The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-21
A BRUTAL MURDER.
Terrible Results of Rum Drinking
in Westchester County.
Hewing Man to Death with an Axe-A New
Mode Of Treating Dissatisfied Boarders-
Attempted Double Murder-Fiendish
Features Of the Crime and Es-
cape Of the Perpetrator

large number Of deeply Interested citizens as.
sembed in the Town Hall, at New Rochelle, West.
chester county, on Monday evening, to witness the
proceedings OF an adjourned inquest, held by Cor
oner Meeks, touching the brutal murder OF a
laborer named Mathew Curran near that village at
an early hour on Sunday morning The jury
selected on the occasion was in the matter OF in.
tegence, an exceptional one, Justice william II.
Humphrey acting as foreman.
From the most authentic sources it has been
ascertained that the taking Off of Curran cannot
but be regarded in the light OF an inhunan
butchery. Deceased, 1t appears, was railroad
laborer about fifty years DID, and owing to an in.
jury received some time ago was so lame THAI he
was compelled TO walk with stick He together
with some fifteen others, boarded with a man
named John Cody, who kept place In the lower
portion Of the village and on the Pei.
hamville road. All Of the parties worked
on the railroad now in course OF
construction between the Harlem River and West.
chester. Tie men having been paid on the 10th
instant, ns was their custom, drank heavily, keep.
ing up the spree without intermission until the
tragedy occurred.
THE CARousE,
1t is said was participated in by Cody and his wife,
causing the latter to neglect her household
duties that the boarders were unable to procure
their regular meals. Among those who be-
came dissatisfied with the existing state
Of anfairs were the deceased and q man named
Michael Foley, both Of whom left Cody's boarding
house last Friday and took up their abode with q
party named Barton, who keeps a place OF enter
tainment in the immediate neighborhood. Arriv.
ing ut the latter place deceased and Foley resumed
their spree, drinking deeply until Saturday night
when, between ten and eleven O'Clock, the intoxi-
Gated pair strolled out as was supposed, to make
the rounds or the
Low DRINKING SHOPS
In the neighhorhood. Next morning the deceased
was found opposite drinking place kept by one
Carney, covered with blood and in dying condi.
tion. having received several cuts on the head one
OF which, in the anterior portion OF the SKULL was
q frightful cash, through which the brain was
oozing. The unfortunate man was allowed to re-
main by the roadside until he died, about seven
O'Clock on Sunday morning. Foley, it appears, had
also been attacked during the night. and after
being brutay beaten on the head with IA stone or
some other blunt instrument, wandered about in a
semi.uncOnscious state until morning, when, on
examination, II was found that In addition to a
number OF severe scalp wounds, he had also sus-
tained
FRACTURE OF THE SKULL
The testimony given by Foley, before he was sent
for surgical treatment to the County P0orhouse,
goes to show that Cody either followed or acct
dentay met the deceased and himself on Friday
night, and while innamed with liquor and enraged
because they had left his boarding house, first
attacked Foley with rock beating him as above
(Which was not far from the spot where the murder
was committedD and returning with an axe dealt
MuRDeRous BLOWS ON THE HEAD
The work OF death was plainly observed by Foley
who had crawled into place OF cOncealment after
having his head pounded almost to Jelly by the
Infatuated Cody. The injured man also testified
that Cody returned to tue spot where his victim lay
grooming In about an hour after he had buried the
axe in his skull, and finding him still alive
said, soliliquzingly -"Mat Curran, you son Of
q b-h, amt you dead yetY' and raising
THE AXE AGAIN
brought IL down with hendish violence on the de-
frnceess head Of his expiring victim. The state
ment OF Foley was corroborat,d In many material
points by witnesses who were called to testify at
the inquest, which resulted in verdict being
rendered that deceased came to his death through
injuries received by an axe in the hands OF
Cody. The murderer disappeared on hearing OF
Currans death, and up to last evening had not been
arrested, although Detective George p. Governs OF
New Rochelle, aided by New York detectives, were
believed to be on his track.
In connection with the escape OF the murderer
considerable dissatisfaction exists among the citi-
Zens OF New Rochelle with the action Of Justice
Porter In the premises IL seems that Cody, having
heard OF the probable death OF his victim, about
SIX O'Clock on Sunday morning fastened to the house
OF Justice Porter and told that Official that he had had
and that he wished to surrender himself The Jus
tice is said to have replied that he did nos do bust
ness on Sunday, and told Cody report himself to
the village constable and he would attend to the
matter next day.
The murdered man was buried by the town a,i-
thorities after p0st-mortem examination hal
been held on the body. Foley, who is the principal
witness against the murderer Is believed TO be In q
fair way To recover.