The New York herald., 1873-07-13
THE MURDERED MARSHAL.

The Dark Fate OF John r.. Stephenson
Examination OF His Death Wounds
and COmme ncement OF the Inquest
The Brothers, Wife and Family Of the
Deceased Viewing the Sad Remains.
The body OF Deputy Marshal Stephenson, who
was murdered In Jersey City on Friday afternoon,
lay desolate in the dark room OF the Rink through
out the same night No friendly faces appeared in
the dismal hall, except that OF one brother, be-
cause his other relatives had no tidings of his
premature DEATH and they slept on Friday night
in ignorance OF his unhappy fate-his four other
brothers, his wife and his six helpless children.
Not in complete ignorance, however, did his loving
wife repose for in the wild wanderings of her i'm
aginatiOn, while In profound slumber, by one
OF those singular condolences which sceptics ex-
plain by the doctrine Of chances-which the more
poetical attribute to the work OF the human soul
alter 1t has been released from its easement of clay
It's mansion in this heshy nook,
she dreamed that she saw her husband felled by
the hand Of assassin, and she awoke in the tre-
NOR that follows in the wake OF frightening dreams.
When morning dawned her brothers went to break
the doleul tidngs to her, but she cried out:-
".Stop tell me nothing; Johnny is murdered;
the scene OF his death yesterday. His three brothers
repaired to the Rink and took first look at the
lifeless remains OF the victim. Prepared as they
were for the gloomy sight, they became paralyZed
with grief and emotion, and 1t was some time be-
fore they sufficiently recovered themselves to re-
turn with the sad burden to New York. They took
the body to the house OF Mrs. Stephenson, IN this
city, and the scene that ensned upon the arrival
little children have % scarcely sense enough to rea
izc the loss they have now sustained. Poign-
ant as Is the sorrow that ,overwhelms the
afiiicted wife, she may find no little consolation
IN the TACT that her husband pershed he
roically while ,n in t. the performance OF duties
Hence III that subscription list has
already been started at Al Chambers street IN aid
OF the bereft family. For the Information Of those
anxious to learn the nature OF Stephensons
death wounds the following Is the statement OF
Drs. Bueh and Petrie, VINO made post-mortem
examination An external wound was found on
the back. four inches below the left shoul-
der blade. crescentshaped. gaping wound
three inches to the right Of the left
downward in the direction OF the left side. The
chest was opened, and the nlth RIB was severed at
its cartilagnous portion about one and half
inches to the lett OF the sternum. A large clot Of
blood was living directly over the heart and under
the external wound This was carefully removed
percardum and the left ventricle OF the heart near
the apex, passing completely through the wall and
Tne prisoner passed the night and day following
in the county Jail. He frequently kneit on the
aosr the Se the was
handkerchief around his wounded neck he
asked, .'Does that hurt You ns' whereto the
auding to the death he expected to- die IN at one
ment for his crime He paced the cell nervouslv
during the greater part OF the day. his parents
and one. sister still live in Finland. He
has few friends in sailors boarding
house on the east side Of this city,
and IL Is not improbable, from ramors now an0at,
tnat some OF those friends were apprised OF his in
tentiou to murder the marshal. 1t woald be un-
wise to say anything more IN this connection until
the inquest reveals the facts. A Jury was empan-
eled yesterday by Coroner Reinhardt. and the
inquisition was adjourned until Wednesday, In
order that ample time may be Ind to ascertain
how many persons were Csnspirators OF Me.land In
the shocking deed The reasons for suspect
ing this are well founded IL appears
that the missing sailor Pritt was well acquainted
in the sailors boarding house above alluded
to- and that Metland endeavored TO shield him aud
his conrr6res. When the deceased undertook TO
search the boarding. house TOR the deserters the
landlord and MetAand made powerful resistance,
and Stephenson only escaped by drawing his pis
tol Warrants were tpen issued for the arrest o.
the landlord and Metand on charge
| of resisting an oflcer. The accused were
arrested and taken before United States
| Commissioner Davenport, and the landlord
was held to bail in the sam OF $4,000. Metand wa
| released on his own rec0gnzance on condition tina
| be would accompany stephenson and tdent.
Pritt the leader OF the gang OF deserters. Metan'
| at first appeared to act In good faith and wen
with deceased to. identity Pritt. Whsn b