The New York herald., 1872-08-19
FEARFUL FRATRICIDE AT PoUcHKEEPsIE.

Charles Ferris Dies OF q Fractured
skull-The Deed Committed by His
Brother James-Statement Of the Gull
prit-A Strange story.
P0UGHKEEPsIE, August 49, 1872.
Charles Ferris, Of Verbank, Dutchess county,
died at five O'Clock yesterday afternoon, from q
fractured skull, caused by blow from gun bar
rel in the hands Of his brother James Ferris. The
AFFAIR has created much excitement in the vicinity.
| The blow was administered last Thursday night,
after dark. since which time deceased remained in
| q Bemi-uncOnsciOus state. As soon as death Oc-
| Cured James gave himself up to the authorities,
and at twelve O'Clock last night lodged in the
jail in this city, where l visited him at nine
O'Clock this morning He is confined in the
third cell of the lower corridor, on the west side,
and at intervals has the freedom OF the corridor.
He is short in stature but very muscular, and
1t not for severe hurts on his nose and forehead,
which discoor the skin, his countenance would not
present o repulsive appearance, but to the con.
trary. AS accosted him he seemed to feel his sit
uation keenly and talked in low and subdued
tones He made to me the following statement
My name is James Ferris and reside at verbank,
1e 9sa
were encamped there. One OF them was around
with me during the afternoon. Towards night two
OF them got into fight at AlonZo Davis hotel.
Charles, my brother, said something about gyp-
sy's dog holding the gypsy's hat The gypsy said no
said could take it out Of the dogs mouth, kill
the dog. The gypsy told him II he killed the dog
woua 61n k e one Two word DrSaght % on
brother tin he begged. They beat and kicked him
till pulled one OF them on. Then another under
took to pitch on him, but stopped HIM. Then
Charles sat ON q chair on the stoop, when gypsy
ran up and struck him terrible blow in the lace:
1t blaCkened his face Immediately Again pulled
and washed himself and went home. We had all
been drinking. When he got home he told his wife
| he had nuss with the gypsies, and that l mad
pitched on and helped whip him and kick him, and
his gun down before his wife and said he was load
ing It to shoot me-he would blow my brains out
the Hs5 or as az he d
years: Twas boarding with him then. His wife
and Mrs. Hunt came to Berbank after dark and
with one OF US" we live just little ways out Of
the place. Charley's wife saw had been drinking
horse horse and drive up, and would be up ina in a few v
moments. The horse was taken, and in little
while after ! started. Jimmy Toben, Mr.. Hoagh.
we reached Mr.: Caldwell's house Mr.. Houghtaling
stopped and Mr.. Adams went on q little
When we reached my brother Charey's yard aSi Mrs.
Hunt came out Of the door and said, excltedly,
Jim has got the gun loaded and cooked, and says
win you do s'' While she was talking saw Char.
ley & coming mir % toward us @ with his gun in his hand
couldn't see me, and then stopped down under
bush. Jimmy TobIn was at my side close by. Char.
She replied, "No Charley, 1t Is me-" Jimmy Tobin
then stepped over fence close by, and crept up
sRsamea @ TE had csqsy T. Ta Ss n
m % Soa his head right sHNs Tnen sn10f
sse sate ohsey right u up with sU Ss gun 'H
screened my body behind the gate post as well as
could. He then either tried to stick the gun
don't know which, for was greatly excited. f.
naly he Knocked the gate open, and as the gun bar
rel came through grabbed 1t with my right hand
Before he had chance to answer drew back my
left hand and hit him lightly on the chin while
with my right was doing all I could to hold the
the possession OF the gun and finally got 1t, when
l drew back to strike Charles with the
s and @ jimmy robn 80 oe exieS s Agas
struck at him and again accidentally hit Jimmy.
BY this time Charles had recovered from the strug
gle, and observed an axe standing by the gate
using the barrel end Of the gun. This time hit
MIN on the back side of the head with the barrel.
ds, he ieli an, ana commenced to groan terribly.
head, told him thought had killed him, and was
very sorry for IT, and wanted him to say II he
helped carry him In the house and kept requesting
him to say If he wanted me hung II be died.
He conldn't speak, but shook his head no and
inch and half long, and held his head while the
doctors dressed the wound. or till they ced
to cut into the wound, when could stand Il DO
longer.
Here the prisoner became visbly affected. and /
withdrew. The deceased leaves wife and slx chill
.dren. There was report that their quarrel orig-
mated about house and lot, but the prisoner says
The commitment states that the prisoner com.
.uitted the act IN selfdelence He has engaged the
his friends have visited him today in Jail. lie Is
bachelor, and about forty years Of age.