The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-12
MURDER OF A MARSHAL.
Terrible Homicide. in Jer-
,,. ,.., .sey. City. Do


Suicide BY Cutting His own Throat
Tho Dread Penalty Of Duty Again
xempliied-Arrest and I'm.
priuhnnent OF the Assassin. @ \
John 3. Stephenson, q United States Deputy
Marshal, Yves murdered while In the performance
Of his dutyta Jersey City yesterday afternoon by
Russian sAiscr, named Jacob Metland. If ever there
was Time when the expectation Of impending
death was TO be experienced only upon the field Of
war, or ON the angry btllUws Of the cyclone, that
time mag now Re looked upon as drawing fast to o
close Indeed, theSrecord of homicides OF every
grade ana chsractG rs so constantly enlarged with
The advance OF time tnat 1t impresses more forcbly
than ever upon Nhe soul the utter uncertainty Of
human life Wren the travelling stranger walks
the forlorn streets OF o great city m the dead Of
night he ts naSt altogether unsuspecting of those
who lie In wan for plumber and who are ever ready
70 obtain At through struggle and blood II
uecessary; but when reputable citizen, In
open DAY, IN the presence OF many persons, Is
Ntricken own by the assassin, 1t ts time that men,
bers OF society begin to prepare for the worst The
facts Of the terrible tragedy that constitute the
theme 81 this report in the order OF their occur
renee are as foliows:-The Russian brig Wellamo
@srrivedJin this port some days ago. On board were
several refractory saiors-among them Jacob
MetlAnd who has since become murderer. He
was nota man who would rob the merchant or
make a wanton assault upon stranger. But he
was known among his companions as an energetic,
Combustible and highly excltable individual, whose
ANGER WHEN AROUSED
knew no bounds. The captain Of the vessel knew
this, and ne skiiuy avoided a collision with him.
The hardshps, real or imaginary, which the crew
had been compelled TO undergo, gave rise to mutt
sgrowls; but on reaching the harbor the sail
Drs thought it best to desert. Some OF them left
the brig, Metland being OF the number. The mas
ter Of the vessel informed the Russian Consul, and
the latter had the case brought before United
States Commissioner Shields Of this city. The lat
ter perceivng the grave nature OF the case issued
warrant for the arrest OF the rl ,.a0e ~
RINGLEADER OF THE DEsERTERs,
whose name is Prtz. The warrant was placed In the
hands OF Mr.. John E. Stephenson, O. man well known
In this city. He took the document, and, placing
1t in his pocket crossed the Hudson to Jersey City
where he expected TO find the missing deserter.
Little he dreamed that his was mission Of death,
and he took no precaution against danger, save All
old onerbarrelled pistol loaded and stuned care.
me his e. e when he
, s.sS R e how 9s should pro
sIoner Muirhead and have the warrant endorsed SO
that the arrest could be made In Jersey City
tired to bis ONCE at the southwest corner Of Grand
and Hudson streets, and Mr. Stephenson wended
his way to the room Of Commissioner Muirhead, in
Exchange place. He waited here short time,
procured the necessary endorsement and de-
'u 'D' '' THE T rS iai Ru ssns ns's
comes upon the scene. BY some means not yet
understood this Met,and was appraised Of the mar
shals intention to arrest one OF the gang. Met
land stood alone in Hudson street witnin hall
ss %as in sSe
trough costume OF the marner-a heavy blue Shirt
SssS DARK III so ana saf Ss
planted on his Sheath behind: No SDu special a
sglow with rare: Msfshal Stephenson advanced
did not move. stephenson accosted a young gen
tiemsn on the Sidewalk asking him, "Where is
pointed TO the Office on the. southwest corner Of
Hudson and Greene streets and went his way
He was moving towards II and had already reached
the north or! west corner; Metland suddenly moved
RAPID, NERVOUS PAGES
carried him to StephensEI the LATTE latter expecting
hand Behind his back In one ny
drew back his arm as n to take certain aim before
striking tns Oow ,, Then Formidable looking
ing for ' al instant e' IN his hand dn With
Ing the handle Of lis knife ike lever be dlsseed
second aim. With the instinct, which IN supreme
s %S%sns stTass HsT the serrnsd MORTAL
THE DESPERATE STRAIT
IN which he was placed, and with his left hand
grasped his assailant BY the neck, while with his
bound the Wrist Of Stephenson, and then ne ensaeS
The Russian dragged Stephenson across the street,
and stephenson dragged HIM towards pile OF
blow upon the other. Metland had stabbed
him SO quickly that persons who saw the anray
that the tussie was merely between two drunKards.
AL at once stephenson let 60 his hold and stag
arms forward he fell heavily upon the beams S
turning his face towards
THE NFURIArED SAILOR.
Metland seeing him lie helpless upon the timber,
drew his knife high into the air, and drawing 1t
Gownward with al his might imbedded it in
n .aNssa sIsh, Then exclaimed feesly, I'm
street rushed to the scene. Ere they had time to
oearn the cause Of the disturbance the assassin
darted down Hudson street, closely pursued by
xsrLAND's ApPEAnANcE
was more frightful than ever Seeing what he
had done and that the oficer was close at hand
he stabbed himself IN the breast; but not deeming
knife across his throat, INJECTING q dangerous
wound He drew his knife third time, but before
himself in the clutches OF the gallant poiceman
Arer TINS ne grew calm and went to the station
n sas mis- s
astonished every one who stood by him. He is
twenty-five years OF age and has eyes that are far
from progressing Lest ne might subsequently
make more
EYPECTUAL ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE
he was taken TO the county jail, where he stands
6oly committed on charge OF murder The
bleeding and lifeless body Of Stephenson was borne
20 the Rink, where IT was suitably encased by Mr..
Rowland: The face presented the appearance OF
sleep rather than OF death. Stephenson was about
twenty-seven years OF age, had dark hair and
moustache, and was I'VE feet four inches in
height. This forenoon O postmOrtem exam
itnatOn will be made by DR.. Buck, the county
physician The melancholy nature and circum-
stances OF this bastard homicide have caused an