The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-07
THE SUPPOSED TRENTON MURDER,
Willis tho Blind Husband Not q Muir
derer-What He Says About the Affair."
COrOner's Inquest.

Willis tho Blind Husband Not q MUIR
dorer-What He Says About the Affair."
CorOner's Inquest.
The inquest on the body Of Mary Willis who died.
as 1t was supposed, from injuries inflicted by her
blind husband in Trenton, published in the HER.
AID, was held yesterday. The woman, it appears,
was subject to fits and in quarrel with her hus-
band 1t Is supposed she was seized with one OF
those fits Luke Willis, when taken into custody,
could not realize that his wife was dead, and
labored under the impression for long time that
the police were only trying to brighten him..
When placed on the stand he gave the following
version Of the affair:-I am the husband Of de:
ceased; we resided corner Of Union and Carroll
deceased about six years ago; my wife has been
subject to fits for some time; on Monday afternoon
go away Vent to the overse ese Of the
RSoT x and got an order for the Aims House
cause / am blind and cannot See where
EN- gngg got on Snu% 70 the road to
end when l got near Perry street my wife met
me and told her that had obtained an order for
Helf into terrible passion; I lifted my foot and
said, NOV, Mary, do, for goodness sake let me
alone on the public streets, and what you have got
struck her with my foot, but where or how can
not say; she did not fall down. put chased me down
&oanded;, did not hear that my wife
when was under arrest in the City Hall; had no
knife about me, and never carry one; do not even
wife was but imagine She was about the same
age as myself; she had been married previously
and her name before married her was Mary
Mcclure; am not aware that she had q fit after I
kicked her; my wife did not come into my house
Hiter the anair On Perry street bridge, but went
=; did not speak to her after the row near
r: Ribbis ,testined-I was called on Monday
willis found puseess aud I aying - this lls morI
O'Clock, which was about fourteen hours after
death; externally the body presented no appear
fnely formed one; Oh the left leg there were some
old Ilcerations on the right one, little above the
nns So there S the e
lar in shape, about two inches long, which e
ss S Ely a1R n0 the ss sns s%
artery the hemorrhage from which had evidently
caused he, death sought no urtnsr because
been immediate and efficient deceased's LIE might
have been saved; the wound may nave Deen oauseu
by duh instrument Of any kind; 1t may nave been
csnsed by a piece of glass bottle which she may
have fallen; deceased was subject to fits for which
had once prescribed; they were epeptic In char
acter she was liable to be attacked by them during
any period of excitement; the wound could not
have been caused by kick, unless Luke Willis had
had some sharp instrument on his shoe.
Oficer Coville testified arrested Luxe Wits
on Monday night, about eight o'clock was IN
informed us that Luke Willis was in the woodshed
with hatchet in his hand and that he had wounded
his wife; we found him in the house, behind the
stove: we asked him what was the matter, and he
said he was trying to get some kindllngs 10 nghl
the fire; the man was intoxicated when we ar
rested him, and in answer to questions about the
trouble he said the boys had been plaguing MN we
were told by some children that Luke Wills mad
pushed his wife down, and man informed us tha'
Dr. Ribble said the woman would die; we tnen ar
rested Luke Willis and took him to the City Hall.
VERDICT.
We the jury, met to inquire into the death o
Mary WILLIE find that she died from the effects OF
wound on her right leg and that that wound was
received by a fall on some instrument In quarre
with her husband, Luke Willis, near Perry street
bridge In the city of Trenton, on Monday, August