The New York herald., 1874-07-28
THE SING SING MURDER.
A C0NVICT's FATAL REVENGE.
Stabbed to the Heart for an AL
legged Insult.
THE MURDERER,S STATEMENT

According to the sworn statement OF parties
VINO Witnessed The tragedy enacted at Sing Sing
rrison on Sunday morning the Staying of William
behtiey oy William West, yellow convict can only
oe regarded in the light of q cold blooaed, afro
cous murder. The murderer and his victim oc-
cupied adjoining cells on Gallery No. 81 and, as,
Will hereafter be shown, were not on the most
amicable terms. Apart from other trining causes
OF provocation which, according to the statement
Of the prisoner, the deceased extended
towards him. was the circulation of An
assertion, proclaimed In the nocturna,
stiffness of the prison on Saturday, that ne fWesn
had "worked for Ave years ON a canal boat.u Th,a
ranked ike oaroed arrow in the bosom of West,
who mad hitherto endeavored to pass himself on
as hign.toned thief among the most exclusive az
his fellow criminals. Securely locked in a sep
arate cell,
THE ExAsPRRATED CONVICT
could but bide his time for the revenge he was de-
termined to have, and, after uttering in n voice
hoarse with concentrated rage, "I'll send vou IN
the hospital In the morning. preserved an npbro.
ken silence during the remainder OF the NIGHT
he was as good as his word, for when the
men were In the act OF leaving their cells for the
purpose Of being marched to prayers in the chanel
next morning. West met his victim as the latter
was stepping on the gallery and after asking him
to repeat his assertion of the previous evening.
buried rudely fashioned knife in his breast, nom
the effects OF which death ensued shortly alter
wards.
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST.
An inquest was held on the remains Of the
murdered convict at the prison last Sunday after
noon 0J coroner bassett' wnen the following tes
James P. Kirby testihed-I am keeper on Gal
O'Clock this morning; saw deceased, William Bent.
ley, struck BY William West; saw West strike the
blow, but did not see the instrument in his hand at
is the one took from West; deceased bIed very
little; he fell over on the gallery in about minute
West before the blow was given; it was a back
hand blow tnat the prisoner gave deceased; West
stood to the lett OF the deceased at his own door.
and deceased stood the door Of his own cell tho
right arm OF West was raised as he struck; was
struck.
Daniel Clark, convict, having been sworn,
said am prisoner IN this prison; deceased was
was springing the latches this morning, and lust
airer l came down deceased came out OF his cell:
Villain VIII West came over and caea sfot to
he SAID, "Scnaeer didn't do five years on canal
back one step and gave him
BACK HAND THRUST
with all his might; his right arm was raised On a
line with his breast; did not see anytnng in
Vests hand when deceased was struck deceased
did not make any outcry but put his hand up TO
his breast and then fell on The floor; asked him II
auarrelling between the parties last night; West
threatened that ne would put deceased in the hos
pltal in the morning; saw West have the knife
shown yesterday; ne has had 1t since here first,
about four months since; be got 1t OF q man
file; the prisoner was in the habit Of
carrying the knie ne drew II out to strike one OF
the prisoners before, but did not DO so, as the man
told him he would knock mis- head on; West and
Bentley worked in the same shop but at some dis
tance apart; never heard Bentley say anything 10
West and never heard them quarreling before last
night; have heard that deceased's proper name
was Schaefer West commenced blackguarding
evening; witness told Bentley that West might be
stubborn enough to hit him, and that he had bet
knife and then saw West give IL to nun: Wesi
denied having 1T at first.
A SINGULAR WEAPON.
The sO-called knife Is a dmnutive weapon, and
certainly the last instrument that one would think
could be made available tor the almost nstantane-
GUS killing OF human being. That portion which
represents the blade is scarcely two inches long
and is simply small three cornered fle sharpened
shapeless piece OF WOOD, the length OF which is
even less than that OF the blade This latter as ap
great force through the breast bone of deceased
and into the pulmonary artery at point about an
inch above ITS origin in the heart. The wounded
in an almost pulseless state for perhaps twenty
minutes when he expired.
STATEMENT OF THE MURDERER
Having been cautioned as to the Importance of
any statement he might wish to make the pris.
oner was sworn, ana deposed that he formed the
acquaintance OF Bentley in the cabinet shop aud nd
that deceased had occupied cell next TO hin:
had quarrel with him last Thursday Ia the cant,
net shop, when we came to blows; we
had another quarrel on Saturday afternoon,
in the same shop; no other person was prese NJ at
the time; we quarrelled about book the first
time, and Bentley struck me in the back with a
hammer; the last time we quarrelled on Saturday
afternoon. he insuted my folks and myself; he
made q strike at me with The knife, and took il
from him; never made any threats towards Bent
ley at any time; the knife took from deceased
was the one gave to Mr.. Kirby this morning; he
said he would have revenge on me for taking bis
kDile away from him; when saw him TINS morn
ing | asked him II he meant what he SAID last
night; at this time
HE ATTEMPTED TO STRIKE ME-
but ne did not as | warded on the blow; the
knife shown Is the one | had Bentley was the
owner OF the knife, which never saw It'll yes
terday afternoon.
verdict was rendered setting forth "That
deceased came to his death from knife wound
q the breast the said wound having been In
lcted by the hand OF William West.n The pris-
'ner was tnen placed in solitary confinement 10
lwalt the action OF the Grand jury.
Deceased was sentenced by Recorder Hackett
~ June "a 1874 to sing Sing prison, having been
convicted OF attempted burglary IN the third de-
,ree. he was twenty five years Old, born in New
Iork, and was generally regarded as a peaceable
Dan. The prisoner is serving out a term Tor
rand larceny He is a surly, sinister looking fel-
ow, OF about twensy-one years OF age.