New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-20
TRACING MURDERERS.
EFFECTIVE POLICE WORK IN THE wEIsBERG
NASE

HrM-INsPECTOR THORNE's AND CAPT. HEDDENs
PLANs-CAPT. MDoNAID's SEARCH IN THIS
CITY-THE MURDERERs DRIVEN TO CONFESSION
BY THE OVERWHELMING PROOFS AGAINST THEM
STORY OF TIE CRIME
Some time ago a complimentary letter was
received by Police Commissioners from the DISTRICT
Attorney in regard 20 the work done In capturing the
murderer OF Mr. Noe and the murderers OF the pedder
in Weschester County Last September The general &C
count Of the work by the Police Department when
was published from time time, did not give many IN
eresting ncd ns that we're known only 10 the police
The expressed surprise, asev days De-
fore the day down for the trial OF the murderers OF
the peddler notice had not been given him sooner
but he was still astOnshed 10 find that the report
Of the work done by the police was so fun nat al lhe
points OF the already worked out for him. and
that he had only 10 set forth secure prompt con-
y1con How promptly this done may be judged from
the fact that all three OF the men, Charles Weston,
william Ellis and william Thompson are sentenced 70 pe
hanged Dec Il next for the murder OF the peduer
Abraham Wesberg. The following account brings out
points that heretofore been published and IL
taken the reports Of Inspector Thorne and capt
Charles Mcdonald OF the Eighth Precinct Ponce mace
70 superintendent Walling:
When the body Of the murdered man was found in
Iydg's Woods in West Farms the old Boston Road
the whole matter buried mystery. The murdeFers
had done their work not 10 leave the slightest Gle"
behind place The theory that the pedder wac
murdered elsewhere and his body transported to the place
where Il found gained credenee, some OF the highest
police oical. insisting that easy to that the
man had been murdered in his bed and his body dressed
and deposited where il found Inspector Ihorne
began his work quietly but energeticaly. First
he proved cOnclusively that the man had beeo
murdered ia his clothing and with his pack upon MS
back He proved this by pointing out that no one could
have dressed dead body as this one was found II
would nave been impossbility 70 have tucked de'
mans pantaloons smoothly into his boots as they were
in this case The fact that the pack was saturated Whle
there was little blood upon his clothing and scarcely any
in front clearly showed that he standing up at nrst
but afterward being feed by the blow from behind TEL
with the pack under his head and shoulders ana was
killed in that position Capt Hedden joined IN lhspec
tor ThOrne views and here was shown the WORKING OF
the new plan Of dividing the city into Inspection dlstrlcts
The Tnspector was enabled 10 summon the detectives
from all the precincts in the Third District thus giving
him good working force without calling on the men at
the Police Central Office or creating any Jealousy or feel
ing by the officers in precinct being called 70
work In another The officers were scattered IN every
direction. and when they made their reports on TIE
evening OF the first day Inspector Thorne was certain
that he had solved the mystery though he had not yet
rbe evidence 10 convict the nurderers when they were
caught H first proposed TO catch the men, ana ID ne
mean time to pursue his investigations for further eyi
negroes who had been seen by different persons al differ
emf times and places and whose description by al who
saw them tailed exactly with that OF the three negroes
last seen with the murdered peddler several negroes
were arrested in different places and all were locked up
awaiting Identification. Detective John MeGoWan OF the
Nineteenth Precinct had been ordered to work up Ger
tain section Of Westchester County. He carried the
description OF the negroes his mind, and was con
vnccd that they would return 70 the scene OF the muir
der in few DAYS FOrty-eight hours afterward ne ar
rested William Ellis and William Thompson ana locker
them I'D with the others though certain as ne cOuu ne
that they were two Of the three for whom the ponce
were in search.
Capt Mcdonald began his search for the men wanted
A. soon A. he received The general alarm He learned
thai man answering the description OF OF the ne
roes had been living in the rear OF notorious den OF
thieves and cuthroats in Thomps0n-st This negro lad
been living with white woman, and this fact made him
more notorious IN that neghbOrhOod. capt Mcdonald
and Sergt woodward determined 70 search the prem
,ses though they were assured that the who was
known as Charles Weston had not been seen there Tor
week past Going the farther end of dark alley the
captan found ght OF stairs leading TO shed above
Tins far they had searched thoroughly but had not sue
ceeded in finding the man for whom they were hunting
sergeant woodward left at the foot Of the stairs 70
vent auy one from escaping by the alley. and the cap
tain went up the stairs alone. He knew that Ne was
after desperate man who had already committed muir
was necessary to secure his freedom The captain went
nm The stairs and entered the hallway Of the shed
AZ the ton All was dark inside, ana NOBODY
could be seen at first After awhile dark
object was seen in the corner farthest from
the door striking match the captain discovered that
il wac negro. He mp TO him boldly and striking
another match dragged him ont into the Eight Al a
glance he saw this the man he wanted Placing
his revolver at his head he ordered the negro TO put his
hands behind him threatening blow his brains out az
once Il he made the slightest attempt at resistance The
Sudden attack cowed the for moment and before
be could recover his presence Of mind Capt Mcdonald
seized both Of hands that behind HE back ana
held them there With OF his Then placing his re-
volyer 70 hs head again he ordered his prisoner 10 move
forward quietly. The negro did not struggle against suc
odds and was soon conducted to the bottom of the stair
wav and TO the Prince Street Police station sergi Wood
ward managing the large crowd that had been attracted
COMPLETING TIE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE.
Though the three men IN custody yet il was not
even known what the right name OF the murdered
man nor whether the police could fasten the crime upon
the prisoners The police That II is very d cut To
identity negro; they all look much alike though IN
this case there were distinctive marks that promised
success Meanwhile il was discovered where the
negroes had gone after they had committed the murder
ana 10 Capt Hedden ingenuity and sagaciy Is due the
linking together OF the evidence discovered u FORM sueh
complete chain that there could be no possible escape
This was carefully done. IL was learned wnere the
negroes had aken liquor after the murder. They mad
s.1n e peddes pOeketbOok and In the possession or
ta negroes had found new pOcketD0ORs similar 10
those found In the peddeIs pack The men had also IN
4ershirt that and similar 10 those when had
.eu carried b. the pedder. Weston when seen had on
while uaualoous and found that he had the same
on when arrested only they were then covered up by
pair OF blue lean Overas. Scraps ~ paper were O1hd
c1ftcrcd 0ng the road taken by the negroes AFTER they
took their drink az Onehundred andory yentl-st ana
the Bullevard. and these. when carefully assorted
srrar.i and pasted together found be bills, notes,
Sc made m the name OF Abraham NeisheTg. portion
maj ycre at fl.st missing afterward found con
cssi.d uudgr a stone These last fragments cOnpitted
The chain that enabled Capt Hedien 10 send 10 persons
who proved beyond doubt, that the murdered man was
a Hebrew named Abraham Meisberg.
The net wac thus strongly drawn around the suspected
mon and an was complete except the positive identlnca
% hat they were the three negroes last with the
t'' 10 = n uruyeu