New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-16
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
MYSTERIOUS CRIME.

A MYSTERIOUS CRIME.
| STRANGE ATTACK UPoN A GAS COLLECTOR IN A Low
< pIsPESsARy-rrR PHYSICIAN POINTS TO AN UN-
KNOWN PATIENT.
At D. M, yesterday, Officer Harris of the
Fourth Precinct vas 20 tho private dspepsary
OF DIT Edward Brown, age SO, at No. Isl William St..
near Chamberss by the gatbering OF several excited
men about the doorway. On entering. he found DIR.
Brown who was bleeding DrofuseIy from wound.
cowefing before Sanford Murray age g. Of No. III
South Ninthst Brooklyn, f. d. cslecor for the New
York Gas Company, who, while also bleeding from
wounds Of the head, WIS menacng the doctor with a
hateh Scattered about the floor were severalhundred
dollars in bank bills while the middle q pool
| of blood. The walls and furniture u the we're
also epattered with blood and several large medicine
bottles which had stood upon shelves had been knocked
down, broken. and their contents poured upon
the floor. The lock upon the door had
been smashed TO atoms, ana chairs and
other furniture had been overturned in the desperate
conflict which had evidently taken place. The officer
promptly dsarmed Murray, and took both to the
Oakst Stationhouse where they told strange and
hicting stories Capt Ulman and Sergeant Brooks.
Murray. who is tall and rather slender said: went
70 Dr. Browns office collect bill for g 70. he
handed me a $40 greenback. and sat down a table.
with my back toward him. TO sign receipt and TO take
change from package OF bills worth between $500 and
5000 the collections OF the day which had wrapped in
n niece Of newspaper. The doctor shut the door and
went behind his dispensing -counter Suddenly felt
blow the back OF my neck and as was rising and
turning around the doctor struck the right side Of
my head with large knifeblade fastened upon piece
Of wood The knife broke and he threw down the stick,
took Ratchet under his coat and tried to strike
me the head again. rushed upon him and managed
10 wrench the Ratchet from his hand. then struck
him on top Of the head with It and knocked him down.
As did 80 he cried out, my God, Murray, did TT
strike you; it another mani After knocked MIN
down, he tried 10 get and told him IL he moved
would hit him again. then went TO the door, and
found that when he had shut he had sprung the
night and locked it. smashed the lock with the
Ratchet, and while doing so no got mp. faced
him and threatened him with the hatchet for fear that
nc snt attack again. Just then the officer came
II and took us both to the statonhouse. am positive
that it was DR.. Brown who hit me, and sure that
VIC were alone in the office.
Dr. brown, who is of medium stature and rather stout.
and whose practice is said be low and disrepuaDe,
made this statement: When Murray came in patient
who there stepped behind the dispensing counter.
because he did wish to be While Murray was
counting his money the patient, who is young man,
Murray with the knife seized the Ratchet which lay
top Of the stove and rushed TO Murray rescue but
before could interfere the patient whose name 10
not know, struck Murray again. then knocked the
weapon out OF MS manu- Win ne Iatchet anu ho I-I
Of the store and escaped before could stop him.
the before. and the patient must nave
patient who struck him. but he took the hatchet ont OF
my hand ana struck me on the head with It. 1 did
assault him hut | was trying 10 save him.
The weapon alleged 10 have been first used by the doc
tor very peculiar. II consisted OF large knle-Dade,
fastened upon the handle OF an Old hachet The blade
Of the Ratchet missing, but the head or hammer
part remained, the Ratchet having been broken. 10
give II additional weight piece Of what seemed TO be
an inferior quality copper attached 20 the
head OF the hatchet, and this with the kneDade was
securely fastened with muslin oandages The KNIFE
blade was twOedged pointed. and almost as keen as
razor. On the handle 70 which IL was attached was
treshly-mado nick, IN which jagged point on the
hatchet, which old and broken. ntted precisely.
This fact partly cOrrObOraes the doctors story but 10
believed by Capt Ulman that the nick was made before
the encounter. On he handle of the strange weapon
branded with a not iron, the letters, a. L. p"
which may hereafter lead 10 its identification.
MuTay's story IS strengthened by tho statement OF
John Merk0witz. a furrier, who rents the dspensary
building and subjects the rst floor to Dr. Brown BerkO
Wiz says that he too, owed gas BILL aud that he went
up stars get money TO pay IT, When he returned no
heard Murray smashing the lock. anu rom the outside
ne tried 20 assist in opening the door, and doing
when officer arrived He is positive that no person
passed out during the Struggle
Murray and DR.. Brown having both been severely
wounded they sent 70 the Centrc-st. Hospital,
where they attended by Ambulance surgeon Joyce.
Qua but lust behind right wound two inches
long and threeGuarters OF inch deep winch passed
nerves and producing paralysis the eye and the side
OF the face He was subsequently sent to his home,
not regarded necessarily fatal, though an ezamna-
showed the external table OF his skull to have been
fractured. DE taken back the Oak-st Station
house and locked up. He formerly had an oice at No
% Mulberry-st but removed 10 No. Isl Willtam-st.
about two wears ago. His dIspensary ana office occupy
the entire door OF the building which Is an
me ne sy ST scores oi large hotties
while the window IS filed with bottles and glass globes
containing cOlored water In the rear IS room ssd As
private consulting Office in farther corner OF which,
behind large bookcase, stands small untidy sleeping
cot The place is dark ald secluded; ILe WIDOW Is 20
the office caunOt be from the street ana the very
atmosphere OF the rooms seems 70 INSPIRE le Visl.or
afar Is satisfied that the story Of Murray " true and
I that attempt was made 10 rOO Ailn