New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-12
STARTLING MURDER IN JERSEY CITY,

A DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL STABBED ~
DEATH BY A RUSSIAN Observation-Disclosures
SUICIDE OF THE ASSASSIN.
At $3.50 D. m. yesterday, John Stephenson
was stabbed and almost instantly killed by John rri''
Russian sailor at Grand and Hudson-ss' jersey oiy
John Stephenson was Deputy United states Marsha
ana had a warrant issued by United states Conm's-
soner Stllwell OF New-York He followed 1ohh ~
who ia a deserter from the Russian bark Williams ho"
IN the harbor TO Jersey City and knowing that
would he necessary to obtain additional authority DC
fore making the arrest he went to United States Coh
soper Muirheid at Hudson and Montgomery-ss' "neio
he made himself known and exhibited his credentia'
He then asked for q writ giving him power 10 MAKE u
arrest in the jurisdiction OF NewJersey COMMISSIONS
Muirheid issued WRIT and sent the officer TO the Oy
Hotel at Grand and Hudson-sts two blocks distant 70
get the signature OF Deputy Marshal John c. Bailey
who keeps the hotel and has his Office in tho budh8'
After securing the signature, Stephenson once oio
started In search Of his and caught sght OF nun
nm the other side OF the street. Hurying across the
street. he seized the man, at the same time showing ~
authority, the ink being scarcely dry on the war
rant Pritt walked about 20 feet with the officer SUD
denly wheeled around, and without warning plunged
knife INTO his heart The officer staggered and beioro
he fell was struck four times by Pritt who'
when he saw that his victim was dying maue
several frantic attempts to commit suicide, sappns
himself in the stomach and trying TO cut his tproa''
O6icer Royle who was duty at the Cunard WnaI''
ran 10 the scene OF the murder which was near the Gus
farmhouse warehouse OF the Cunard dock and 1iee'
from the corner OF Grands the east side OF HUDSON
At Here the officer found Stephenson lying across SOME
lumber bleeding freely from his wounds ana Dreaming
his last He Immediately collared Pritt, who threw
away the fatal knife and endeayored TO escape out was
taken at once to the saOnhouse OF the First Precinct
where his wounds dressed by police surgeon hc
gave his name as Jacob Matalan.
The dead man was carried Rowsnd's morgue at the
Rink at Montgomery and Van Vorststs., where post
mortem examination was made by DIR. Buck the County
Physician at 1880 p. 1t found that there was
single wound in the right side the knife having passed
between the ribs and entered the heart The knife with
which the murder committed was secured by ocer
BOYLE and marked for Identification. II claspkne'
with bone handle and German silver plate ana ups
II has three blades and the larger with which the
murder was committed, is q inches In length haf an
inch In width the ht and sbarpened from the middle
on both sides 10 point The prisoner was locked mp
I'm ce at the First Precinct Police Station and VIII DO
examined before Police Justice Seymour this morning.
John Stephenson the murdered man, was IS years OF
age resided in Eleventh-st., Hew-York was married.
and leaves a wife with six children. His brother, who
keeps saloon In sprng.st, near Hudson New York.
learned of the murder at 10 o'clock last night, and
hastened over TO Jersey City to sec the body
He was very much affected, and said that
Johnny wanted him to 90 over 10 Jersey with HIN,
last Sunday TO make the The family OF the UNI
fortunate man did until after midnight that
the husband and father would never return. Tho prs
oner was removed to the Hudson County Jail late last