The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

NARROW ESCAPE OF AN INNOCENT MAN---FxLLA
n,IIrY nr c,acfrAara kTIkIi EYIDENCE,

B,IIrY or csacuMsraNTIAI ErlDENcG.
On Monday morning last the dead; body
| Of man pamed james McCann was found
with two bullet holes In the head on Com
| munipsw avenue. Jersey City. Frank Wag-
ner alias "Spot y was arrested on suspicion,
and soon there was such network OF err
cumstantial evidence woven around nm
that there seemed no possibility OF escape.
Wagner lind left saloon near by where the
body was found for Newark. He bad shown
A pistol before he left, to which the balls eX-
| ,racted exactly fitted. 4 few moments after
be left two stol-shots were heard, and early
| the next morning the body was found.
| Wagner was seen driving towards Newark
a. a furious rate. He abused the toll gate
keeper, and told him to hurry up and let
him through, and continued on his journey
very rapidly. TO add to the strength OF the
evidence already adduced, Wagner, when
| confronted by the police, denied that be had
been to Newark at all that morning, which
statement his employers denied point blank,
saving that ne had been there. His guilt
now seemed sure, when a new witness ap.
peared upon the scene.
On Tuesday evening there arrived at the
residence Of Mr.. Theobald Puckridge, corner
of Bergen and Jewett avenues, a fish dealer
from Newark, named Thomas Brooks, en-
ploycd by Mr.. Wilson. No. Centre market.
He told Puckri6ge, who was an old school
mate. that he bad something important to
communicate. Then came
THE TRUE STORY OF THB MURDER.
"Shorlly after l O'Clock on Monday MORN
ing, let Newark for New York in wagon
for load Of fish. When / arrived at the
foot Of Bergen Hill, having plenty Of time,
concluded to let the horse walk up the bill,
and got into the back part of the wagon and
laid down with my head on my hand. My
elbow was on the seat OF the wagon. 1t was
very dark. Suddenly Isaw a mans face over
the side of the wagon, and he began to climb
in, saying: stop. you x; I've got you
now ! struck at him with the butt of my
whip. He grasped it and Wrested it from
me. The rcnS fell to the ground. He
rushed ut me with the whip, when pulled
my pistol and fired twice. This scared my
horse. which ran away, and "a the reins
| were trailing on the ground | could not stop
him til he had run nearly half mile. Not
thinking for moment that had killed the
! man, pursued my journey to New York,
got my load, and went back home. When !
read in the papers that q man had been
killed. and at The spot where met the man,
| resolved TO come here and give myself up,
| rs | made up my mind l must have hit
him.
Puckridgc, after hearing this exciting mar
| ratiye, advised him to keep cool and go back
E! TO Newark to inform his wife before be sur
rendered himself. Brooks did so, and yes
terday morning ne delivered himself to the
police at the Foulth precinct station. Both
| he and Wagner were taken before Justice
keesee. Alter hearing the foregoing state
| meut the magistrate discharged Wagner,
against whom the case had been "worked
up" with such apparent ingenuity. The
unlucky, or rather lucky man gave sigh of
relief, and the only remark he could utter
when congratulated, was, "By George, !
was scared.' He was scared into telling the
| flo about his journey on Monday morning,
and but for the honesty and candor OF
Brooks that tib would very probably have
involved him in ga sea Of troubles
| Brooks was detained to await the result Of
| the coronel's inquest. He is well known in
| Newark, where he bears good reputation.
| 1t is believed by many that WaSner's scare
and excitement at the turnpike arose from
the fact that he drove across the body OF
| McCann, and thinking he had killed him, he
hurried away. 1t is certain that the body
was run over By Il heavy wagon, for it was
much bruised, and the right arm was broken.