The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-19
The Latcsf Hcsnacasse an view york
wealthy zaolscy-lseaIer sIae victim.

The killing of M W. Duryea by John ID.
Simmons, on Liberty street, New York, last
Monday, was reported by telegraph. We
have the following details In New York let
ter of the 18th instant:
At about o'clock this evening Nicholas
w. Duryca, the leader OF the policy dealers
i'll Brooklyn, was murdered on Liberty
street by John Il. Simmons. Que of the most
prominent and the wealthiest of the policy
dealers of this city--in fact. the head of the
policy business based on the Kentucky lot
tcrics, owning a controlling interest therein,
aud ruling the various policy dealers Of
the country. The two men had been to-
gether In Simmons's private Office, No.
81 Liberty street, quarrelling violently
about business matters. Both were
Intoxicated. At about quarter to 7 they
left the office and passed down into the street.
There the quarrel was renewed From hot
words they came to blows. Duryca bit Sim
mons sharp rap on the face, and then the
two clinchcd. fell to the walk, and rolled over
and over. Simmons, who is powerfully
built man, soon got the advantage, and was
seen to raise himself up, lift his right hand,
in which something glistened brightly like the
blade OF stilctto. while he held Duryea down
With his knees and left arm, and then to strike
at him four rapid but deliberate blows.
The few hystandcrs, so startled and
dazcd by the sight that they were power
less to Interfere, heard mutiled sound
like 4 dying man trying to cry murder,
and nothing more but the thud Of the
murdcrous blows. SiinmenS then got up.
saying That's how we got the best of you,'
and with the assistance of one William +.
Stryker, his clerk, who had followed the two
men down stairs after he had locked Us. and
witnessed the atfsay, limped into the aristo-
cratic restaurant known rs SunderlanGS,
near by. The gentlemen dining there, who
who had heard the noise without, but knew
nothing regarding it, crowded around Sim
| mons and asked what the trouble was about ;
to which he replied without the slightest
concern, 81 don't know anything about
it, but they've broken my ankle" Then
turning TO the barkeeper, he said, "Send
for Il surgeon, won't you?" Meanwhile
somebody outside had attracted the po-
lice Ivy shouting murder. The officers
were directed into Sundcrlands, where
Simmons greeted them cheerily, and to
their questions said they knew he was 4 law
abiding citizen, and what had been done was
all right. Simmons was arrested, q Strccher
was procured, and the murdered and MUIR
dcrcr were marched IN procession TO the
nearest Station-hollsc. Here Simmons would
answer no questions, simply saying, Il
know my business Pvc nothing to say to
ANYBODY" lie appeared wonderfully cool,
-elt-noSSosscd, and unconcerncd, and seemed
more anxious for attention TO his wounded
| lee than about anything else, repeating in
| the most genial manner to the officers,
Colonel, won't You be good enough to
send for a surgeon: l think my leg is frac-
tured."
Simmons is one of the best-known men
about town. He lives at the Hoffman House,
dresses in TIE most expensive style, and
drives the most conspicuous teams on the
road. He has been connected with Ben
| Wood at times. The firm of Simmons Bro
| Tiers. Of which he is the representative here.
| is known far and wide.
The motive OF the murder is unknown.
|