The New York herald., 1873-09-10
TIE FOX-JoHNSoN HOMICIDE.
Who Killed the Mate Of the Schooner Wake
field i-Inquest Before the Brooklyn Cor
oner-"Jack Of the Modocs" in Trou-
bls--A Double verdict-John
Downey Held for the Action
of the Grand Jury.

lyn, touching the infection OF the injuries Which
led to the death OF william Johnson, mate and
half owner Of the oral schooner Wakefield, who
was taken to the College Hospital on Thursday.
where he died, resumed yesterday afternoon,
shortly before five O'Clock. There was large at
tendance OF witnesses and friends OF the latter
present. The readers OF the HERALD Will remen.
Der that on Sunday evening, August II fight oc-
CURED between party OF men, who were drink
Ing IN low saloon on the corner OF Thirty-ninth
street and Eleventh avenue, New York. During
the netee Johnson, the deceased, struck on the
head, and he In return ventilated his tnsttnctive
brutality by biting the end on the nose OF John,
Downey The latter Individual carries the
hideous relic OF his former formidable nasal
organ with him In tin box, and displays 1t as an
evidence that he acted solely IN self-defence when
he struck Johnson fwho had SO fearfully dis1gured
khim) on the back OF the head with O stone. The
Captain OF the Wakefield, Galen Fox, was present
during the disturbance, and testified before the
Coroner on Saturday last that he was intoxicated
at the the time OF the light but remembers that
the deceased told him they had had an encounter
with party OF men on the corner of Thirty r-nntfn
street and Eleventh avenue, and that one of tho;
men had struck him yohns0n) on the head with q
bottle, for which ne, In retaliation, had
BITTEN OFF THE MANS NOSE
Fox said that Johnson, who owned half the
schooner, which was used for the transportation
Of oYal and he had never quarrelled, but that de-
ceased LETT the vessel Immediately after the fight
alluded TO- and did not return to 1t until last Sum
day week-three weeks after the afrray. When the
mate returned he complained Of being sick, ana
partook OF some pills. Fearing he would die ON
board, Fox HAD him removed to the Hospital when
unconscious. lie died without being able to give
any account OF his injuries, and the detectives
arrested Downey and Fox. Both these men have
ever since been in Jail. Detective Powers informed
the writer that the prisoner Downey bore an ex.
cellent character for sobriety and industry, and
drinking Jerseyman) while performing the task OF
peacemaker In trying to separate @ ate Fox Ssn aha no
who were gts a Ke s @hen na as
they would bring forth two witnesses who
would testify tnat CAPTAIN S. roM ah@ 1oo ths hs
cost OF the schooner when the prisoner FoX) struck
deceased on the head Johnsons death was caused.
by an abscess on the brain, the result OF violent
blow. Fox Is known among hts river associates,
some of whom are said to be ''as mild hammered
"Jack of the Modocs."
The Coroner called the names Of the jury at hve
body he despatched an olIicer in search OF them,
saving that III It were the Coroner ne would ne
S4srsea %ns Of soo% s
worthy jurors had presented themselves the
examination was commence: Mr. & w: GrSs Da'ny, N.Y.
ness called was George Betzger, boy, VINO testl-
fed that he lived at ABB West Thirty ninth street,
where his father Kept liquor store; on the even
ing of August l2, Downey was In the store; John
son and Fox entered the store and seated them
while there Fox aud Johnson had quarrel, when
Fox struck Johnson in the lace ne threw back mis-
hand to strike him again, when D0wney lnterlereo,
Johnson then backed ouside the door and
FOX FOLLOWED TRYING TO STRIKE HIM;
closed up the store ior the time being; the next
day witness saw Downey; Downey was SIMPLY en-
No turned on S
and Fox struck him IN the face:
George Betzger, ST., iather OF the preceding wit
uess, testified that all he saw OF the trouble was
| when Captain Jack OF the Modocs" (Fox) struck
Johnson; then Downey said. ''You must not strike
ney and the parties all left the store; witness
did not hear any remarks about money during
the dspute did not again see either OF the parties
BY Juror-Was Fox or Johnson under the in-
nuence Of liquor when in your place?
what would call intoxicated; should say that he
knew what he was doing; nave known him or two
years; when he gets drunk he goes on the boat
John Snediker, or 523 West Thlrty-ninth street,
Wtness to the @ht ~" on tSe Corner OF
street and Eleventh street: there were two men
iOr somebody "f0r Gods sake to take him OF he
THE POLICE ARE COMING,
and the men separated, one going down the street
md the other down the avenue; they separated
| themselves Johnson did not know, but do know
the tiIne did not Fox at all; saw no blows
struck at ALL the police did not go after either OF
Thomas Eagan testified that he took big man
of little man IN the gutter on the evening In
man was eating the lace of the little man; saw no
stone thrown or blows exchanged after taking the
| man Johnson Off Downey
knew nothing about the fight; he had been asked
by Captain Fox to come on the schooner to Brook
| lyn on Monday week. but refused to do 30.
Fox as hand on the wakeneld on Monday,
week ago; saw Johnson lying in the cabin sick
heard him complain OF his jaw being sore; SAID
nothing about fight; had heard OF the fight, ana
that Johnson had bitten mans nose or; u
washerwoman named O'Brien told witness Of the
| fight on Thirty-ninth street; saw deceased about
four months ago IN nyns,I saloon; o p, .r,vv
John Downey one OF the prisoners, tnen TOOK the
stand and testified that he lived at No. 497 Tenth
avenue; on the evening OF the occurrence he Wis.,
| tied the saloon OF Betzger and got cigar there;
two men who were there got into fight and he
| went 10 separate them, when Johnson put MS arms
around his (witnessJ aud held him tight; Fox
struck him once on the face; Johnson then pulled
out by the side door; witness was pun.
ished by Johnson who knocked him down
top OF witness and bit my nose or and com.
menced to chew my face his cries for help brought
% Of pound wer
hit Johnson on the head with iJ-lwitness ex-
hibited the revolving contents OF tin box. piece
| of his nose, to the jurors)-he was making for
witness again, when the latter threw the stone.
BY a Juror-Am a housesmith by occupation;
work every day and am not IN the habit oi stand.
ing round the corners; thought my lie was IN
Danger he was coming for me made no attempt
| to strike the man the second time.
! JOHN FOX, CAPTAIN OF THE wAKEFIELD,
was recalled and testified that the schooner was
valued at 81, 100 when he bought the vessel frop
deceased; about eight months ago he bought hall
the vessel from Johnson; have receipt from de-
ceased for $3.50, which ne (wtness) paid him.
don't remember having any quarrel at Betzger's
saloon; had no words with Johnson to my reco.
| lection; paid Johnson $325 cash on account OF
the $780,; the receipt Is on Q canal boat,
with shipmate OF mine; Edward Tague,
street, can tell where william Huse is, and Huse
has the receipt; deceased had been hurrylDg me
up for the rest OF the money and told him was
doing the best could to pay up; after getting
through with our cargo we were going to Thirty
eighth street together again. we never had any
| quarrel about money at all. Fox frequently con-
tradicted himself, and exhibited remarkable stu
| pidity.
Shortly before seven O'Clock the jury retired to