The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-01
NEW YORK.
FRgGHTFUL TRAGEDY.
A Mul derer Kills His Keeper.

HUDSON, April 30.-James Waltz, the muir
derer, sentenced to be hanged at Catskill to-
morrow, killed his keeper, Charles Ernst, in his
CELL at O'Clock this afternoon, by strik ng hmm
on the head with piece of iron, smashing in
the skull. During the past week officer Ernst
has guarded Waltz in his cell in order that he
should commit no injury to himself
The murder had been committed some time
before discovered. George Oluey, with re-
porter, went to the cell of Waltz aud called for
Ernest, but no answer being returned they
looked through the cell door and saw him lying
on the cell floor unconscious The officers re-
volyer was found in the possession of Waltz.
The victim lived fifteen minutes after medical
aid was summoned. The prisoner manitests
stolid Indifference as to his horrible deed. The
excitement at Catskill is intense, and at least
1000 persons are C, ected around the jail,
threatening to break down the doors and lynch
the prisoner. The sheriff is cool aud determin
ed to m3intain order and carry out the sentence
of the court IL the mob do not take the mat
ter into their banGs Waltz will be hanged about
one o'clock tomorrow The Governor has been
appealed to, and two companies of militia have
been ordered from Albany to Catskl
The Custom House.
New YORK, April 30.-Three new weighers
were Installed at the Custom House at salaries
of $1,000, $14O0 and $1,000, in the place of nine
teen at $500 each. The deputies, clerks and
foIemen who have performed all the manual
labor We're sworn in as warrant officers of the
government. The change is expected to save
| from $4,000 to$2O,O00 per annum to the gov
| eminent
Burglars.
| There were three burglars arrested this
| morning. They are held on suspicion of hsiv-
| ing Systematically robbed the bonded ware
| house of Peck, Mayer & Co. during the past
month of $4,000 worth OF goods The police ale
| on the track of the principal receiver, who is
believed to have $4,000 worth of the stolen
| goods
The sprague Trial.
The Sprague trial, in Brooklyn, was some
what important to-day. Eek deputy treasurer
! Rodman on his direct examination testified to
his alleged habit of applying various parts of
| the conceded deficiencies to certain purposes
which he indicates that when Spragues liabi.
| ties would become due Sprague would direct
him (Rodman) Ito fix things up, apparently
entrusting even the details of his private af-
| fairs to this deputy. That on one occasion
| Sprague said to him in substance, eff we are
| short we can take it out of the city funds as
| we go alona." On cross-examination Rudman
swore that he could not say that such an ex-
preston was used, but he thought the express
| sion was something like this, "We can make it
up when sell my dog This expression Rod
man swears conveyed Shy intimation'' to him
| the same thing as the expression to which be
| had positively sworn on his direct examination
Adjourned.
The New York Legislature adjourned sine die
| to-day. All the rapid transit bills for New
| York failed.
Ocean Steamship Combination.
A conference of the steamship companiet
| RAINING between the United States and Great
| Britain was held to-day for the purpose
l bringing about a return to uniforming of pas
| senger and freight rates. The National was
| the only line not represented. No result was
reached. A telegram was received from sim
liar conference in England announcing that
all were united there except the National line.
Various Matters.
| 1t is stated that witness will be produced in
| the Kelsey case who will testify that the legs
found in Huntington Bay were placed there by
collision with interested parties.
The weather last night was very cold, ice
| forming half an inch thick. This morning the
| wind is northwest and cold, but it is pleasant
A heavy robbery of government bonded
warehouse was reported to the police last night,
| but the police refuse to give information rela-
| tive thereto to the newspapers.
The compulsory education law passed the
| State Senate yesterday.
| 1t appears that the child forcibly and out
| rageously abducted from Its foster mother by po-
| lice Captain Williams and Police Commissioners
| Gardner is in the possession of the matron at
| the police headquarters, although the Police
| Superintendent, commissioners and captain
| al. have sworn the child is not in their custo-
| dy.
John Clubhouse, the guard at Sing Sing pris-
| on. by whose connivance several prisoners have
| recently escaped, was yesterday convicted in
Westminster county, and sentenced to five years
in prison.
A suit is commenced against the government
| for an alleged infringement of patent for q
drilling scow, by Gen. Newton, in the work of
removing the He'll Gate distractions. A large
sum is involved.
The F;eedmen's Bank and Trust Company
to-day are paying small amounts to those de-
positors who really need it.
The two fremen supposed to have been burn
ed at Laurel Hill yesterday have turned up
alive. The missing child is probably burned
The Produce Exchange has collected $4,000
for the Louisiana sufferers.
The regatta of the Brooklyn Yacht Club is
fixed for the 10th Of June
1t is reported that Ubassy has challenge
GARNER at billiards, 1000 points, French game
| at $4,000.
AT the annual meeting of the Protestant
Episcopal City Mission Bishop Potter was chos
en- President TIL. expenditures of the veal
we're $29,257, and the receipts $l9,676.