The New York herald., 1873-02-16
Axes, IIatchets, CleaverS
and Choppers.
Brass Knuckles, Iron Knuckles,
Clubs, Crowbars, Jimmies,
Nippers and Skeleton Keys.
ONE HUNDRED MURDERS FIVE HANGINGS.
How the Records Demonstrate
the Safety of Murder.

ATI muSeuUS are not supposed 10 constitute the
greatness Of this country, yet If murder be fine
art--and who to-day dare say 'nayf'-there are
few museums more suggestive OF serious thought
than that to be found in the station house of the
Sixth precinct 1t Is q museum OF criminal impe-
ments, collected by the Hon. Oakley Hall when Dis
trict Attorney. arranged in walnut cases, labelled
and baptized by him with the obsolete legal term
OF "DeOdands" The cases are small covering
small portion OF one wall, yet there never was so
much in so little-never SO many silent witnesses
OF crying wrong. Pistols common knives, pen
knives, bowie knives, carving Knives paper
knives, hatcnets, axes, sword canes, sung-
shots, "bies" burglars ladders, "mmies,"
skeleton keys masks, tell the story Of robbery
and murder, and throw no small light upon the
cause OF increasing crime. The catalogue of this
unique museum, which is published below, has
been carefully studied, and the readers OF the
HERALD are asked to carefully weigh the conclu-
Si0ns deduced.
OUT OF NEARLY ONE HUNDRED MURDERERs
we find that five only sentenced to death, and
whether all OF these really pay the penalty pre-
scribed by law is extremely doubtful "How not
to do 1t" seems to be the grand moral principle
governing the upright souls of downright immacu-
late judges and juries. John Phillips shoots Thomas
OKeefe in May, 1869. He is arrested,
BAILED FOR TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS,
and we can learn nothing more. James White
kills Thomas Cusick in 1868, and the testimony goes
no further. In 1865 an unknown man kills an un-
known woman; the man escapes. Stephen Ii.
Maloney shoots Edward Coppens in 1869. He Is ar
rested held for trial. and there the matter tcrmi-
mates. James Colburn kills Theodore Williams In
1862 Patrick Mccarthy kills Michael King, Grant
sanders kills John Kane, Roger Lamb
sPoRTIvELY KILLS HIS WIFE
In 1863, and this is all We know. Henry Johnson
t<o vcat, Io
ner Peter Johnson. q sailor, stabs his captain !;
James Kelly stabs Mathew Giiligan, James Shep.
hard stabs Robert Horton, Dennis Conners stabs
Michael McCabe, Samuel Thompson stabs Joseph
johnson, Philip WinslOw stabs Patrick Heay, all
these cases occur in the 1862 yet the records
tell no further tale. Richard Summers hurls
PRIdHTPUL BOWIE KNIFE, EIGHTEEN INCHES LONG,
ct the head of little girl; Lawrence Freeman
kills James Frazer, in 1885, with q crowbar; one
jeremiah Harrington, a notorious proprietor OF a
den OF infamy, is arrested and tried for murder but
whether any OF these noble citizens received the
ward OF virtue is veiled in mystery. We do not
assert that some OF them not now wearing the
uniform OF the Pententiary, but as District
Attorney Phelps has been recently investigating
old criminal charges, and finds that In many in
stances even the indictment papers are missing, it
Is safer to believe the worst than the best
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THESE IMPORTANT VOUCHERS
is question that the public should insist upon
having answered, IL any value is set upon the life
not already taken with barefaced impunity.
Passing from the criminals whose fate is uncer-
tain to those whose history is better known, we
discover that even under the most aggravated cir
cumstances justice is so tempered with mercy to
look very like
THE ACCESSORY OF MURDER.
Samuel Merritt Kills John Swain, in January, 1862
victed nj man slauohter in tho fourth dcprpp
and sentenced to State Prison for two years and six
months. Robert G. Hams kills James Williams in
1862 and is sentenced TO four ycars's imprisonment.
colored man, Thomas Edwards, shoots an
mother colored man, Thomas Mitchell. in 1869. lie
Is sentenced to two years. Imprisonment. william
Nicholson kills Patrick Mccormack, in 1860, and,
because ne confesses his crime, Is imprisoned for
three years. Margaret Walsh kills Police officer
McChesney in 1869, Is sentenced 10 imprisonment
for life, but, on obtaining new trial, goes 10 the
penitentiary for one year and six months. man
named Clawson kills John Donnelly, in 1862, and Is
sentenced to ten years. imprisonment Edward
Gallagher kills Andrew l.. Fowler and Is sentenced
to five years Imprisonment. william'Brand
BREAKS A MANS SKULL INTO EIGHTEEN PIECES
and Is sentenced to Ave years. Imprisonment.
what consistency there is in these verdictsl How
logcai Is the Intellect Of the New York Juryman !
'Grimly suggestive Is the OF Felix Sanchez, q
coored man, who, after killing his father-in-law in
1859, escapes to New Orleans, where he Is sold as
slave. Approaching the benevolence OF our juries
ne confesses his crime, prelerring to be acquitted
OF murder In New iork than TO remain in bondage.
Though sentenced to be hung, he knows their
tricks and their manners stay of proceedings
Is granted, pending which the worthy Sanchez con.
spires with Stephens, the wiiepoisoner to assass-
nate the Warden and escape. Stephens hetrays
the plot q double guard Is placed over Sanchez
who. feeling himself insulted attempts to Mil one
of the men, for which deed he Is sentenced TO 1--WE
years imprisonment Verify, II Is fouler wrong
10 attack prison-keeper than
TO MURDER A FATlIER-IN-Lhwi
James r. Cram Kills Joseph Van Doran In 1863;
tried i'm the Court of oyer and Termner one year
after; he is lound guilty OF manslaughter in the
fourth degree; recommended 10 mercy by the jury
he is afterwards discharged Frederick Lever
shoots Thomas Ryans In 1862; he Is tried and ac
ouitted In 1861 James Morilla Kills Mlchae
Leayy: he " tried and acquitted IL