The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-09
Vas BELLA JONES MURDEREDs
The Police WhitcwashinRi Themselves, but
an Unexpected Witness stepping In and
Showing Ia to be the Blackest Of Grimes.

An inquest into the causes OF the death
Of Bella jones' who was found hanging In her
cell In the Mercer street police station house on
Friday morning last, was begun before Coroner
EickhoG yesterday. Dr T.. r. r. Marsh testified
that he found bruse an inch and half long
and an inch wide ON the centre OF the for head.
and another smaller one close by. lie took IN
the scalp and found that blood had settled
under the larger wound. There were spots on
the sides and arms which denoted rough treat
ment and there was a broad aud distinct marx
around the neck that was made by the clothes
by which the woman hung. A dissection showed
that the lungs very much conRcsted, and
the brain only slightly SO, from which fact he
Judged that the woman died by stranrulation.
Oficer Beard testified that on tho night OF
September 2 a colored man told him that there
was row at 1865 Thompson street. whereupun he
went thither aud learned from Mrs. ri 4nngan,
who was out on the sidewalk, that Bella Jones
had threatened her life with razor, so that she
was HfIad to go into the house to her own rooms.
The officer knew Bella to I've a violent person,
and, believing Mrs. Flanagan's story, he. went
into the house to arrest her. lie found her In
bed, only partially dressed, but she refused
to put on more clothing, and accompanied him
very quietly from the house, but as soon as she
got outside she commenced forcible resistance,
which constrained him to summon four other
officers. She was finally delivered to the ser
geant OF the station without the witness seeing
any violence whatever used toward her, though
she kicked and STRUGGLED Hereby. The station
only charge against Bella was that OF being
drunk and disorderly," and threatening to take
her own life with a pistOli but Mrs. Flanagan
testified that as she was on tho stoop of her
dwelling. Bella leaned out OF window and
shouted, " will have my revenge upon you and
your daughter. have q black handled rnzor In
NV pocket for you" She complained to officer
Heard, and he made the arrest. She saw no vio-
lence Whatever.
James Flynn. doorman Of the station, FIRST saw
Bella while she was lying In 'front.' of the Ser
geants desk only partially clothed. lie bent
over her to raise her to her feet, and saw no
blood or bruises on her. She refused to give her
name. hut walked to the cell without "A sistauce,
and threw herself upon the bunk and set up a
TRADE Of abuse. A little later he went to the
cell. and she then gave him her name, and NJ 1
o'clock he made another visit. at which time he
found her hanging from the ventilatOr bar SUP
ported toy strit II clothing around her neck Ue
summoned the Sergeant ana In less than amin
ute they cut her down, aud detected slight sigma
OF life. but before the physician arrived, twenty
the hruise on her forehead was c used bv
knocking 1t against the Intel Of the door when
she swung herself of.
John Moore of 30 North Moore street testified;
on the evening Of sept g. Ar was coming down
sea OF sy pa "T ISn and sre ,ose hfSai
saw people moylhs ! Nent with hem anu saw wo-
the wrists aud hands dra. glng her her uacE They
drigee her about Ten feet ana then wanted her to get
OF q my ued n TINS way. and you vil nave tase
the thighs With lis club 10 make her eet up one OF
ofcers want. to let her 60 back and dress her.elf
tut the other said no, that as he mad her there
be would take her as sie wss. She promised
on her oi6e 'he would salk Win taem aud then ,ssd
10 one Of the officers You had grudge againsi me,
ana hurst n my door ara eraee.d me out Of my O,d
then dragged her ~ front VI stable further up,
aud somebody said, Put ner Ia and take her that
waY. Bus one officer told Tue other to nleecker
street anu Tor the ruundstan for assistance
One officer then vent away, and Bella got up her
feet and maze n motto a. though TO return 10 her
house Tho remaining officer grabbed her BY the wrists
and wrcstlel her the SIDEWALK for minute or
two ani hully threw her down, sti huldtug wrists
lie had his Knee the pit OF her stomaeh easing on
u With a. hls weight. She begged Tor Gods sake
SNOW whether there were any men stnnding around
her, bat no one made answer The officer, though hit
her on ne face with h nst he saying that she would
have me face to show TO the JUICE Ia the morning.
The hing was 80 horrible that went about ny Just
ness. | do not know whether could recognize tho
officer Who struck the woman A. IL very dark bur
stood ony loot o. two frOm her had not seen the
woman before There was great crowd una the
oflcer aud woman, probably ATTY or a hundred per.
sons"
Coroner Eickhof here told the jury that at
the preliminary examination there were many
persons who gave testimony similar to Muore's,
but that he had not been able to secure their
attendance that the only witnesses In the room
were those summoned py the officer for his d.
fence, and that. as he did not wish to have the
testimony 50 one-sided, he would discharge
them until he could OBTAIN other witnesses