The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-30
THE KNIFE IN WESTMINSTER.
4 Midnight Murder at Melrose by an lnfu-
rated German.
Terrible Warning to Nocturnal Trespassers-
How Watch Dog Fought for Its Owners
Rights-Deadly Struggle Over Fire
mans Trumpet-A Sharp-Pointed
Bread-Knife Ends the Conflict
Facts Elected at the
COroners Inquest

IN the swampy region OF Merose, NesiVhesVoi
county, and within few yards OF the hailem
Railroad track, an ARRAY occurred Oh aohuay
night which resulted in the Killing OF a young
man named John Morrison, aged about
twenty three years. From the many conflict
ING accounts of the tragedy IL has been
n somewhat diflcut task to arrive at
nm accurate version Of the precise manner
in which the deceased met his end II appears,
however, that Morrison, before receiving the
wound which caused his death, was trcspassing on
the premises OF Lawrence EThardt the man who
Piled has knife with fatal effect on the intruder.
The apartments occupied by Erhardt constitute
the lower portion OF two story dngy frame
binding situated on the corner OF Union street
and CORTLAND avenue glance at the
interior is Sufficient TO convince the
behoder that it is the abode of those VINO
find 1t difncut to struggle for the ways ana means
OF supporting lie. On CORTLAND avenue, and dis
tant about ten yards from Erhardts place OF abode,
Is the engine house OF Fleetwood Engine Company,
No. 3, where the young men who delight in
''RuNNlNG WITH THE MAcHINEn
nightly congregate in the hope that something in
the form OF a fire may turn up" Shortly alter
eleven O'Clock the night indicated, the deceased,
who, although not a member OF the company had
been sitting up with the 'boys," left the
engine room and proceeded to an outbuding
hardt. 1t may here be mentioned that the fire.
men had been in the habit OF frequenting the
premises named for convenience sake and, as is
sertea by the express permission OF the owner ofhe
property. Accordingly, it is said that their noe
turnal visits in the past have greatly annoyed
Erhardt, who placed ferocious dog in his
yard, hoping by that to keep them
away. When the deceased entered Err
hardts premises the dog attacked him
nercely, causing him to beat nasty retreat.
Returning to the engine house, deceased seized
trumpet and mutterng miprecatons against his
canine foe went again to Erhardt's place and en-
deavored to silence
THE wATCHFUL ADVERSARY,
with the heavy weapon which he welded Hear.
Ing the noise Erhardt ut once rose from his bed
and having hastily donned portion OF his Clothes
opened the back door and ordered the
deceased to desist from molesting his dog.
This was responded to- as is stated, by deceased
dealing Erhardt blow OF his trumpet, which
knocked the latter down. Erhardt on re-
gaining his feet ran into the house and
snatching up sharp-pointed bread knife,
rushed out into the yard when he was
application OF the trumpet in the hands OF the de-
ceased Jumping to mis- feet Erhardt sprang upon
his assailant, and drove tae knife first into the
right temple OF the deceased, and striking out
again plunged the weapon into his throat, innict-
Ing an ugly incised wound in the windppe and
sEvERISG THE JUGuLAR VEIN.
The mortaily wounded man hurried from the
dyeing the Sidewalk with copious stream OF
blood as he reeled wildly in the agony OF
dissolution. He succeeded in reaching the engine
house, where he fell in q dying condition. Ills
companions bore him to the house of his father, a
few rods distant, when death ensued in short
time.
Having learned the terrible fate OF their COM
panion the fremen belonging to No. 3 gathered
around Erhardt's house and commenced to stone
It, breaking both the front and rear DOORS Their
fury was apparently ungovernabe, and while some
demanded that Erhardt should be taken out and
lynched, Others proposed to
SET FIRN TO THE HOUSE.
1t was at this critical moment that Sergeant Con-
nors accompanied by Roundsman Clark, appeared
on the scene and warned the mob against commit
ting any further preach Of the peace. The officers
standing guard at broken door, axe in
hand, and in the widest state of terror and
alarm He claimed the protection OF the officers,
and admitted having stabbed the deceased. In
few minutes thereafter Erhardt was locked up in
the Town Hall: The accused is German, about
fsrty years old, and by occupation a gardener.
Since coming 10 live in the town he has always
been regaraed as quiet nofrensive man.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Miller, having empaneled jury OF in
tegent citizens, commenced an inquest last even
ing at the Morusania Town Hall, which was
crowded to excess with motley gathering OF in
quisitve spectators. Alter the jury had viewed the
body the examination OF witnesses was COM
menced.
Charles o'Neil having been sworn, testified that
he lived in First street, Morrsania and Is vender
CINE house about ten minutes to eleven O'Clock
on Sunday night; he was IN there about few
planned OF not feeling well; then he sky
larked with another young in the
room, after which he said he would go to the yard
he was not more than ten seconds gone when
heard dog bark; Morrison then came back TO the
house, and having got q trumpet went out again;
followed HIM TO see where he was going;
! ran through the first passage way
but saw. that | had made a mistake
and that the Dutchman had hold Of him on the
other side; they seemed to be struggling for pos
session OF the trumpet; that was on Union street
here the prisoner was told to stand us and was
identified by the witnessl saw the accused strike
deceased while deceased was on the sidewalk; he
STRUCK HIM WITH A KNIFE;
saw the knife; the trumpet was fastened in the
pckets OF the fence, the largest part being on the
inside where the accused was when |
at me and told me he Would id blow my bra 1ins
out II ! DID not 90 away; this mans name
is mccoy; after the deceased had been struck
twice by the prisoner he away leaving the
trumpet behind him before left the engine house
morrison was being helped home by two OF the
men whose names do not KNOW saw deceased
BLEEDING LIKE HORSE
TOM ms nead anu neck saw him after he was
taken home and nave also seen him since he died;
the knife was big sharppointed knife
shown and luly identihedl u IS the one saw
Erhardt stick into table on entering his apart.
ment alter the stabbing; at thus time the
prisoner held the trumpet In Ms LETT hand while
with the other he brandshed the knife while max
ing some remarks In German to his wife; the ac-
cused was inside OF the fence, and Morrison
outside on the sidewalk when the latter
was stabbed; heard the prisoner eXclaim, .You
Irish son OF a b-h, Kill you:'i 10 was Mccoy who
caused the whole trouble; made an effort TO sepa-
rate Morrison aud the prisoner, when Mccoy
PRESENTED HIS PISTOL
at me, and said he would blow my head on; hear
Ing TINS deceased turned round asking vine
gong 70 shoot and this moment he was
stapoed; have lived in Morrlsania about two
months; ana was only slightly acquainted
with deceased, having met him few times at the
engine house; saw the knife drop from the pris-
oner's hand when Morrison was running up the
avenue alter being stabbed
This witness, who, with unkempt hair and eyes
half closed, continued persstently TO ron a huge
quid OF tobacco III his mouth, Kept the spectators
IN roar VI laughter by his quaint answers and
tmperturbable demeanor.
Michael Mcfarland the next witness corrobo-
rated IN many respects the testimony ot O'Neil
but cOntradicted the statement oil the lattar IN
10 hs1 hafNk