The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-28
The Williamsburg Tragedy and the State
ment Of Friends Of the Prisoner.
Illicit Love the Cause OF the
Crime.
Appearance Of the Accused-What Her Friends
Think About Her and Her Victim.
The mquest-S Statements of the
Witnesses.

the whole district. That q young and delicate
female should be obliged to resort to sucs desperate
means to rid herself OF the prosecutions OF an OBJ
noxious lover, and that lover her employer, has
naturally interested all the female population in
her behalf. The facts OF the case are very brief:-
In factory situate at the corner OF South Eleventh
and FIRST Streets Williamsburg. was employed
young married woman, named Fanny Hyde. Her
employer was George W. Watson. At noon on
Friday, the Goth, young person, also employed in
the factory, went out to procure some
lunch. On her return she noticed Fanny
Hyde on the top OF the first flight
Of stairs sobbing and wringlng her hands, and on
passing her to ascend the second flight she noticed
the body OF the man Watson lying IN a pool Of
blood. Watson had evidently been following Fanny
Hyde down the stairs for q purpose known only 10
themselves, when she turned and shot at her pur-
suer twice, inJuring him fatally. The inmates Of
the factory were busly engaged at their Occupa-
tons and amid the DIN OF the machinery had failed
to hear the report OF the pistol, and were uncon-
scious OF the true state Of the case until an
oflcer from the Fourth street police station
came to the factory to investigate the affair,
after the woman Hyde had gwen herself
up TO Captain WoglOm, OF that precinct
stating that she had shot Watson because he had
made improper proposals to her, and had grossly
lnsulted her on numerous occasions. From this
concise statement OF the facts 1t will be gathered
that actually Witnessed the deed but the
dered man ana the unhappy woman, Fanny Ely de,
and To-Day all that remains to mark the scene OF
the dire tragedy pool OF gore covered with ashes
and bullet imDedded In the woodwork OF the stair
case Had 1t not been for the statement Of Fanny
Hyde to Captain WOglOm at the Fourth street police
station, that she had shot Watson, at the same
time handing over to him four.chambered
revolver no one would have known that she was i'm
plicated in the murder. Indeed 1t was not even
suspected among her fellow workers that such was
the case, 1t Is very evident that The woman mad
been prosecuted anu very much annoyed which
had caused her to thus arm herself against her per-
secutor. A reporter from the HERALD visited the
unhappy woman in her cell at the police station
Her pale face sutfused with tears, and her fragile
form, shaken with sobs, showed plainly that she
acutely felt her truly unfortunate position.
FANNY HYDE
Is an interesting and petite woman, of mild and
pleasing aspect, and her large blue eyes
have kindly CLEAN In them, very different
from what would De expected in those OF u mali
ctous and ferocOus murderer. She is eighteen
years OF age and has been In this country about
seven years. She is a native OF Nottingham, Eng.
land the metropolis OF the lace and hosiery trades
In which she has been engaged the greater portion
of her life. About two years ago (ner maiden name
u
Hyde. who is employed as bookblnder IN the es-
adjustment OF Messrs Appleton Il Co.. IN Williams
burg. When interviewed by the HERALD reporter
she refused by the advice OF her counsel, to make
any statement respecting the crime. With tears IN
her eyes she cOnversed about the home Of her
childhood and OF the time she lett 1t to come
to this country. There Is certainly nothing IN the
appearance Of Fanny Hyde at all approaching the
ordinary type Of vulgar murderers After MS In
with the prisoner the HERALD reporter then
visited the scene Of the murder, and, In q convert
sation with MI John Dexter, who occupies the
room in which the woman and her victim were en-
ployed, elected the following statement
MR.. JOHN DExTER's STATEMENT.
have known George w. Watson for egh
or nine years. He has been occupied in
the manufacture OF lace goods and hair
nets about that time. His machinery was
formerly at New Britain, Conn.,, but some months
ago he re moved them co this place and rented tue
room Immediately over the one which l rent.
About ten days ago he sold all his machinery and
removed his stock Of manufactured goods into my
room, where he was engaged with Fanny Hyde
making them up and finishing them ready for the
wholesale trade. They usually occupied table In
the centre OF the room and sat beside each other
never noticed anything improper between them;
they used to converse constantly but the SUBJ
ject OF tQelr conversation l could never hear
owing to the noise made 6y the machine
very thin and wiry; he wore black mustache
and beard slightly tinged with gray. He was
married man, having wife ana nve children in
Hartford, Conn. lie was very quiet man, and
never noticed any undue familiarity between him
and Fanny Hyde. Sne never appeared annoyed
during the earnest conversations have mentioned,
ana / cannot offer the slightest opinion as 10 the
motive which could have sctuated Fanny Hyde to
snoOt HIM.
There were several young girls, together with Mr.
Dexter and and his vile, employed In the ROOM but
none OF them appeared TO know anything abont
the relations which existed between the George
w. Watson and The woman Fanny HYDE.
MR. JACOB GAERTNER's STATEMENT.
The apartments occupied BY Mrs. Hyde and her
husband are situate at No. 80 Wythe avenue over
cigar in the occupation OIL Mr. jacob Gaertner
who is owner Of the premises. Mr.. Gaertner vonn-
teered the following particulars:-Mr. and Mrs.
Hyde came to reside In my house IN July OF last
year. They were very quiet ana respectable
tenants, and have never see n anything wrong IN
the conduct OF them Mrs. Hyde was particu-
iarly retiring and modest little woman. ] knew
watson, the man VINO was shot. He was a con-
slant customer at my store Tor cigars. ] always
considered MIN an unonensive and gentlemanly
man. The news OF his death affected me very much.
He had inquired OF me respecting apartments
TO let IN this neghborno0o, and recommended
q