New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-08
FOSTERS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
HIS LIFE AS HE STRETCHED 1T TO A TRIBUNE
REPORTER.


A TRIBUNE reporter had an interview
with Foster the murderer of Mr.. Putnam, on Sat
urday. Finding that he confined in the same cell
with another man accused murder aud feeling that
he might not wish TO speak freely before his feowpris
the reporter obtained permission TO take him to
the Counselors ROOM apart for consultations be-
tween counsel and accused and there received from Eos
ters lips the history of his life up to and including the
evening Of the assault upon Mr. Putnam.
After being cautioned not to say anything he wOuld
wish be published, he sad "Tl tell you about it,
was born the northeast corner Of Eleventhst and
Thrdave., opposite the Office of Charities and Correc-
tion the 18th OF September 1885, and am now In my
S5th year. Ny full name is William Foster began to
90 school when or years Of age, and contn-
ued at study until was about IA When very young
went 30 three public schools the Nnth-st the Twen-
tiethst and the Twenty-seventhst During the Winter
term Of fS49 attended boarding school at Jonesve
place miles above Troy In the Summer of 1850 went
the Tweneth-st School second time and from there
to the Fergusonville Academy at Delhi Delaware County
~ " where spent the Winter term OF that year During
the Winter term OF 1851. returned 10 the Jonesvie
Academy and leaving there at the expiration OF that
term, TO this city, and was apprentlced 10
mason that in 1882 worked at the trade for hve
years. and the 18th day of September 1887 was mar
ried to Miss Jane Norton of NewYork remained In
this city until December T. 1857, when started for Aus
tralia accompanied by wife, remained there three
years there in November 1867 arriving home in
March, 1861 returned TO my trade, and worked as
mason for about a month, when was appointed In
specor of by Thomas stephens President OF the
Croton Board The sewer completed in six months,
and was thrown out of employment. Everything was
dull here then in October 1861 started for California
I only stayed there Is months, during which time
I was foreman of sewer III san Francisco,
under a Mr. McGlynn when hearing that my wife,
whom I had left in New-York, was lonely /
Immediately took passage for home, arriving here in
March, 1868. Again returned 10 my trade pursuing IL
steadily until 1867 when was laid up with the rheuma-
tism for months and what little money had sue
ceeded in saving up soon melted away on my recovery
nv father started livery stable for me at No S55 East
Twentiethst. had three coupes ana I'VE horses put
of my horses died. some OF my carriages were IN
until July, 1870 when was compelled 10 give IT M
was then appointed Inspector OF Pavements by william
Tweed and held the office until September 1870 Dur
ing October and November OF that year was lde, ana
in December went to work as CONDUCTOR on l Lhe
for position Oh the Broadway anu SeNehlhNe'
road ,.,, .o ,. aud ,,ot
brings up the date of this occurrence had been
the 2Gth had run one trip No. 49, when went TO
the starter and asked to he excused because was unut
for duty was drunk. This at o'clock OF hafpast
in the Afternoon don't remember much that occurred
after that but think went into the liquor store on he
corner of Fifty thrdst; aud seventh-eye don't know
where went afterward only know that got home IN
the afternoon, and stayed there until or O'Clock III tne
o'clock think, went across Madison Park to Broad.
and took downcar 10 mon t t iheir names
are the first up-car that passed me MAS 40.
of the Broadway line, ana run 10 broomesl al
used 10 cut me off when was on my own iof ran W
Rsrclay-s and sometimes No "A would get aneau OF me
and would follow 1t up knew the regular driver ut
conductor Of this car but not tose VINO "eIu VI bd
night for they had only been on LOT one day anu na
moi seen them before paid my fare though had TWO
conductors badges with ne. That Is always Customary
unless you know the conductor and then he VIII let you
ride free When got the car stood on the front
nIatform with my back against the front window on tne
len hand side going up. Ipad my fare from minute
to a minute and half after getting on s'o1a tn,,o
about five or six minutes uhen me d1reT nuehea Ivy 49,,
o dLfrarf ma attention inside the car looked III, put
don't remember what saw there. had drank 10 or 40
glasses Of whisky and was very drunk nun ~
The car then In little while afterwards openeu tn
door and went in 1 down and fell into sort OF a
dOze can't say how long sat there, but a1ter ne
got up and went on TO the front platform as. ~r
I'm the car didn't notice what was there. cant say
where Mr Putnam whether in the corner or opposite
10 me don't know where the girl sat- dldht See her
eWbie sal I'm the car Mr. Putnam told me that had
700 mnch had and wasn't hit 10 talk TO- Be1ore
went into the he called me ioalei anu %
don't know why he did IT, unless because the door was
onened and shut a few times. don't know by whom IL
was opened and shut whether the ysung lady did IL or
not don't recolect anything dld aIter leaving t d
inside OF the The lady who was with the gr qua
not speak didn't see the glrl change her seat
When got off can't say whether the car had stopped
for or for passenger don't fe EN- .a d I bt
Marty 0ot of have no recollection of seeing car
hook was very drunk that night, drunk enough
ssS didn't Putnam hsaT t called oar me SateP
and a coward, made no reply that remember Dut
won't De positive that did not He then went inside
again and 1t after this that went inside. d9nt
notice any Of them. don't know at what time go,
home my wife says about O'CLOCK was afresteu
about s. had not gone 20 bed my wire says was asleep
I'm a chair; she says she told me two detectives were
there don't saying anything on the way 10
the station House. know that walked but dontre-
member whether any one took hold OF me-"