The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-21
THE MURDER IN COW sAY.
A EtrusgIe in n Cabin seen by Two Lads-
The Mnrdercr'- Escape IN an n boat
liz (nuIurc mud nh-eaneni Gonf aainn.


William Delaney, the alleged murderer
81 pt. Lawrence Of the schooner Joseph r.
Pott. WIS arraigncd Tor trial yesterday before
Judge Pratt In the Court OF oyer and Terminer
Of Queens county. The red-haircd awkward
looking prisoner sat hesidc his counsel, ner-
vOusly watching the long array NJ jurors. Hts
great size secmed to dwltf every one near him,
and IA he sat In court d esscd In a sailors dark
blue shirt, uuconccaled by any coat his coarse,
muscular hanGs and wrists, dark with hair and
tan, Indicated the extremely slender chance for
life remaining to the old plain In the struggle
w the schooner In the Sound. The prisoners
counsel hal more than once offered to enter a
plea OF guilty ~ murder IN the second degree on
tho part OF their client, hut the District Attor-
ney refused to accept u.
Mr.. Harold Popuenhusen Of the Southern Rail
road Of Long Island, brother Of the general
manager, who was so severely dealt With by the
Corouer's jury investigating the Rookaway dis-
aster, was on the panel. lie had no opinion,
only an impression, and the defence challenged
him pcremptorily. Mr.. Mott asked one juror
whether he was a Democrat OF "A Republican,
but the question was overrued Hts successor
was ex used because he WAS deaf, and couldn't
speak English, aud had formed n opinion.
Aus four hours OF persistent challenging,
ninety -nine Of the iundred jurors empanelled
had been disposed Of. Tue last iran h d
render verdict in accordance With the testl.
mony, and he was accepted.
THE MuRDER.
The circumstances OF the murder are that on
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20, G Ut. Levcrett Lawfe nce
hired, mate for the schooner Joseph T.
putt w ilunm De aney. on the following Friday
one of the two b ys who, with tue CAPTAIN and
mate. made up the schoonei's company. after
| preparing the supper AMI calling the Captain,
went un deck. A few minutes aferward he
| heard what he described a. q rurgling sound
from tine cabin. and go NJ down, he saw the
| mate kncenC on he rrostrnte form OF the Cap
tain. vino was seventh years Of age. and stran-
| Cling him. On Seeing the boy. he presented a
pistol 1T him and desired hin to 90 on deck.
| Tho frightened ouy obeyed and the mate soon
| followed him un deck and forced the two BOYS
| To- row him to the snore Of Cow BaN. After he
had landed, the lads rpwcd tn another schooner
and told Of the occurrence. The mate accom-
uauied them on board the Joseph T.. Pott, where
| he found tire dead body Of Capt. Lawrence In
| the cabin. Delaney, on being subsequently ar
rested. acknowledged killing the Captain and
| stealing $40 and pistol from the schooner.
| District Attorney Downing briefly opened for
the people, and called Charles +. Harris, hand
| some sun Drowned lad of sixteen. Witness
| WIS employed on the joseph T.. Pott under Capt.
| Lawrence. TN Aug. - Delaney was shipped as
nate at Port Johnson, n. where the schooner
| took In 90 for Stonington. On Friday she was
lNine IN Cow Bay. In the afternoon witness saw
| the mate whiting piece OF wood INTO the shape
| OF gag. At supper time Delaney went into the
| bin. and q e other boy called Capt. .wret ce.
/ he two bows were sitting IN the forward part of
| the schooner, and hearing n noise. tnev looked
| INTO the cabin, md saw he mate holding the
| Can't am down on toe door and choking MIN.
| An onlcer mere lHiu down. ana the nov NUS
ira ed the death struggle. The boy identted
| the gag aud pistol.
Alter Dclluey forced the boys to take him
| ashore. when some distance from the schooner
| he -. shed blood from mis- hnnus.
the witness = We his testimony intcllgently
aud cross-eXdminatiOn strengthened IL.
FINDING THE BODY.
Joseph u Paine. OF the schooner from which
the boys obtained issist nee testified to fndi1l
the corpse OF cant. Lawr, nee. A string had
Two coils around the neck. The body presented
a frighttul appearance. the witness said. aud the
inuic tions were that the Captain mad beet
pretty roughly ndlcd." a pocketbook W.,
living in IN adjoining state room, but there wa'
nothing IN II.
Dr. Van Derwenter testified that Capt Law
rence's dealt r. suited IRON straugulation. IL
the cross-exanination witness admitted III
lac had not examined the heart and lungs. IL,
thought pit. Lawrence health was sounC
when ne met his death There were no exter
nal Indications ~ MS navinl died Il disease OF
the heart; all the evidence pointed TO straugu
lation
John Henry Wright. deputy sheriff Of Flush
ing, saw Delaney after his arrest. = he prisonc
toli him that he had been uadly treated bl
tain was finding fault, and the mate lost hi
temper and said lie didn't Ike the fare. The
Captain told him II he DIDN'T like IL he mgh
leave upon which the prisoner struck HIM
knocke uim Gown On the Moor, and strangleC
INN. After Ave minutes he placed his ear TO M
| ,ros rate mans breast and found that his near
was not beating. lie stole pistol ana som'
money. and having tied the 81 teroom doors 4
keep them closed Ne took drink OF whiske
and went ON deck. He ordered toe two boys Il
row him ashore, ana the smaller one, Auvustu
Tuihll. SAID. II was big enough you wOuldn'
get on that way
THE PRISONERS THREATS.
Capt. Starkin. an oystcrmau, was following hi
vocation IN Cow BAY ON the evening Of Angus
-. The prisoner hailed him from the shore an'
gave him two doll To take hun across IN
sound. He told MIN ne had quarrelled with tn
Captain Of his schooner, and h d lett the vessel
lie added that he mad 81, and pulling pisto
out of bis pocket he SAID II any one fOllowe,
him he would blow his brains out He had m
baggage with MN, and said he had left $50 wort
Of clothes ia the schooner.
Micnael " elsh. employed In the towbua tina
towed the Joseph T.. Pott To Rikers Island, Wa
examined 80 show the III feeling Of the mat 10
ward Caut. Lawrence. The witness went to th'
schooner to collect the towage bill. Having pai
him, the Cautti asked TO have the schoone
toNcd nearer the flats. The witness replied tina
the vessel was well IN on the flats already, and
man at the wheel, whom he believed was De
laney called out ION, let her go; II matter
damned little where YOU leave ner."
, Capt Ebert Hawki's corrOborated preViOu
testimony as to the nuding OF Capt. lawrence
body.
lie had known Capt. Lawrence twelve or tour
, teen wears, and the cross examination tried I
show Dv him tn the murderer IN n had bee
afflicted with "a tumor. but the witness coul
not remember anything about IL.