The New York herald., 1876-01-31
A Little Child Witnesses the
Murder.
SHE SAVES HER OWN MOTHER
Arrest of the Murderer and
His Wife.
Shocking and Thrilling Details of
the Butchery.

-
the unfortunate iron worker whose severed head was
found in Greenpoint lumber yard Saturday, has
been fully and completely unravelled. The murder is
of the most horrible in the annals of homicdal
crime in this country In many Of its features 1t will
remind the reader of the Parkman tragedy in Boston,
although the present crime possesses ghastliness
in its outlines.
The unfortunate victim in this case, it appears,
murdered by of his fellow workmen, in the domi
cie of the latter in the presence of his little STEP
daughter aud then the body hacked to pieces and
concealed in various parts of the rooms occupied
by the murderer's family.
CRIME
William W. Simmons, the murdered man. mad been,
IL seems living OF double life. Osensibly he
of correct habits except that he drank occasion
ally, although not excess. His wife and children
lived at Derby, Conn.,, where he visited them oc-
casionally his work keeping him resident of Will
iamsburgh. He was free hearted. kind to children
and always spoke well of his family, and seemed to
idolize his children; but absence from them had
broken down the barriers OF virtue and he had main
famed Hdison with the wife of the man who killed
him. At least that is the assertion OF his murderer.
Many OF those who knew him said that he was
regular but not a free drnker, would play good gamo
of cards and billiards and always settled for his losses
at once, seeming close, but not miserly, with his
money. They also that he frequently boasted of
his success in obtaining favors from women and his
ability TO do So Simmons was first rate mechanic,
and was such an excellent hand at forging with trip
hammer that his services were in demand and rival
establishments anxious TO obtain them. He
asked by two three, with the promise OF higher
wages, to leave Messrs. Jones Henry, where he
worked up to the time Of his DEATH aud 70 and
work for them.
Simmons had been with Jones & Henry for three
and durin of hid for
helper Alsacien named Arthur Fox as his wife gives
II, or Andreas Fuchs he known to his fellows,
and Victor Kretz, as he now calls himself This
had accustomed himself to Simmons ways to
render himself Invaluable, and, contrary to the usual
custom, IN order retain the services of Simmons
Jones Henry paid the helper extra wages Simmons
liked his helper WELL seemed to- that he frequently
called at his residence in the Of No 9s North Third
street. almost opposite the works. and is charged by
the murderer Fuchs that during Of these visits
Simmons became criminally intimate with his wife.
The worked every day OF last week up Wedncs-
day noon when portion of the machinery broke
down and work stopped in the factory During the
afternoon and during portion of Thursday Simmons
utilized his time by making large carving knife for
fellow workman, gave 1t TO him Thursday afternoon
and then, after being notified that work would com
mence with rush Friday morning. went home for
his supper He remained in the house about nine
O'Clock when he went out without his overcoat and
leaving his lamp burning intending, it is supposed to
notify his helper to be hand early in the morning
He reached the residence Of tho latter three blocks
distant in a very few minutes and found the family,
consisting Of Fuchs and his wife, formerly Mrs Ke
hoe, and her daughter Helen partaking of some beer
In response TO Fuchs invitation Simm also drank
of the beer, and then gave Fuchs money to get
more; he also presented little Helen with a doll he had
purchased for her. Fuchs gone but few moments
and after his they drank beer and brandy, OF
which be had q quantity in the house. until both the
men and the woman we're somewhat stupened
MURDER COMMITTED.
The statements OF what occurred thereafter are
somewhat conflicting, but Mrs. Fuchs becoming in
toxicated by her husband and daughter taken to
bed falling the way and scratching her face when
she had been laid down Fuchs returned TO Simmons
who was then still under the influence OF liquor
and pulled him OF the chair When he was prone on
the floor Fuchs struck Simmons three four blows on
the neck with hatchct, and killed him. the little
girl witnessing the terrible tragedy When
Fuchs found that his victim had ceased
10 breathe he sent the child 70 bed
and taking heavy drink OF brandy, also retired
himself and went to sleep The body OF the murdered
remained on the floor OF the kitchen, just where
it had fallen in death. The blood flowed from the
ghastly wounds inflicted by the hatchet the corpse
night
DREADFUL SCENE
The scene a peculiarly horrible one. On tho
bed lay the murderer In his drunken sleep by the
side Of his wife, who also sleeping away the
effects OF her debauch. At the foot OF the
bed lay the innocent little child, whose dreams
were undsturbed by the dreadful crime her eyes had
witnessed Almost too young to know that her step
father had taken the life Of fellow creature she lay
ture In the other room only few feet distant the
body Of the murdered lay motonless in death.
The silence Of night was uhdisturbsd and dreadful
the crime was loudly called for retribuon
human voice was heard and the neghbors remained In
ignorance tragedy which had been psrpetrated
In their midst The solitary policeman went his lonely
rounds unconscious Of the necessity for his action and
as he tried the doors and watched to prevent
crime, he little imagined that great offence
against the laws OF God and had oeen enacted In
the little rear house in North Third street No man
living knew Of the crime which TO horrify the en-
tire community on the morrow Of It's discovery, and
the murderer slept his drunken sleep unmoesed and
unharmed Seldom has so terrible been pre-.
sen'ed and fiction realized its horrible features
coScKALING rHK BODY.
On The morning Of Friday while Fuchs was still
asleep tue child Helen who only eight years old,
awakened her mother ana told her what had done
BY her stepfather She told her mother that had
II not been for her own influence she Mrs Fuchsl
would have shared the fate OF Simmons. Mrs. Fuchs
arose from her bed much excited, and on going into
the kitchen was horred by seeing the corpse Of Sim
mons lying on the floor between the
stove and the table. The woman frenzied
with horror and excitement began 10 moan
and wiring her hands, exclaiming, ave shall
all be hung: shall all bo hung" Her cries woke