The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-12
MURDER IN JERSEY CITY.
The Demon of Drunkenness Again
mt Work.
A Quarrel Between Railroad Employees and tho
Consequences An Innocent Man the Vic
tim-Peaceful Mediation Exercised ct
the Cost Of Life-The Alleged
Murderer in Custody.

No murder more unjustnable was ever perpo-
trated than that which entered on the criminal
records OF Jersey City yesterday. No fatal wound
more undeserved was ever inflicted than that
which hurried to an untimely end John Adams, an
employee OF the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at
the depot In Jersey City, The facts OF this murder
need no vanishing. Nothing appears in the case
to mitigate the atrOcity OF the act except the stale
defence OF rum and Its maddening effects. II
drunkenness can be urged In extenuation ofmurder
q defence based on that may be introduced mere.
though such defence has very little weight in Q
Jersey Court The efficacy Of such defence was
thoroughly tested in the case OF Bill W0olley, who
was hanged at Freehold, in Monmouth county, .
few years ago. In his case there were many ex-
tenuating circumstances that cannot be found in
the present one The recital OF the bare facts Will
sufice to make this evident.
Nathan Britton the alleged murderer was en-
ployed as yardman In the depot OF the Pennsylva-
mia Railroad, at Jersey City. On Monday night his
boss, James McCann told him to 60 into the yard OF
the Union freight line and assist the hands there,
there was a scarcity OF men In that department at
the time. Britton grumbled at what he considered
an arbitrary order, and after some hesitation re-
fused to 60. Mccain warned him Of the
consequences Of disobedience, and finally
Britton consented, but as he went he nursed wrath
IN his bosom. This circumstance Is the key to tho
whole case, and to this Is traceabe that fierce re-
sentiment which resulted In the shedding OF blood.
Britton did not remain more than an hour In the
discharge OF the duty forced upon him when he
returned and demanded his "tme," an expression
well understood by railroad men as prelude to
resignation. Mccain offered no obstacle and the
recalcitrant workman left and went to New York.
This concludes what may be set down as the first
chapter.
Britton next turns up on Tuesday night about
ten O'Clock at the depot. where he made loud
employees, inquired for Mccain. and avowcd mis-
determination not TO leave the neignborhood IN
he would blow the brains out OF the -. Oni-
Ger Romano crossed his path and was about to
arrest him, when John Adams appears upon
the scene as peacemaker TO soothe the
feelings OF the excited man. Adams, the
benefactor--tbe disntercsted bencfactor-an en-
poyt at the depot Is here introduced to the reader
in scene which was destined to close with his
earthly career IN O brief space oil time He had no
presentment of the awful doom that awaited him
as he appealed to the officer In behalf OF the nuri-
ated mail--"George, don't take him in; mi take
care OF him and put him to sleep" And here ends
Adams. the benetactor, ana Brtton, the raving,
profane, blasphemous drunkard, started up the
line toward the .round h ouse." Here an interval
tlll midnight when ne jumped on the dr engine
No. 7s4, and told Maloney. the engineer, that
he wanted TO find Mccain, as he intended 10 shoot
where Mccain was, .'but,n added he. "thcre goes
Glothier. the dril MASTER Al this anneuncenent
HIM. the - at the same time drawing his re-
vclver. Maioncy grapplcd with him and reminded
him in very iorcible terms that he must
soon alter Brltton encountered this same
olother ana In language
Clothier answered that the regular custom was TO
call at the office, and that Britton ought to know
that. The latter became furious, ana, drawing his
revolver poured ont torrent Of imprecatons, end
ing with IN take It out OF You with TINS"
brandishing the revolver AZ this critical juncture
the friendly arm OF Adams the benefactor, grasped
Brtton. The crisis was at hand. "Don't firep'
cried Adams. Brltton was tnrstlng for blood. He
was swooping down on his quarry, and Adams
crossed mis- path and frustrated his purpose. The
desperate mans blood had been boiling for an
hour, aud now II was at fever heat "Let go,
say ~ rang out on the one side. and DON'T oh
don't shoot!" on the other. The time was fifteen
minutes past twelve. One desperate man. goadcd
to fury Is match for two men OF average strength
IN sober mood. Adams could not stand up
against the wild, raviny crazed Britton. Inc
ns remarks On as ps so ~so
wheeled around, and. III the whirligg Of his
madness, cried out "Then I'll shoot YOU" Flash.
crack-Adams fell rack wards and turned plteOuBiy
to the bystanders. Clother and Vahey, TO whom
he said, "oh, my God. boys I'm shot; Pve got 1t
here send for the Doctors Fifteen minutes after
wards poor Adams was corpse.
The ball entered the lett groin, severing the In
testnes. and deatn ensued from internal hem.
orrnage. Britton was secured and taken To P0nco
Headquarters. He was taken before Justice Sey-
mour yesterday morning, and without any exam
iuatiop he was cgnlmIted to the County Jail ~
await the result OF the CorOner's inquest Coroner
Reinhardt took charge OF the body and lie Will lon
an inquest tomorrow afternoon. The body now
lies at Rowand's Morgue, III the RINK, where "
was viewed by HERALD reporter yesterday after
noon. The expression is as calm am placid az
though the unfortunate man had lapsed into
qniet s!umber. But for the hab.liments o! death
and the gloomy surroundings one would hardly
suppose that he had sunk To sleep latter LIES tit
full fever.n Among those VINO called az the
bereayed. brokcn-hcarted wife, whose atliictlon
Is the more poignant as he was q model husband.
She sank upon Che cold body, and for few moments
she was LETT undis;urbed. Hers was silent grief
That corrodes the heart. and cngs to the being it
brushes In close compromising till LIES last linger
ing hour. "Don't disturb her." said the kind
hearted undertaken kowland-"don't disturb her /
his time with her Will be short enough, God
knowsn
Adams was q hardy OF toll. with sharp
features anu n good physical development ior one
who was only twenty-five years Of age. The alleged
murderer Is only twenty years OF age. Mr.. +. VOL
colt Jackson. General superintendent OF The Penn
syivania Railroad notified the undertaken that the
railroad company Will bear the expenses Vi the In
terment.