The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-03
ANOTHER BRUTAL MURDER.

DRUNKEN NEGRO KILLS HELPLESS OLD
RESTED.
Another foul murder has come to light This time
the victim is an unknown of about sixty
years OF age who found in one Of the worst neigh
borhoods in the city in a dying condition. Tho case
was reported by the police to the Coroner and on first
appearances regarded as a death from excessive
drink and accident by fall but since then evidence
has been obtained that concusvey shows the was
brutally murdered for the few rags he had on by
drunken negro
In yesterdays papers a paragraph published TO
the effect that one Mara Brown had forward and
stated to Captain Mcdonnell that she had the de-
ceased accidentally fall down stairs but il has trans
pred that this story clever adopted by Cap
tain Mcdonnell TO throw the murderer of his guard
1t was eminently successful not only in fooing the
criminal, but in completely deceivng the reporters.
The circumstances of the finding of the in tho
area way Of No SO Thompson street about six o'clock
on the morning of the S1st ult. have already been
made known. Shortly after being taken to the station
and while awaiting the arrival of the police surgeon
who had been elegraphed for the died not having
spoken once intellgiby. Several times the doorman
tried TO arouse him sufficiently obtain his name but
without success; the nearest approach revealing
his Identity being mutterng sound that was either
When Captain Mcdonnell searched the mans pockets
he found them rled Of their. contents He noted also
that the shoes and stockings, and Of the de-
ceased were missing The succeeding day it
tanned that Maria Brown, living at No. 81 Thompson
street, knew something of Importance relative to the
matter. On being questioned she stated that between
five and six O'Clock the morning of the 31st ult
while standing in her doorway she saw George Wash
ington neighboring coored man. push from his steps
the deceased The latter fell very heavily and appeared
to be stunned He also acted as though under the in
huence of liquor
Mrc Rrov nitv tha Had ~
Peter Daniels also a neighbor, and urged him TO pick
up the old man. Daniels did so, and stood him his
feet but finding him too weak TO walk carried him
short distance and laid him down on the ground
she'd In few minutes negro named Sewell came up
the alley staggering He saw the man lying near the
shed and he to standstill A small wooden
bench in the yard, and Sewell picked it up and
brought down with all his force the head and body
of his helpless victim, saying as he did So "You God
damned Irishman, you would serve me in the way"
Dropping the bench, the Infatuated negro seized
shovel and dealt his victim several deadly blows He
then rned his pockets and stripped him of his shoes
and stockings and some articles OF clothing, after which
he hurried away
Detectives Murphy and McCabe of the Eighth precinct
at commenced vigorous search for the murderer
His residence closely watched, but he remained
away. Finally it was learned that Sewel was en-
ployed on the steamer Chauncey Vibbard of the
Peoples line, TO Albany as pantryman, aud shortly
after two O'Clock yesterday morning the officials above
named boarded the steamer which lying at pier
No. SO North River. There they found Sewell in his
bunk with two other negroes Captain Mcdonnell
placed his pistol TO his prisoners head and warned him
not TO show fight, and in moment he securely
handcuded Seeing that resistance useless sewel
took his arrest quite coolly remarkng in nonchaant
manner. ''Well, Cap, thought you'd be after me-"
On being taken to the Prince street station house tho
prisoner searched, but nothing found upon his
person that could be identified the property of the
murdered man. Sewe denied having struck the man,
saying that he was thrown from the stoop by George
Washington, and that he must have died from the in
juries thus received
Peter Daniels subsequently arrested and admitted
having witnessed the entire occurrence His attention
was first attracted to the stranger by Mrs Brown He
afterwards Sewell beat the the head and
body with a shovel
Captain Mcdonnell also succeeded In arrestng George
Washington. The prisoners were all brought to the
Coroners Office yesterday and committed by him,
Sewe and Washington to the Tombs and the witnesses
to the House of Detention.
The locality in which the tragedy occurred is known
as "Africa" and is one of the worst places in the
Eighth ward
The body Of the murdered man still lies at the Morgue
awaiting Identification.