The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-03
THE PUTNAM HOnEIcIDE.
Official Investigation by the
Coroner.
Foster Fully Identified as tho Murderer Intense
Excitement at the Hearing-The Verdict.
His Indictment by the Grand Jury
Justice Moving Rapidly-sosnes and
Incidents-The Conductor and
Driver Held as Witnesses


God and left widow ana orphan to cry for ven
geance upon the head OF the murderer. In that cry
al good citizens joined knowing well that whiie as
Bassins like iam Foster are at large no mans lie
is secure no mother or maiden safe nom the brutal
lndignities Of the rabble, who seek them IN public
places with hesh designs. The ror Dopat has
called aloud for justice and, from present appear
ances, the murderer OF Avery d. Putnam will have
speedy ard fair trial, and eyriase his crime as the
wisdom OF tine courts may direct
Justice, like lightning. should appear
TO few mems ram; but to all mems fear,
and from the rapldity with which the officers OF
the law have acted In this last rrghtful horror the
unfortunate offender, William Foster viii have oc
casion to appreciate this declaration.
Ere the remains Of the murdered merchant mad
been committed to mother earth the Coroner's jury
solemnly declared that Foster committed the cow.
ardly act and the Grand Jury, which for once ex-
ploded the IDEA that ''heavy bodies move slowly,n
brought in an indictment against him for murder,
and he was committed to the Tombs TO await the
action OF the Court OF Oyer and Teniner at the pre-
sent term. 1t is said that the plea of insanity Will
be offered an excuse for the deed; but this will
scarcely avah him anything.
Yesterday morning at ten O'Clock Coroner Nelson
". Young opened the inquest at the City Hall, when
the following jury responded TO their names-S.
W. Baldwin, journalist, 162 West Forty-fourth
third street, Daniel Springer grocer, go Sixth ave-
nue.; John A. Briggs, grocer, 81 Sixth avenue;
Eugene Selxas, stationer, SCI Sixth avenue; Peter
Ward, hardware, 92l Sixth avenue; John Pincent,
c0nlectioner, $50 Sixth avenue; William Wenzel.
druggist, $50 Sixth avenue J. b. SWEET, grocer, SAT
Sixth avenue; Phillip Fitzpat1ck builder, S42 Sixth
avenue; Charles Cunz, druggist, s5l Sixth avenues
Eugene Westerheld, hardware, s5s Sixth avenue;
Dewitt Q. Ward, grocer, $50 Sixth avenue.
Itmay be mentioned to show the interest taken
IN the that OF the Jurors who had been ex-
cused from attending appeared this morning, and
informed tie Coroner that, feeling that nobody was
safe In the community whl9 criminals like Foster
In the premises. and he was willing to serve.
owing 70 the fact that The assassination OF the
most want0n and flemish description and
THE EXTRAORDINARY AND UNUSUAL INTEREST
taken In the case By the public, II expected tina
the inquest would be attended by great many peo
pie Such proved 10 be the case. From an early
hour the Coroner's Office commenced to I'LL With per-
sons ANXIOUS TO witness line proceedings, and
apartment was filed 10 fepleton Al halr.pass
ten the prisoner Foster was brought in. He appears
to be man aged about thirty. lie wore an air
OF serene unconcern, and was IN all other respects
a5 calm and collected as any person in the room.
contrary, has an air OF honest Responsibility and
neither looks or acts the murderer.
MRS. DUvAI, WITH BIER DAUGHTER
came In soon after aud took seats opposite the re-.
porters' stand. District Attorney Fellows appeared
for the prosecution, while ex-Judge stuart
BEL are also to be engaged TO assist the defence.
After all the prelImlnarles had been arranged the
investigation proceeded.
as sst wne,s satS was Maas Dual who when
with Avery Putnam; last saw him alive hapas. nine
his sss oasay sGoat @ cine
q the Advent In Forty sixth street, entered the car at
hand sao Of the cary aRsa sbos sa,
Who % nts z NY d.n ss asked Mt,
Jennie You seen the clock in The Gsey House
n r1ctac
Unmarked had never seen ecods Place she
% and ok "i the
s Men TO Il the nsf
sneerng and LAUGHING just then he called the attention
Sa a, 9
platform to heI cone hi. mme sa ~ the
door opened by the who stood by the driver he
door and my daughter remained in The seat be opened
sg.in shut NJ Il was opened third time Immediately Mr.
awHAT DOES THIS MKASm
He closed the said nothing
on s ws'n .
shall not Be nss,ed the man then came part way in Mr.
putnam stepped 70 The door and eypos.pA.e with he
paid for seat and want III; Mr. Putnam answered 6oms
man aaS CO hs Up told @
.li down and be quiet the attempted 81 down
S ny ss -Ha s 9sry
s s and you
Then turned and said nothing more Es il. down before Mr.
% ssa ss sF a at %
n % ss
back upon the man who eered sneered and aa2hed and
g. ,asa .sssd n: Putnam iS.as sp; NJ.
p ny n % Il sso 3as
s on =: :. 'Ra rh oa You
nc +
stop TS p he I'D mol
GU. 10 he rear % d bs M r
came HAND Tide golng up; ihave
started to go out saw man running around the
Saw THE HOOK ooax DOWN or sr. PUTNAM,
who stood On the ground win one oo On the step 70 take
bell cord; the man struck deceased him fal he
sa q. h S 81 s :AaS S'ss
may have been this instsumsnt saw seeond blow dealt
conductor standing unmovod; exclaimed, 90 Mr. Put
pas s
s ri rsp s psa s" s ss
PASSED opT or sIeHr L,kr \ rHogonT; ,.,-,o
g % b
head and lifted OF track of the papers
oou Re su aon he in LA MN IN hs d Re
eiss 70 the station house; there lady citing
looking like working man there weIe four persons present
70 Assistant 1ls,rc, Attorney Fclows-when left the
car the man on the leu OF the drTeT nc was the cny
here asked 10 walk around the aud pick out Foster
she Is nears GIFTED: Pointing 20 the mafieref she sad
THAT the man" The murderer being identiied be-
trayed no emotion Of kind.
Mrs. Duval resuIned-Ihat the who Offered insults
70 daughter the face of the who struck the
blow distinctly TO enable Inc 10 recognize him agen
this have Just Identified Is the who struck the
fatal blows
Samuel a. Roborg, NJ D., sworn--l am surgeon Of the
Twenty second precincts was duty on the night OF
Wednesdays was called tea minutes O'Clock
tend the station house sirecher the
back OF the station house found COMMISSIONS
seya
pulse the left eide q the head inches above the
found rough wound half inches long by
threeQuarteTs wide; believed
InE WOUND HAD pEsETaArED TUE SKULL;
ordered HIM fhe hospital which was done Il
haifpas ten when the ambulance for, and n
rived at the station house In eighteen halt
wound might made by this instrgnent undoubtedly
recognized deceesed hat produced one
no when attended by HIM.
Miss Mabel j. Duva swornl eside at No 762 Broadway;
acquainted with the deceased gentleman; Mr..
Putnam on Wednesday night la tie referred 10 In my
mothers evdence when the got about Twenty seventh
street Mr. Putnam II had GiIsey House
clock said no; he said 1t nearly In the gsrretha