The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-22
A LIFE FOR A LIFE.
THE HANGING OF FOSTER FOR THE
MURDER OF PUTNAM.

."L1
The Story OF the Crime and It's Penalty
Tho Laws Revenge After the Laws
Delays-Foster's Family Exiled by
His Crime.
ESPECIAL TKLEaRAM TO THE ERws.l
NEW YORK, Friday, March 81.
The drama which was played out here to-day
to its tragic end has more than local or tenn
porary significance. As the great metropolis
stahds In the estimation ofthe American people
as the representative city OF the country, 30 lite
example will have an influence over The
length and breadth of the land. Red-handed
crime everywhere will feel that society Ia
awakening to sterner appreciation of its
duty to itself. To-day's act was the culmina-
ton of the struggle between lawlessness and
law, aud though the former has fourished un-
checked until good men we're almost In de-
spalr, Justice has secured the final triumph.
The story Of William Foster, the ''car hook
murderer" Is as follows:
THE CRIME.
On the 9Th day of April, 1871, the cltizens
of New York we're shocked to learn from The
morning papers that gentleman. well known
in business circles, Mr.. Avery D. Putnam,
-four merchant, at No. So Pearl street, and re-
siding at No. Cottage Place, had been NOR
tally assaulted by man named William Fos-
ter, the night. before, on a car Of the Broadway
and Seventh avenue line. 1t appears that Mr..
Putnam was an acquaintance OF a Madame
Daval, fashionable dressInaker at No. 1852
10 annaQntpn
to escort her and one of her daughters, q
young lady in her teens, to ball In the upper
section of the city. The party entered
car and took seats In the forward
part On the front platform was o
man named William Foster, who had
been conductor on this line. but who
was now riding as passenger. he had been
drinking hard during the day, and at this
time was noisy and quarrelsome. Miss Du-
val, 1t seems, was pretty girl, and her ball
costume being In rather snowy colors che was
we'll calculated to attract the impertinent at
tentIon of any one rendered brutal and reck-
less by liquor; AS soon as Foster noticed ner
hs glued his face to the car window, and for
some minutes leered persistently. AS she
showed her annoyance BY turning her back
he deliberately pushed open the car door and
continued his lnsolent behavior. Mr.. Putnam
OF once arose and quietly but firmly closed the
door. Foster opened 1t again, and this opera
ton wes repeated several times, ar. Putnam
closing and Foster opening the door each
time. When the car reached Thrtieth street
FOSTER CAME INSIDE,
and with an oath exclaimed, that he had paid
his fare and had as good right to seat as
any one. He thrust himself Into place next
to Miss Duval, and behaved In british man
ner, making a kissing noise with his lips and
pushing his feet against her. She got mp and
changed places with Mr.. Putnam, who was
thus brought beside the ruf1iau. Foster then
said to Mr.. Putnam
.'say, whatsthe matter with you ~
ssNothing Is the matter with anybody but
yourself" replied Mr.. Putnam; sit is evident
You have too much bad rum down you."
Foster took no notice at first of the reply.
Then he asked, suddenly:
sHow far are you going up?''
This question was repeated several timea'
but the patient and long suffering gentleman.
apparently feeling how useless 1t would be 10
have a row with drunken man in street
car, declined to say anything further and
tur6ed away. Finally, Foster arose and going
out to bis former place on the front platform,
exclaimed:
eWell, am going as far as you go, and be.
fore you leave this car will give you hell"
He asked the driver for the car hook, which
is q piece of iron about two feet long and an
inch and half In circumference, and Is used
for unlocking the horses from the car. He
said to the driver:
"pn learn him (meaning Pdtnam) bis busl'
ness when he gets of. I'il learn him to keep
his place" -
Mr.. Putnam pulled the strap at the corner
of Forty.sixth street, and cot out at the rear
platform, the ladies' following. At the same
instant Foster seized the car hook, telling the
driver, who tried to stop him, to. "go 10 hell" I"
iumped-off In front and ran around the outside
to the rear OF the Car. Mr.. Putnam was In
the act of helping Mrs. Duval to alight.
THE FATAL BLOWS.
Foster struck him twice on the head with
the weapon In hls hand, and then disappeared.
Mr.. Putnam fell to the pavement insensiole.
Amidst the terrified cries of the ladiee, he was
borne to the nearest stationhouse, where he
laid for several hours In stupor. The police
Surgeons examined the wound, and pro-
nouned It to be q fatal fracture of the skull.
The dying man was subsequently taken 10 st.
Luke's Hospital, and fingered until three
o'clock, on the morning OF the 10Th instant.
He revived sufficiently to make an antemor-
tenn statement, in which he fully inculpated
Foster as his assallant. In his last moments, he
was attended by his wife and his only son,
aged thirteen years. Before the latter had
arrived, the dying man, who had not spoken
fofnours, asked feebly, "Where Is Sydney 3"
The boy came into the room, and going to
the side of the oed took his fathers hand and
kissed 1t. The attendants fearing that the scene
would overcome him, advised him to retire.
Hearing the request, the dying father, too lar
gone 10 speak, now raised his foger and
beckoned the boy to return. Hands were
clasped, and with peaceful smile on bis
face, avery D. Putnam passed away.
The murdered man was native OF Worces.
ter, Mass, and was forty-six years old when
he came to his untimely end. He had amassed
considerable wealth in his business, and was
regarded by his associates with esteem and
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