The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-28
THE CREsSKILL IN. j. MURDER.

ALE OAGGOhlAA NN. ID mOItOEns
John ID. Avery he Hanged mt Hack.
ensnck To-Dny-Confession of the Pris-
Oner-HOw He Regards His APPROACH
ing Doom.
At eight O'Clock on the morning OF the 18th Of
February last young man named John d. Avery
was arrested at his home, No. 143 Thompson street,
in this city, by Marshal Hill, of the Englewood
IN. J Protection Society, for the murder OF Jacob
Erb, coachman In the employ OF Mr. Elijah F.
Clark. Of $50 Broadway. Avery was taken to Police
Headquarters and was transferred thence to Hack
ensack Jail
He was placed on trial before Judge Bedle, was
found guilty, and on Saturday, the 18th of April,
was sentenced to be hanged Friday, the 2Sth Of
June. An effort was made to procure commute
ton OF his sentence, but the Court Of Par
dons, at their session last Monday night,
declined to interfere. Avery seems to regard his
approaching doom very coOlly and Sheriff Pel, who
now holds In his hands the death warrant, Is Of
opinion that the unfortunate man does not realize
the awful situation in which he is placed. Avery il
twenty-five years of age, and left home when eleven
years OF age and went West, where he worked for
three years as chore boy and farm laborer. After
this he led sort OF rowing life, subsequently
turning to New York. On the 22d OF June, 1871, he
went to work for Mr.. Clark, OF Cresskill Here he
became acquainted with Mr.. Erb who was employed
/ AS n COacnman by MI. Cllrk.
Twenty years have elapsed since execution
took place at Hackensack The last culprit who suf
colored man, who Killed two Children A'"'"s'
few days ago he made confession In which he
rather took liking to Erb than otherwise and
invited him to come into my little room and smoke
his pipe instead OF sitting alone. He did and fen
In love with my little room for its cleanliness and
neatness. always keep my places in good order.
There were many little circumstances frequently
occurring which convinced me that he was envious
OF my masters supposed preference for me, and was
trying tosuppant me in his favor. 1t was part OF
my duty to look after the hennery. l had done this
to Mr. Cark's satisfaction, but now there were fire.
quent complaints about the eggs being more
seen, and Others also, Er6 90 into the nennery He
had no business there. Still could not prove that
ne took the eggs inquired Of Others the best plan
vice. bran and pepper. There were more eggs after
seemed to be destroyed One day Mrs. Clark In
CURED after two eggs which size said were In the
nest only short time previously. replied that
became convinced that should have to Leave for
1t hurt my feelings to be thus suspected when l
knew was innocent and was doing my best to
please her. spoke to Erb about 1t. He made no
reply, except a sneering one.
the hennery. on Thanksgiving Day Mr. Clark told
me should have to leave. | wept, for thought it
Ce to was aa 20 ea n when o M
try me another month II would try and do better.
1repned that he had but to state what he wanted
and would endeavor to do my best liked Clark.
he was so good, and stayed One day after this.
In an outandish place, six eggs were found which
knew had never been placed there by the hen.
Then others were found, he, Erb, all the time going
into my hennery. This created suspicion. Then
he was always boastng Of the large amount Of
work he had performed In comparison to that which
had DONE intmating that was neglectIng my
duty, and that he obliged to assist in its per-
forInance. | had made up my mind to leave Mr..
Clark again, but he requested me to stay another
month.
complied. During all this time had no words
with Erb At the end OF the month left, but before
going shook hands with Erb; had no malicious
w I'M do axifl IA i'm
though knew he had injured me. He said he was
sorry but doubted his sincerity.
present necessities. One day was going down
Nassau street and was looking at book stall, as
a man accosted me and said II wanted books he
would take me around the corner, where could
worth 81 only, and others were worth slo Followed
him, or rather them, for there were two OF them.
they took me Into sort Of gambling hell, and one
OF the two commenced to play. had never seen
the game before-saw them throw dice, and there
were corresponding numbers on the board. re-
fused TO play at first, but when saw one OF them
win thought would have throw; did so, and
won S.. They asked me to try my luck again.
won again-and so on until l had won $500. Then
the luck began to change, and lost all had In the
world except twenty-five cents. begged hard to
less THAI 81, so left Ipawned my coat, and, be-
Ing ashamed TO show myself at home, p'ade up my
Of 70 70 my aa n
my coat ! started, and got out at renany, and
waea tne other Part Of tne
another situation, When arrived was too shy to
speak to Mr.. Moore, and, undetermined how TO act,
stood up against tree suppose for nearly an
hour. While standing here q man passed ME and
spoke to me-he DID not know me, nor him. I
went into the woods, and as one Of my boots panied
me plcked IN a stick to walk with. Then II was
that first thought OF robbing Erb OF his watch. My
intention was to make my way TO the barn and wait
for him until he came and to strike him, but not
do him any serious harm. / went aud picked upa
piece OF an old lightning rod with which to strike
him. did not gather the stick for that purpose for
ut that time 1t had not entered my head to do such
deed. The rod was bent and very thin. | could not
sleep much, so patted the horses and wished a
thousand times that had never come In. Early In
the morning. found another piece Of iron, which l
thought WIGS better suited TO the purpose. found
his old coat and put 1t on to disguise myself but
toned IL up close to the chin waited for him,
trembling all over. Toward SIX O'Clock he came
and sat down. He did not me, and struck,
aiming at his forehead. He staggered so did l.
but he did not groan- put out the light, anu as
was commencing To take the watch he commenced
TO recover. did not strike him again, for, as God
Is my Judge did not wish to kill the man. I
snatched at the watch and ran, for knew that II
he attacked me should have the worst OF it. for he
was stronger man than myself. / pulled OF the
old coat and threw II down. walked on to Cress-
Kill station. The train was not due, so | went to
Tenany, took the train there and came on to New
York. had not the least idea that the man would
die.
!certify that this Is q correct statement.
JUNE 10. ls72 JOHN AVERY.