The New York herald., 1876-02-04
THE WILLIAMSBURG HORROR.
What the Police Found in
a Woodhouse
An Inquest on the Mutt
lated Remains.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.

The excitement in Williamsburg, which has grown
with the developments Of the case found vent
Wednesday evening In the various places OF
in the Fourteenth ward in well defined threats OF
ynching at time during yesterday either before
after the Coroners inquest and well did Coroner
Nolan know this that after consultation with Chief OF
Police Campbell 1t decided TO hold the inquest in
the Coroner's office in the County Court House. but
not TO acquaint any with the fact until the
time set for the inquest had arrived and the
! jury and witnesses assembled az the place
appointed Meanwhile, to discover If there was
! any possibility of some OF Simmons clothing being
slowed away the premises No 9S North Third street.
Detectives Short and Holland went there and tore up
flooring and wainscoting, but without finding any
thing. During their labors they informed that
Fuchs occupied portion OF the cellar OF the front
house a coal and wood bin, and this they at once
thoroughly investigated, finding in the darkest
the foundation wall, between OF the rafters
floor beams a human heart and liver. These wrapped
in paper conveyed to the Fifth precinct station
house. and the Coroner notified. This discovery
became bruited around, and famed the excitement so
before the time for the commencement of
the inquest Captain woglom found it necessary send
his the Court House keep the gathering
crowd in order
At two O'Clock several hundred people surrounded
the Court House while inside the jury reporters wit
and police comfortably packed the small court
room all eagerly awaiting the arrival OF the murderer
and the Coroner Outside the mob looked at every
carriage approaching first cheering then finding
il did not contain Fuchs jeering 1t passed There
were fully 600 people in the immediate front of the
Court House when large sixhorse stages up
to the Court House. Coroner Nolan then the
room and said
for considerations of public import unnecessary to
state, this inquest will be adjourned TO the Coroners
office in the County Court House. This action
essary TO the public peace and two horse stages
having been offered, those whose duty require them
be present at the inquiry will be conveyed TO the Court
House as speedily as possible.
The then cleared OF spectators and after the
police had cleared pathway to The conveyances, those
entitled to their marched out and rode of amid the
jeers OF the assembled crowd The corege attracted
considerable attention as it passed route to the
Court House There a large crowd around the
jail but they had also been ouwitted Kretz having
been taken TO the Court House some hours before the
time named.
The Coroners ONCE placed in the hands of a sec
tioD of police under Captain Smith, who kept every
until the rush commenced from the stages and
when they were all inside the doors closed and
for time not even reporters could obtain admit
lance All the jurors were present, and Fuchs having
been brought from the private room the inquest
msnced by summoning Mrs Howell, Kretz's landlady,
TO the stand
Krez seemed terribly downcast, having lost all his
spirit OF bravado, and during the entire seemed
on the verge OF crying his eyes having peculiar look
that gave him peous appearance.
THE TESTIMONY
Mrs Ann E. Howell being sworn deposed that she
resided at No. 9S North Third street, in the front
house. Witness stated that she felt sick she had
seen the prisoner in the adjoining room, but the
of the Coroner that he would not dotan her
long she proceeded with her testimony. She sad-
know Fuchs he has been a tenant OF mine for four
months; did not know Simmons; Fuchs drank, but l
have never him drunk; nothing unusual passed
to my own knowledge, but on Friday last my saw
him throwing out sand and dirt into the yard l
and asked HIM why he did IT. he said that in conse
quence OF mice he had enlarged the hearth; he
had taken up portion Of the wooden floor and
substituted bricks therefor; he did not seem excited
but he jumped the floor and said 'Me fix that ali
right saw nothing unusual around the house: his
wife was at the time lying on lounge in the room
cannot that he and his wife lived happily together
but never heard them quarrel; did not them
Saturday until the evening whom he and knocked
my door about eight clock and coming handed
$5 for rent; be said that he and his wife had been
up on Grand street and bought some meat and, run
nlng out came back in minute with large pigs
head, which he said "Me eat 1t on Sunday init cabbage
aud pint Of good beer" he had never done anything
Of the kind before, and l could not think
why he should do such thing; nothing un.
usual occurred Sunday when the officers came; did
suspect then that he had committed the murder
until little Ella ran out crying "They will hang papa
aud mammal took her my room and asked her
what for, and she said, "0h Simmy, Simmyl" then
in and asked Mrs. Fuchs what was the matter,
and she said she did not know; at this moment the
officer found the remaihs in the washboer, and he
told go out in the yard as the smell would make
she also said that she saw her father do It, but this
In response 10 a question from the officer.
Willis Jones, No. 1876 South Third street, one of the
firm for whom both men worked, was the wit
ness his testimony being am manufacturer OF
carriage axles and springs and also do general foundry
work; acquainted with deceased. who was In my
employ three years; when he worked full time he
earned at his trip hammer from $50 S35 per week;
his general character as far as knew him was that OF
very industrious, respectable man, one |
under the influence OF liquor; he hfty y-lour
fifty five years of age and had family of five chill
hao 1tpl Aa.I
he lost his he seemed TO take IL greatly TO heart
the about eighteen years OF age he was In the
habit of sending home money every Monday, but Of
late be had not sent much because of the expense at
tending patent axle he was getting out; know the
prisoner, and know him by the name of Fuchs.
When this statement made the prisoner said, "It
is Fuchs, pronouI ing II Fox. Mr.. Jones continued
Mr. Simmons employed this man himself about two
years ago. he worked one year and, then, account
of some misunderstanding, he left and went to New
York to work; he returned to place about four
weeks ago. he lived in that neighborhood all the time
but he had not been at work with Simmons during the
past year; trouble occurred between the firm and
Simmons, but short time ago we made change from
S. per diem TO so much per pece he hesltaed about
going TO work in that way, but finally concluded do
IT, Fuchs not at work with him at that
time that l remember; l used TO him
around the neghborhood once in while and do not
know that he Of the difference In the matter
OF pay between Simmons and the hrmi he paid Fuchs
$40 per his share Of the work and his $50 and
$35 per week was independent OF the money paid his
helper | never saw anything out Of the way with
Fuchs and never heard any OF the men say anything
about his being ugly and always thought him peace
able man; l never knew of any trouble between him
and Simmons, tho latter Of whom |
Thursday last at four O'Clock in the afternoon;
the breaking Of the large shears prevented HIM
from working Tor two days; Fuchs worked
half a day Wednesday at some repairs around the
| shop; first heard be missing Saturday morn
/ ing, when Fuchs " hafpast
| seven A. NJ and said ''No Mr.. Simmons
! come;" l did notice anything unusual in
his appearance; few minutes later MT Beck notified
! me that simmons had not been since Thursday
| night Mr. Beck seemed troubled he said ne was
afraid he had been drowned so he had telegraphed to
all police stations for OF him; at halfpast four
in the afternoon hearing that mans head had been
found in Greenpoint sent Mr.. O'Connell to see fn
was that Simmons he returned IN about thirty min
utes and said, sure enough, It is simmons head"
! Mr. Beck said that Friday morning Fuchs called
| there for Simmons to hurry up there plenty
work - Fuchs at the station house Saturday
1ng seemed make very light or II and did not for
moment attach him with the crime, did not see him
a.. Irar