The New York herald., 1871-09-03
A SHOE SHOP SLAUGHTER.
A Fatal Quarrel Between Man
and Wife.
Diseinbowelling Brooklyn Shoemaker-Stcry OF
the Prisoner snd Her Stepdaughters

The pious city Of Brooklyn has again been made
the scene OF a shocking ARRAY, resulting in the sacr-
flee OF human being, the father OF a family. Tie
crime is all the more revolving In character because
or the fact that the slayer OF the head OF the house
is none other than the wife OF the slain. The de-
tails, which have been carefully culled at
all reliable sources OF infOrmati0n are OF
nature striking ana peculiar In the
annals OF criminal offences which have come 10
light in that city. The parties who figure In the
tragedy have long been known in the humble circles
in which they moved as honest. auiet and hard
working people. The names Of man AMI woman
are respectively. John Rely and Ellen, the former
fortyeght years of age ana the latter about thirty
eight. Both are natives OF the Emerald Isle. He
followed the avocaon of shoemaker, at
so Atlantic street. near Hicks. South
Brooklyn. The family consisted Of three
children, TWO Of which were by former wife
Of John Rely, and are aged thirteen and fifteen
years respectively. They occupy the first and sec
ond floors of three story brick building and are
understood to be possessed OF some property, be-
sides doing GOOD business in the neigh
borho0d, where he was well liked. Ellen,
who Is now painfully situated, was
servant witch wealthy family residing In
Third place for several years prior to her meeting
with the deceased, who wOOed and won her six
years ago. At the time OF their marriage she was
possessed of few hundred dollars, which she had
saved out OF her wages, and being commercially
anxious that Jonn should improve his stock and
trade, gave him the money. They lived happily for
q time, when
BEGAN DRINK
and partook so deeply OF the flowing bowl that he
was attacked with the horrors. lie gave over
drinking for awhile. but soon began again, and
with his inebrety blended his abuse and cruelty.
Yet he kept up semblance OF attending to
business with all, anG as she was peace
ably disposed woman, who was reluctant
to reveal her domestic sorrows TO her III
quisitive and gossipng neighbors, the world
was not much the wiser Of the situation. But
murder will out, and sympathy frequently wastes
itself upon the least worthy object SO it happens
the gossips about Mrs. Riey's abode denOunce her
as person VINO drank, and claim that he was
sober man, the prepOnderance OF evidence to the
contrary meanwhile. On Thursday evening last Mrs.
Rely returned from visit to her niece in Wander
bit avenue, the only relative she has In this
country, when she was assaiied by her husband,
who was under the influence of liquor. He called
her opprobrious ephets and then struck her IN the
eye, knocking her down ana Kicking her about the
face and neck.
SHE SEIZED KNIFE,
such as shoemaIcrs use, and as he continued to
saut her she warned him to desis. lie
needed her not and, goaded on to despera-
ton, and In self-defence, she plunged the
broad -bladed, giitterng weapon into his abdomen.
out OF the house to drug store and IRON thence
the hospital III Henry street, wnere he fingered
until about one O'Clock yesterday afternoon, when
he died Of MS wound.
THE POLICE WE'RE NOT CoaNIzANT
of the tragedy until two O'Clock Yesterday whe
the son Of the murdered man called at tho Third
precinct station house, Butler street. and told Cap
tam Ferry that his mother had killed his father.
ROundsman Cadden and Patroman Slattery
were despatched 10 inquire into the matter, and
learned that Rielv was dead. They then went In
at her house in Atlantic street, and took her into
custody. representative OF the HERALD visited
,he station house and asked permission 70 converse
quest that she should not he informed OF the death
occupied q seat In tue corridor on the second tier
over the cells. she Is neat clcanly looking per-
dcate either violent temper or Over-iondness
Tor Iquor. she was attired in mourning,
tenance as she turned 10 see who was
The intruder Being cautioned not TO say any.
papers or that she might deem indscrect aDout the
difficulty with her husband, she made the following
THE rRlsoNER's STATEMENT
MY name Is Ellen Rely. l reside at No. 30 AT.
lsntic street. On THURSDAY evening was out.
no not often GO out. When returned my husband
was out. l suppose he was at some liquor store.
Sometimes when he was IN the horrors nc would
use me very badly. was up 10 see ms niece, who
when reached home. When he did come in he
commenced 10 call me pad names ana 20 talk abouJ
bad women and how they used TO be boxed up in
trunks don't know what he meant. but thought
he had the horrors aud took up a knife He used
always call me an old vagrant ana other bad names
when he was under the influence or liquor. He
came up stars alter me and Knocked me down on
the floor He Then S,S commenced to beat and abuse
side Of the face and neck. The woman here
sighed heavily, and pointed ~ the marks or abuse
which were VISIBLE her tight eye being black and I,
slight abraslons OF the skin on the neck appearing.
When was icing so much abused ny him the was
o good. kind man when he was sober ;oid him my
lie as good to me as his 70 him, ana ihatI
mad alw ays worked hare for ,gng, aud tGat If lie
didn't draw back
WOULD STICK HIN.
lie had his foot on my neck at the time. lie kept
Oh striking and Kicking NE, however. Oh air,
dead as alive these six years back. He was IN tie
habit OF going asleep in the store ana money has
husband was striking me may have struck him 10
defend myself. ] clied out frequently Murder p'
Murder Ter The nsghGors M must Sds, nave heard my
ten years past. Dr. Burns used 10 attend him wncn
lie mas
After the quarrel with him he said to me. see
what you have done y said 'It VIII learn YOU
lie showed The wound, Which was near the ando.
men, TO me, ard said u was only a little scratch,
and would yet we INV went 10 1ne a9,pta Today
n,nk either visitors OF the people at the hospital
bave heen giving him liquor. smelt II on him. | !
am not telling you this. SIR 10 excuse N.Y.
se,;. he drank great deal--iTst thing IN
the ernng and last thing al night. lie used
to give me awful cracks and abuse inc. l had to
leave the house one night 20 get away from nm. |
have been married 10 E!m Tor SIX years. was his
second wife and mad hte Cir TWO years old. lie
has two chiidren--s boy and girl. Tie former Is
aDOnt fifteen years old and the girl thirteen years
OF age. The marks on my neck ana face which YOU
see the Effects o. tnat beating. He had habit
OF scoring. lie was man that always took charge
OF his own money and paid his BINS. never lad |
the handling Of any OF H. except q lew dollars 10
buy dresses with.
AZ thls poinl the unhappy woman, WHO KEPT con- |
tnuaily sway!Dg back and iofth upou The rude |
stool upon which she sat. near grated wiliuOw |
during the interview, purs. totears, and repeated |
that IL made little difference 70 her what should be-
come OF her. The writer withdrew, impressed with /
the opiniOn that the prisoner was, al least. desery
ing OF sympathy and thar ler appearance was lar |
from indicative OF indulgence either 10 strong drink
or other vice.
STATEMENT or THE srRP.pAUGBTER.
Mary Elizabeth Riley, aged abGut fourteen years,