The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-12
The TcrrfbIe Murtier-Three Shots
Fired and u Safe Robbed While the
6ars we're Running 1000 Feet.


From the Albany Correspondent n. Y. Express
As the o'clock train on the Boston road
was leaving the Union depot, Albany.
everything was quiet rs usual, and there
was no indication Of more than the ordi-
nary excitement Of m outgoing train. Be-
fore it had proceeded thousand feet one
Of the most brutal murders that has been
committed in this century had gone upon
the tablets of history. For rare and cir
cumStautial completeness it throws into the
shade every tragedy since the Maiden MUIR
der, and when we take into consideration
the dramatic surroundings Of n swiftly
moving train, dark night, and lofty
bridge spanning the frozen Hudson,
it becomes unique in its absorb
ing interest and uncqualcd singlencss.
The Nathan murder in the midst Of a
crowded city. and in the very centre of
Il network of detective surroundings that
arc unsurpassed upon the continent, added
10 the position Of the victim, aroused a feel
ing far beyond that which will result from
this. but. in cool and calculating bru-
tality, it may he doubted if even that great
epic in crime is not thrown in the shade by
this latest effort Of educated dabolism.
The surroundings Of this murder are of Pc
culiar opcnncsS and daring, and either
prove that the method Of madness has be-
come new sense of the insane, or that this
criminal is Il mature Jack Sheppard, risk
ing every danger and holding his life loose
". AS the train moves out OF the depot,
and reaches point some two hundred feet
from the river. it runs from the side-track
upon the single track that crosses the river.
AT this point is a switch-house, where is sta
toned the man who attends to the arduous
duty of finally di>charging the train upon a
Il u
order. II will hc noticed that this man is care
fully selected by the company, and with
particular regard to his qualities Of accu-
rate and keen watchfulneSs. Some four
hundred feet back from this man, and to-
ward the depot, is another switch, and
here is stationed at all times of the night
another man. On the passing Of this train,
he stood at the switch with Il lamp brightly
burning in his hand. and saw man run up
! to the express car, not more than three feet
! from him, jump into it, open the door and
| disappear. He thought nothing of it, owing
to the boltlnesS of the proceeding, sup.
| poSn. it some clerk or assistant of the
messenger. This man is the only person
who saw anything of the murderer except
the victim. Not more than Il hundred feet
! from this place of entering the car the track
passes over the road Of the Rensselaer, and
Saratoga Company, and at this point some
men who were standing on the lower track
distinctly heard the report of 4 pistol and
came up OH the platform Of the bridge tc
| ask about it. They learned nothing, and
supposed it was somewhere else.
WHAT uArPENED IN TIE CAR.
| The messenger is always busy making VI
| his bids upon first leaving the city, and cX.
alnining his tally list to see if it agrees with
| the parcels delivered in The car. Mr.. t;al
| pine was thus engaged When the noise OF
| The opening door liked his attention, and
| he saw standing at the side of the car u
short, thiCk-Set mau, Nith 4 heavy NOUS
turlr. who appeared to be doing nothing,
! and was apparently stealing ride. - What
are YOU doing lhcrc?" "Uh, nothing,'
was the reply. Il have carried many !,
package for this company, and want to ride
10 Chatham. Whose train is this:> " Hal
piuc's," was the answer. "Oh," said the
murderer, Il thought it was WoodWard's."
But" said H., "you can't ride here. |
don't open the car until get to Pitlsicld.
You must Get off at East Albany. What is
your uame:" "Jouc>,' At this the mes
Scnycr turned and continued checking his
tally list. while the man with the singular
name took out small smith Il WcSSon rcvol-
yer and fired directly across the car at him.
The bah first fired hit Mr.. H. on the right
side of the neck and passed entirely through
! the side and tlattcncd against the left jaw
| bone. This bali has been extracted, and is
about the size of i pea one side is gap
! ped broken by the bone. Mr.. II. tried 10
rise after the receipt Of this shot, but fell to
; the floor, when the murderer came up to
| him, and putting the pistol close to his lett
eye. tired. The ball passed backward and
| downward, and lodged in the base of the
skull. Up TO this time Mr.. III. sad he was
conscious OF what was going on, but was
| powerleSs to cry out OF move. He stated
! that ne knew what was going Oh and what
the mans purpose was, but could make no
! movement to prevent it. Not satisfied with
| this, The villain again placed his pistol ut
! the right eur OF Mr.. ii. and fired. The ball
! passed through his head and lodged at the
base ofthe skull. As this ball went crush
! ing through his head Mr.. ii. says that NJ
! was stunned, and although he felt the lel-
low going through his pockets after the keys
of the safe ne WAS not conscious Of aught
else.