, 1873-07-16
STARTLING MURDER IN JERSEY CITY.

A deputy United States Marshal
Stabbed to Death by n Russian De-
sortor.-AttcmPted Suicide OF tho A..
snastt.
=. From The Ntto FORK Tribune, July12.
AZ 3:30 p. N. yostorday, John Stephenson was
atabbod md almost Instantly Killed by john
Pritt, a Russian sailor, At Grand and Hudson
stroets, Jersey City. John stephenson was d
Deputy United 8tatoH Marshal and had war
rant issued by United States Commissioner Still
vol, OF Now York. 11o followed John pritt
who ia desertor from tho Russian bark viii.
iamB, now lying In tho harbor, to jersey City,
and knowing that it would be necessary to obtain
additional authority before making. tho arrest.
10 wont to United States commisafoner Muir
hold, an Hudson and Montgomery stroots whore
ho nude himself known and exhibited his cre-
dentia!B. 1lo then asked for q writ giving him
power to mako tho arrest in tho Jurisdiction of
Nov jersey. Commissioner Muirhold aBuod
writ. and gont the officer to the City Hotol Of
Grand and Hudaon atrcets, two blocks distant,
to got the signature Of Deputy Marshal John q.
Dailoy, who keeps tho hotol and Ina his Office In
II tie building. After securing the signature,
stophenson once more started In search Of hh
Of tho street. Hurrying across tho street, ho
eoizod tho man, at tho Bano timo showing bis
authority, tho Ink boing scarcely dry On tho war;
rant. Pritt walked about twenty feet with tho
warning, plunged a knifo into Ills heart. Tho
officer. staggered, and md before he foll
waH struck four times by Pritt, who,
when ho Baw that his victim waa dying, made
stahblng himaolf in tho stomach aud trying to
cut Lis throat. Onlcer Boyle, who was on duty
at tho Cunard wharf, rau to tho soauo Of tho
murder, which was near tho Custom-Housc
warehouse Of tho Cunard dock, and 25 foot from
tho cornor Of Grand street, OH tho east sido OF
Hudson street. Horo tho officer found Stophen-
aon lying acroHs some lumber, bleeding freely
from his wounds, and broathfng his last. Ho
immediately collarcd Pritt, who threw away tho
fatal knifo and endeavored to osoapc. but was
Precinct, whore his Wounds wore dressed by q
police surgeon. He gave his name as jacob
Matalan.
The doad man WAS Carried to Rowland'a
Alorguo at the Rink ut Montgomery mud Vau
Yorst stroots, whore post norton examination
was made by DR.. Buck, tho County Physician, at
1850 p. m. 1t was found that tlore was single
wound In the right side, the knife having passed
botwoon tho ribs and onterod tho heaft. Tho
knife with which the murder was committed was
secured by Oflcer Boyle and marked for ideuti-
fcation. It is clasp knife with q bono handle
and German silver plato and tips. It has three
6lndes, and the largest one with which tho mrr-
m inch in width at the hilt, aud Hllarpenod from
the middle on both sides to tho poiQt. The
prisoner was locked mp in cell at tho Firzt Pro-
cincs Police Station, md will be examined before
Police Justice Seymour this morning.
John Stephenson, tho murdered 1nan, was IS
years of ago, resided in Eleventh street. New
York, was married, and leaves wife with six
childron. His brother, who keeps saloon In
Spring street, near Hudson, New York, learned
OF tho murder ut 10 o'clock last night and
hastouod over to Jersey City to eoe tho BODY
He was worry much affected, and said that
" Johnny" wanted him to SO over to Jersey
with him, last Sunday, to make tho arrest. The
family of the unfortunate man did not know
until aftor midnight TINT tho husband and father
would mover rptlrn. Tho prisoner WAS removed
to tho Hudson County Jail late last evening.
FROM the Ncto FORK Times, July Is.
It now turns out that tho story told by Mot
land, who killed Deputy Marshal John Stophen-
Bon, in Jersey City, on Friday afternoon, iB not
trs,o. Aiotland stated to tile officers That he
NOS Baitor on a Russian vessel that had re-
coll.ly arrived from Callao, South America. It
has boen 8Hcortainod chat he was 8 runner for
sailor boardng-houso In Now York, and that
several sailors who had deserted wore lodging
at tho place. and Stephenson went there to
arrest Prilt. Ho wns resisted by Metland
md the proprietor and tho two wero arrested,
Tho Keeper Of the place was put untler 90, 900,
and proceedings against hfetlanl Wote suspended
OH condition that ho should assist stephenson in
finding Prilt. This lie agreed to do, and they
went'to Tarrytown, whore. it was said, Prilt had
tnkcn rofuge. On arriving there thoy wore in
formed that tho fugitive had gono to Jersey
City. Thither they followed him, and thoro the
tragcay occurred III the maunor stated, without
tue parties seeing Prllt. From these oircum-
stances it is now believed that tho killing of Sto-
phenson waBadeliborato murder to got tie officer
out Of tho way.