The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-20
interviewing George Byers, Caesar Cisco
and John Bay in the Hack
ensack Prison.
Contradictory Statements Of Each
of the Prisoners.
Byers Accuses Cisco and Bay Of the Crime
and Describes Their Whispered Confer
ence After the Deed Was Done.
a Horrible Mystery Still
UnsOIved.

New rays OF light are Just now beginning to re-
veal to the public of New Jersey the dark and
mysterious deeds which led to the recent murder
on the Hudson OF the young Irish girl, Della Cor
coran 1t will be remembered that her body was
found by the authorities noattng on the surface OF
the stream opposite Yonkers. The body, and
especially the neck, bore ali the traces OF strangu-
lation and i'll usage. The Coroner OF Bergen county
held his inquest, but the investigation in itself was
trivial and amounted to so little that the facts
regarding the murder Of the girl were not properly
developed.
Previous to the inquest
THREE CoLoRED MEN
were arrested, who gave their names as George
Byers, Caesar Cisco and John Ray. all charged with
being implicated in the preparation of the foul
deed. After the inquest the trio were confined in
the Bergen County Jail at Hackensack where they
are still detained to await the action of the Grand
Jury at the next term, which will commence
about the LIST proximo. The case will therefore,
be brought up early for investigation, and If New
Jersey Justice does not lack Its wonted fairness
and wel-measured rigor the murderer or murder
ers Of Della Corcoran viii find q just fate.
During the past few days
RUMoR HAS GONE ABROAD
that the colored man George Byers, now in Jail at
HackensacE, had made a confession OF his guilt
evidence given before the Coroner was so contra
dictory that it would be impossible to conjecture
even for a moment which or whether all of the
party were guilty.
A reporter Of the HERALD visited the Bergen
County Jail, at Hackensack, last evening, to
tain the truth and facts OF the reported confession
On arriving within the gloomy walls Of the prison,
which is situated on the south side OF Hackensack,
IN marshy and unhealthy district the writer
found Sheriff Pel sitting at his desk in the prison
Office After brief Introduction and reference to
the object of his visit, the Sheriff accompanied the
reporter to the iron gate OF
GEORGE BYERs' CELL,
beside which the writer sat and interviewed the
unfortunate negro, who became nervous and ex-
tremely agltated when he learned the business of
his interrogation. Byers as far as one could Judge
by the DIM gaslight, appeared to be q strong ath-
letic man, with broad muscular face, and spoke
rather intelgcntly as he told the story he had to
tell, his eyes looking like those Of IAN peeping
through barn gate on moonlit night" After o
few moments survey OF the unhappy individual the
reporter put the question:
"Mr. Byers, is it true that you have made con.
ession OF any kind relating to the murder of Della
Corcoran since you have been imprisoned in this
jailP"
BYERs-I have told the whole story in about the
understand that am held here to answer for the
murder OF Della Corcoran, and that am charged
with having had control of Della when she was last
seen-that is, that am charged with taking her
home to Excelsior Park after the whole party had
REPoRrER-win you please tell me what confess
sion you have to make II you wish to make any, or
If you have made any hitherto9
TO this query George Byers replied that he could
only tell the whole story as he knew It, and COM
menced to speak as follows:-
GEORGE BYERs' STORY.
ION the night that Della CorcOran was reported
murdered, when came home at half-past seven in
Jack Ray and Caesar Cisco, were sitting with nv
wife on the st0op. Della COrcoran was also with
them. She used often TO visit at my house. they
were all drinking beer. My wife said Della was
treating. Bill McClane and another white man
came up subsequently, when more drink was
fetched and the whole party drank. l did not
drink, but had taken some previously. My wife
said Della wanted to go to Yonkers, across the
boat and told her to get into it. The other eps
said they would go along. said did not care
about taxing them as they appeared intoxicated,
Is near their home. All then went into the boat
Delta Included. Bin McClane and Jack Ray rowed
across the river. There were then five men and
two women In the boat When they got out in the
CAESAR CISCO PULLED OUT PISTOL
and fred couple OF shots. The pistol was seven
shooter. He discharged all except one. l asked
for the pistol to look at IL and discharged the last
shot. All the shots were fired in the air. The
pistol was loaded afterwards, and Cesar hred two
afterwards and got out and drank beer NV wife
and Della sat outside on pile while we remained
in the house. After coming out Della gave me
money for drink. JACK Ray asked Della some In
decent questions at which she appeared to feel In
suited. All then took the boat back again.
white man and l rowed back. We fetched
the boat on account OF the tide, about hall mile
below my house and then rowed up the river
within about one hundred yards OF II. Della said
she wanted to go up home to the Grove Jack and
Bill McClane got calling each other names. rowed
beside the landing IN front Of my house, when Jack
My vile and Della got out last and
STOOD ON THE SAND BEACH.
l told Della to go home, that MIR. Davis the pro-
prietor OF the hotel in which she was servant,
expected her. She said she had time enough. 1
then moved the boat back and hitched H. cot OFF
and went home, while my wife stayed behind. After
going home went to the gable end of our house
and saw Cisco and Ray threatening each other.
My wife came TO the door and refused to let her
in. She afterwards came IN through the window.
saw the two white men going away towards the
each other. The latter Two stood about ten
minutes and then walked down towards the river,
where Della COrc0ran was. i heard her speak to
them OF going home. One OF them said
THIS Is THE WAY HOME,
and after coming TO the top Of the bank Jack Ray
and Cesar Cisco took hold OF her and outraged her
person. They then took her up TO q spring at the
back OF my house. where they remained about If
teen minutes They afterwards came back TO nv
house. and / could near them whispering beneath,
when one said, we had better go ana take her on
the road' Then again one said. ave Will 60 up
would take the boat. Then the three got into the
boat and could not see whether they went down
to the soop or up the river. Bill McClane came
back 10 my house some time afterward and
knocked and called. answered him, but did not
let him In: went down subsequently and opened
the door, but saw no person around, so closed 1t
again and went up to bed After sleeping for
little time l woke up again and went
10 look out through the window, when saw some
person lying down on the stoop, and asked, who
is therer Jack Ray answered me, and asked to
get in but told hum to stay where he was. In
the morning, when got up, the party was gone,
when he got home, anu he said about FIVE O'CLOCK
such Is the mysterious manner In which George
Byers, who Is charged with the murder of Della
Corcoran, tells the story on his SIDE while the
evidence at the inquest and the rs OF the
| other Two colored men are altogether coptracic-
terry. Hence the rumor that George Rivers has
made confession OF mis- own guilt il Altogether
unIOunded. lie has, II s true, according TO the