The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-04
HOBOKEN'S HORROR.
Light Breaking Upon the Hidden Homl-
eide Of the Elysian Fields.
A City Car Driver Arrested on suspicion-Hn
Clothes and Switch Hook Found To
Be Stained with Blood-The Vic
tim Still Unrecognized.

tim Still Unrecognized.
After most patient and nxious research by the
Hoboken authorities into the causes which brought
about the untlmely death of the unknown traveller
at the Elysian Fields, circumstances have been
brought to light Of strange and startling charac
ter. II these circumstances do not ultimately
fasten guilt on the man suspected OF having per-
petrated the murder, they certainly VIII place MN
In an extremely unpleasant position before the pup
llc Inasmuch as all the suspicious thus far
directed towards him are founded on evidence
which, however strong, is nevertheless merely
circumstantial, 1t cannot yet be said that
ne Is the assassin, but it Is not toe
much to state that the authorities feel confident he
is in some way connected with the murder From
the fact that conductors and drivers In Hoboken
are generally looked upon as individuals OF good
character, no suspicion was, even for moment
entertained against Them until it grew into OOH
viction that
NO OUTSIDE PARTIES
could have committed the bloody deed. couple
of days ago Chief Donavan, OF the police force, on
one of his accustomed visits to the scene Of the
homicide, noticed on the snow, upon which the
victim had fallen, traces Of the footsteps of ono
person leading from the spot, in a circuit
Gus direction, TO the corner of Washington
and Eleventh streets, where the passing
cars are frequently brought to standstili.
Those cars run from the HobOken ferry to
Eleventh street, sweeping round the corner be-
fore mentioned In their course. They are drawn
driver stands ON the outside platform and the pas
sengers within deposit their fare in box within
sight of the driver. BY the time the vehicle reaches
this corner nearly all the passengers have GIFTED
and gone to their respective dwellings In the city.
The thought Immediately struck the Chief that
some one OF those drivers, having the deceased on
board the car, might have directed him to Weehaw-
ken by the pathway then followed and put an
end to his existence ior
HIS MONEY AND HIS WATCH,
or perhaps for revenge IN case Of quarrel on the
car. The Chief Immediately repaired to the office
asked to see the car hooks and switch hooks used on
the road. He was shown the same car which had
the time OF the homicide. The Chief seized the
switch hook thereon and examined 1t closely,
when, to his utter astonshment he found traces OF
BLOOD ON THE EDGE
The hook Is about three feet in length half inch
in thickness and Is hooked at one end so as to be
held firmly by the hand. The other end is almost
triangular in shape, of the sides being slightly
curved The outer angle OF the triangular piece
of metal is very sharp and pointed On the curved
edge were traces OF blood, and on the pointed an
gle were
This fact received full confirmation when we'll
known doctor examined the implement with mi
croscOpe, and was certain that the traces were
those of blood and hair. The blood cOrpuscles,
however, looked pale, clearly denoting that the in
Strument had been rnsed and washed In water.
Stronger still was the light cast upon the sad mys-
terry when the hook was brought to the COroner's
ONCE, where the body Of the murdered man still
lay! The pointed angle fitted exactly into the
wound in the back of the head and the hair on the
weapon correspondent with that on the vctm's
head. The other angle OF the iron was then placed
to the wounds over the right eye, and here too a
perfect correspondence was observed. Then the
curved edge was brought into contact with the
wound on the chin, when it was found that
THAT FRIGHTFUL CASH
was precisely symmetrical with the iron edge-all
the wounds, in fact, had been inflicted with Just
was present with the Chief during those operations
said that he could make an AFFIDAVIT that just suck
weapon-if not that very weaponmnad produc sei
delay. The Chief rushed hastily towards the ferry
and awaited the arrival OF the horse cars, on
board OF which were the drivers who passed the
scene of the murder on Thursday evening.
In q short time he had the four drivers
discharged, he having come into the employ Of the
company only on saturday. The names OF the
other three are Henry Benacn, Fred Seldenach and
car the blood stained switChhoOk had been found.
He betrayed emotion on being made captive. The
of guilt could be found upon them. They likewise
answered in straightforward manner whatever
questions were put to them; but when Berger'a
clothes were scrutiniZed blood stains were
FOUND ON HIS COAT.
He was asked how they had come there, and he
answered that he could not tell. He was asked
what time he left the ferry on Thursday evening,
bat he replied that he did not know-it might have
six, for aught he knew. The cars, he remarked.
did not start at regular periods. The murder took
place between six and hali-past severn. The Su.
perlntendent averred that the cars started regu.
larry every half hour from the ferry. While Berger
was answering the interrOgations OF the Chief and
of mis- aid Burke, his voice was evidently nervous,
and his demeanor somewhat confused. He is stout
man, above the middle size. about thirty years Of
age, with dark complexion, black eyes, hair and
heavy mustache, prominent nose and cheek bones,
which form face indicating great determination
and impusiyeness. He has wife and children
residing in Grand street, near Newark. To this
habitatiOn Ofiicers Kaiser and Egan were
despatched to ascertain whether anything could
be found there to point further suspicion at
Berger After careful examination OF the
premises they
FOUND THE woOLLEN JACKET,
and on that too, blood was visible in two places.
How this blood came upon the garment Berger
could not say. He was, therefore, placed In one oil
the cells and his fellow drivers were also locked
up, it being believed by the authorities that they
know something of the horrible occurrence At
Berger forth from the cell, and, conveying him to
the Coroner's office, suddenly confronted him with
the mangled remains OF the dead man, whereup0n
Cared that he had never seen the deceased before.
THE PRISONERS EMOTION
into gut-the fact is merely stated as seeming 10
be one of the links in the chain OF circumstances
so adroitly coupled together by the police. One
thing in favor OF the suspected man is the charac
ter OF his previous life. In his possession were
found some recommendations given MN by en-
ployers, testiying to his qualhcatl0ns ana good
character He was formerly conductor on the
horse railroad between Hoboken and Jersey City.
1t Is urged by many against himself and the other
drivers that they wE and - ns ,s
dered man was not Identified, never once came to
the CorOners' Office to view the remains. While in
the cell, Berger frequently
HEAvED DEEP SIGNS;
Benack and Sedenack laughed and chatted as
though they we're at home. An officer was placed
in charge all night, and no person was allowed to
communicate with them. This morning District
Attorney Garretson Will take the case in hands