The New York herald., 1874-12-29
A WILLIAMSBURG WIFE MURDER.

HICKORY STICK THE wKAPON-ARREST OF
THE MURDERER.
Patrick Wallace. OF No. 70 North Fifth street,
Williamsburg, murdered his wife last night by
smashing her skull with hickory stick. thus add
ing another to the catalogue OF horrors In the
history OF Brooklyn furnished by the Eastern Dis
urict The names OF Fanny Hyde, Henry Rogers,
Samuel Lownds Sarah Merrigan Mrs. Dwyer and
Salvador Torrni are familiar In our annals OF
crime and now that OF Wallace is added to the hist
THE MURDER
took place between hai-past ten and eleven
O'Clock last night and within very short period
after It's discovery the perpetratof was arrested
by Ofncer Phelan, OF the Fifth precinct.
The murderer, Patrick Wallace, Is native OF
Ireland, about forty-seven years OF age, and
laborer by occupation. He is stout, heavy built
man, and seemingly not in possession OF the
average amount Of intelligence, the little intellect
he has being perpetually befogged with rum. His
victim, Margaret Wallace, woman some what mis-
senior, was united to him IN marriage IN the old
country, and they emgrated together several
Botn nave been hard drinkers, and never having
had children, spent all their earnings IOr drink.
The woman being possessed OF an exctaDe tenn
perament and MS disposition being remarkably
stubborn, day seldom passed without quarrel.
Last night they had their last quarrel lor after
angry alteration, she being IN bed Patrick caught
up hickory stick about two eetlong and an inch
head with 1t smashed in her skull Alter he had
inflicted the two or three blows which caused
her death, he went TO the tap, and drawing some
water threw it over her, and called on her to get
up, but finding she cCuld not do so, he
went out into the hall and Knocked at the door OF
his neignDOr Mr.. Sweeney, stating that his "wife
was sick and he could not get her up." Sweeney
arose, struck light and opened the door, but the
moment he looked at Wallace, seeing MS white
overals all spattered with blood smut the door in
his lace and back into the bedroom to ac-
quaint visitor with his suspicious. He held
short discussion, and then concluded to dress and
go into Wallace's room, especially as wallace
called to them and said his wife was dead.
On entering the apartments they found the
woman dead IN the bed and the clothing all be-
spattered with blood. closer glance at the body
and they found the fearfully battered condition OF
her head.
Neither OF the men were thoroughly sober. but
they told Wallace that he had better report the
fact OF her death at once ut the station mousse but
he manifested SO great disnclination to do this
that the visitor ran down and reported It.
Sergeant Brennan, with OffcerS Phelan and
Reardon, at once repaired to
THR sCENE OF THE MURDER,
which is in the back basement OF the three story
brick tenement house No. 70 North Fifth street,
near Second, where they found a scene OF squalid
misery and filth, and in the midst OF 1t
the body OF the murdered woman. her husband
and murderer standing stolidly by. When ar
rested by O1cer Phelan he said nothing beyond
denying that he had killed her. On being taken to
the station house stains OF blood were found on
his Shirt which had soaked through that and his
were also stained with blood. He was locked up
for the night and Coroner Whitehill was notified
to take charge OF the remains. The rooms mean.
while remaining IN charge OF Sergeant Brennan.