The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-09
A tahsstly Crime Exposed.

A Uw2Suy CTlsuo EAPVseus
Several boys playing In a shipyard In
Greenpoint, on Saturday afternoon,
made d discovery which resulted in tho
detection OF one OF the most shocking
murders ever committed In this part OF
the country, and the arrest OF the muir nv,
derer, who has confessed his crime. The
Of John Englis, on Milton street, Green
point, between the East river and West
street. In narrow space, between q
lumber pile and high board fence the
boys observed a piece OF newspaper COW
ering some object which was lying upon
the ground. Curiosity led them to re-
move the paper, when to their horror
they discovered d human head spotted
with blood. Terror-stricken at the hid
eous sight, they ran screaming into the
street, where they attracted the atten.
ton Of Officer Knapp, who led the way
back into the lumber. yard, followed by
found to be that Of man apparently
forty 1--we or fifty years Of age. From
the fresh appearance Of the wounds and
the small amount OF cOagulated blood II
was apparent that It had been severed
from the body of the murdered man
within day or two. It was well shaped
and the features were those OF a hand
some man. The hair was dark brown
and very thin, the crown OF the head be-
ing almost bald. There was q full
brown beard and heavy moustache OF
the same color. sprinkled with gray.
The wounds, which had evidently been
made With some very sharp instrument,
were clean cut but somewhat diagonal,
as more Of the neck remained ut the
back of the head than In front. Behind
these were two deep gashes, as II the
first stroke OF the TX, Ratchet or cleaver
with which the work had evidently been
done, had failed to sever the head, and
a second blow had been given to COM
plete tho bloody work. There was also
d deep cash on the left cheek. The
newspaper which was wrapped about
tho head was an old copy Of the Brook
Ign Freie Presse. u was not tied on, but
part Of It was pushed In at the aPer-
lures In the neck to keep the covering
In place.
officer Knapp, surrounded and follow
ed by an anxious and curious crowd,
which increased at every corner as the
news spread, took the head to the sew
epth precinct station. Information was
telegraphed Immediately TO Brooklyn
Police headquarters, and Inspector
Waddy. with q number OF detectives,
hastened to the seventh precinct. In
the meantime, VIM. Conner, u clerk and
collector employed by. Jones, Henry q
Co., wagon-makers, OF No; III North
Third street, who had heard OF the dis
to see II it explained the disappear
ance OF one OF their workmen, u
trip hammersmith, who had not been OF
his place on Friday or Saturday. Mr..
Conner identified the head as that OF w.
W. simmons, the missing workman.
He had left the factory il good health
on Thursday afternoon, anu had not
been seen by his fellow workmen after
ward. Mr.. Jones, o member OF the
firm. came to the station In D short time
and positively identified the head. He
said that Simmons was New England
mechanic, and that about three years
ago he came to Brooklyn from Derby,
Conn. where hi bis IA family ~. c Gon-
indnst Ii Mr.. Jones said, and, al
though not temperance man, was
never known by his employers TO be IN
toxicated, and did not neglect his work.
He was of quiet, retiring disposition,
and had only d few intimate friends. He
was doing piecework, and on an average
made $40 week--sometimes earning as
much as $50. He went to see his family
at Derby once every six weeks he
worked exclusively at the trip-hammer,
and was considered a skillful mechanic.
Simmons was In the habit Of carrying a
silver watch and chain, and was accus-
toned to have $75 or $10Oand sometimes
more money on his person..
The head was examined by Dr. Hall
and two other physicians, who con-
cluded that the murder had been recent,
and that the man had been killed by u
wound in some other part OF the body,
and that his head had been cut of after
ward. A visit was made by detectives
to the residence Of Mrs. Mary Beck, at
Fourth and North First streets, BROOK
lyn, Il. D., where Simmons boarded.
Mrs. Beck said that he was at his supper
as usual on Thursday night. After
supper he went out, but returned In
about ten minutes. About 0 p. m. he
went out again, saying he would return
i'm n few minutes, but ne did not come
back. Simmons did not appear at
breakfast the next morning, and 1t was
found that his room had not been occu-
pied. The light was still burning as ne
had left It when he went out. The night
had been stormy but he had not worn
his overcoat nor taken his umbrella.
His revolver, which he usually carried,
was left behind In the bureau. These
circumstances indicated to the .detec-
tives that Simmons had Intended to
return In few minutes. On Saturday
Mrs. Beck reported his absence to the
police only short time before his head
was found.-N. Y. Tribune.
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The claim OF the Ohio Democrats that
their State is n "keystone," and that