinal-cord causing death insantaneousy. Mrs.
seavern cried aIs, "Oh! John yon shot" But Mr..
seavern made no reply His lead sank upon his breast
and he seemed to try raise his eyes in token Of recog
nition but this probably only cOnvulsve movement
when the fatal bullet struck him Ihe III the act OF
spreading piece OF presa II uis Ient Danu ne neid
his knife with butter on IT, and between the first and
second fingers Of the left hand he held piece of bread.
For one after death he sat in the position, and
when the undertaken laid ont The body force had TO be
Used to remove the knife He sat bolt upright in his
sitter the occurrence Mrs seayern, shriekng wildly,
to the front door and seeing Mr. Robert g. Smith
dered; Oh do run for doctor % DR. gilbert arrived
after but he could do nothing BY this time the
did not otter to " hurt Mrs. seayerns, but
Immediately after he committed the deed. he
stairs third floor of house. and stood at the
head of the stairs. AT the time of the murder Deputy
Courthouse, and heard the report Of the pistol. He
went TO Mr. Seaverns house 10 see If yhing
place. He up the front sIJOp and opening the
door the murderer at the head of the stairs with the
tated to rush what seemed instant death. The
derer said nothing but looked if he meant TO do fur
ther mischief, and had any attempted to approach
him there is no doubt that he would have fired on
them. II is stated that ne pointed the pistol
at sent to Police Headquarters and Marshal Good
rich notified. He armed himself with revolver and
club, and taking with him Cfcer Andrew Farrell pro
ceeded to the residence of Mr. Seavern statOning the
vent to the front door about which by this time large
had collected. The murderer still at the head
back S sf into t5 the on third story laid pistol
"a doubebarrel onel on table, came back to the head
the door he eaiy took off his beaver and making
bow said Gentlemen, do you want me g The Marshal
and and started him Tor the jail The vast crowd
the prisoner, many shouting Lynch him! lynch him =!
and feared violence would be done but the jail
their charge in safety Button (wbose name is
"a" 1r SgrSGaen e. es Visited h@
ing Of them said lets have drink" He was
heal A pitcher of water was brought him. when he
passed his hand 10 and fro over II as II lnesmeTnng NJ
then suddenly holding his head down. he said do you
see anything there 2" Shaping his hand on top OF his
head Perhaps the following shows the con iiton Of
the prisoners mind IN the day OF the murder:
STATEMENT OF CHARLES L. YOUNG.
MI Young is the keeper OF a billiard saloon in Water
st. which was frequently visited by Button during his
stay in this city MI. Young's statement Is as follows
About week ago ! first saw Button; he came into
the saloon and said he agent for patent medicine
which he represented be sovereign cure for aches
pains especially for neurs ga and headaches he left
bottle here for my uncle 10 try be said he mad DO1 OF
the remedy and wanted TO know IL this not good
town 10 for such medicine after some CONVEX
has been in the saloon several times since then;
about o'clock, in, company with Joseph seayern
going of TO insane hospital and Poughkeepsle was
mentioned. He asked me If there was one at Pough-
keepse. / told him didn't know. he said he under
stood there and be wanted 70 60 up on the up boat
and he trying TO induce his friend Joseph to go up
with him. He stood here and talked some time, and
asked me II good writer he wished me 10 write
recommendation from Gen. Grant TO the Poughkeepsle
Insane Hospital lie said ne would dictate tne Wor T
The recommendation was 10 run in this way " The
bearer, Lieut.. Bufem, one OF the Immortal ~ who
constituted forlorn hope to sever the
between the South and Southwest during the war de
was taken prisoner and cast INTO Anaer9onp and a.
L. :. Grant, would hereby RECOMMEND Lieut. BuHtih 10
place in the hospital at POughkeepsie Tor the WINTER
j fem asked me to write the above ana sign Td
Grants name OF course refused 10 DO ths ana ASKED
why he did not 10 West Point and see the Gene
down there on Friday found that the General
would not arrive till the next day Then he tod me tat
he had gone down Saturday and seen the General;
He said that after stating his case TO him. Gen Grant had
promised him aid, and was going 10 SEND MN SoO he
foriorn hone" Commissions in the regular army and
medals IN consideration OF their merorious conduct
with HE wife for two years; that II was this family
trouble that bothered him He said he knew that he was
weak minded and that II he did not go 10 the hospital
or some place Of that kind it would be worse for him. he
wanted his mind to rest He and Joseph had agreed TO
and didn't Co. The last time he was here O'Clock
a. III. on thf DAY of the murder. He came and TOOK
Wa going away to NewYork and intended leave by
the s:o5 train the Hudson River Road. had trouble
getting hin away, but after while succeeded ana he
left in time the s:a5 boat gave him - 50 TO assist
him getting out of town have not seen INN since
hax oiuUD nf he
BY, Won will hear from Inc before night
MI John Hanmore had an interview with the prisoner
Yesterday morning. He said that be has feeling COM
ing him at times iInpelling him to Kill body.
s nd, heat T Sn wac MIR fe It % ON
OF this feeling. he states that he went TO the As uI
been discharged only short time ago in very much
improved condition, supposed by the Oncers OF
S.eDf sssTs4n Old ID Mr. aa sOH
he had known Ss ecepeI lu an s%f
being oed to hn By Mr. and visit
A. at his home in Newburgh. He reached here about
house He says that he was years in the
war. He expresses great sorrow LOT continuing Ihe
hin that be seemed driven TO the commission
OF the murder and was powerless TO resist Inc Est
mon, taken at the Coroners inquest resulted in verdict
~ ne ELECT that Mr. seavern came 10 his death by
pistol shot, inflicted by Robert Button. -. ,,
Mr. seayerns son. who Is insane, mas been Iockeu UP
Gov safe keeping and be taken 10 the Asylum tins
evening Mr.. sesyern was 81 years OF age Inc unera
place from his late residence, on Thursday after
noon, ana the reinaihS VII Oo '" "
Vi after the rendition of the verdict the
nv, oner wa. brought the Courtroom and addressed
hv tbe Coroner He told him that ne would commit nun
~ auld secure counsel and arrangements for his
defense that Saturday az the above nouI' ne No
- O avail the action Of the Grand Jury The
nrfsoner rose during the remarks OF tne ooIonI, pu
maintained detected silence He Was theh renAHDo"
~ his cell
THREATENED ADVANCE IN FREIGHT RATES