The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-15
TRAGEDY AFTER A DIVORCE
A DEsPER ATE STRUGGLE IN THE
GOSHEN R4ILWhY DEPOT
The Cowbidiue OF n Rcbert n. Berdeii and the
shootins efOno Of his Assaiia nts-Thc Cir-
cumstances that Led TO the TRAGEDY.


cumstances that Led TO the TRAGEDY.
Goshen, N. Y. July H.-This town is In
an Intense fever Of excitement over the shoc:-
ing OF wlsner Murray, the President Of tho
Board OF Trustees Of this village an3 an onicer
In one of the banks here, by Rooert n. Berdell,
an ex President OF the Er,s Railway Company,
who was recently divorced from his wife on the
ground OF adultery. Murray was brother-in-
law OF Bcrdell, the two having married sisters,
the Misses Barnard. In the trial OF Harriet II.
Berdell against her husband for alimony and
divorce, Murray figured very conspicuously. He
Is the man who, US Miss Lizzie Berdell and MIR.
Berdolrs servants testified, visited Mr.. Berdelrs
residence here several times week, and always
during his absence, taking Mrs. Berdell into
other apartments OF the house than those ocou-
pied by the family, and remaining generally
from one hour to an hour aud a half every time.
This leo. MIR. Berdell claimed, to the sstrange-
ment OF himself and wife. But Horace
Barnard, a New York lawyer, and brother OF
Mrs. Berdell, testified that the object OF Muir
rays visits were to inform Mrs. Berdell OF the
facts that he (Blrnafd) had obtained in regard
to the indscreet actions of MIR. Bordel, and upon
which the action for divorce was based How
evor this may be, 1t had at least one bad result,
the deepest hatred OF the two men for each
other. prominent LAWYER Of the Goshen bar
Berdell At the depot. run up against hiu and In
suit him, but tnat IN earh ease Mt ierdell took
no notice OF him. Ihs manner Ot persecution
hs. annoyed Bcrdell YER much
But the climax was reached Yesterday on the
arrival OF the Ncwhutgh and Ulster County
Express from Jersey CRY, tue train Mr.. Berde
usually ttkea to reach hts home here In the
evening 1t Ia due here abou, -ix o'clock. When
u got here, Wlsner Murray and bis younger
brother, A. Spencer Murray. Jr., a LAWYER In
New York were In watipG. When Mr.. II rdell
leaves the train he passes directly through the
DEPOT to the other StGe, where nis CIrrlaHe
ALWAYS stands waiting for hln. As he entered
the door nearest the tr.in there stood the Muir
rays surrounded by friends They had. IL Is
said. sent word to u number OF tueir acquaint-
ences TO come 10 the depot aud see then dog
Herdeil nsd got about half wsy through tho
building without observing the Murrays they
was detailed to hold Berdeil fast, while .wisner
did the lashiug. The former, therefore. pinionod
Berdelrs arms behind hts back. and held them,
white wisner drew long cowhlde, which he
vigorously applied to Mr.. BerdelIs face and
Wiener Murray 10 about tbirty-nvs years Of
| age, with red hair and wbiskers, aud though
| lisht in stature, Is wonderfully muscular and
strong. Spencer Ia younger, being about thirty,
| but Ia larger and more muscular. Both have
very strong ana almost uncontrollable tsmpers
when once aroused, aud the oowhidinz they
administered to their victim was extremely
severe. The fret crack almost set the man wild,
and In the midst Of loud cries from the victim
| the strokes fell thick and fast. The worst
| stroke probably was square across the two
| and has left a bad wound. Another cut with
| the c0whide went through Mr. Berdell's beaver,
| and left a light scalp wound on the back OF his
head. Another struck him In the risht eye.
which was rendered almost useless The fore
| hend, chin. and other parts OF the head aud
| face are also cut and bruised
| itwas hard struggle for Mr.. BerdslI to get
loose from the younger Murray and not until
| while stiil pin,oned he managed TO tbrust his
hand into his pocket and draw therefrom nve-
:n1oter s, the erope, OF s nis son. s Wasn wisnsr
over the counter OF the rcfreshment stand In the
deoot, aud endeavorine to escape through the
too quick for him. lie levelied the pistol, and
| nring, struck him 10 the forehead. II was sim
| ply chance shot, a Bsrdell was forty feet
| away. and still fast with bis elbows behind his
back, anu shaking with pain and fright. MUIR
shuttirsa door behind him. lie fell to the
door almost lifeless, and was taken to the Occi-
| dental Hotel near by.
| from Spencer Murray, and had not John II.
| Conner wrsncned tbe pi.tol from hs hands
| shot too, as Berdeil was crazy with rage. After
Mr. Conner had secured the shooter from Mir.
| Betdel, the latter said " Let me have that pis-
| toll III shoot him." meaning, II Is supposed.
| spencer. the one who bold his arms. Not get
| coschma an 60 drive hlm home. just ss he was
| about to enter the door, Onioer Lsndy, who had
jumped into another wagon and followed him
up, arrested him He was attired IN white
| vest, linen coat, white shirt and tlack panta-
looms. all OF when were literally besmeared
| When the oficer took him be wa. apparently
| deranged in mind, and exclaimed, "0hl oh
| What have donel Can you tell me who held
my armss" When told VIII he had done, he
| said, No. l haven't. have H. When asked
what he had done with hts pistol. he said he
| didn't know. Mr. Berdell was taken back to
| the county jail and put In charge OF the sheriff
| for the night. lie refused all proaers OF hand
| kerchiets to wipe the blood OF his face, and ap-
pe-red ont OF his mind.
After Murray was taken to tho Occidental
| Hotel. Dr. J. II, Thompson was called. He
| extracted tho ball aud found the wound to be a
dangerous one. The ball struck the forehead
three quarters Of an inch to tho right OF the
median line, and one quarter below the III argin
| of the hair. There Il u fracture OF the skull,
and the brain was oozng from the wound. Ii
| IL said that instantaneous death would prob
| ably nave ensued had the ball struck an inch
lower down. Murray was aftetward taken
| home, where he now lies In very critical con-
diton.
Mr. Berdell was taken before Justice G. W
Coleman to-day for an examination, but II was
| postponed until tomorrow at Z. VI. on ac-
| count OF the absence OF witnesses for the de-
| fence and on the stItemeDt Of the surgeon at
tending Murray that the wound may prove fatal
the immediate cause OF the cowhding OF
| berdel Is said 70 he the offensive cards printed
| by direction OF Mr. Berdeii aud sent to the
| friends Of tho Murrays. The following Is the
| printed form OF the card.