The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-23
FOSTERS MEADOW HORROR.

PROBABLE MURDRRRss
The inquisition the cause Of the death OF little
Maggie Bauer continued al Charlicks Hotel Valley
Stream, yesterday. The proceedings commenced soon
after eight O'Clock anu District Attorney Downing as
on the previous day. conducted the examination OF wit
nesses. Much Of tho testimony taken tends still fur
Their to strengthen The suspicion against Kate Hoffman
Coroner Hicks submitted the hairs found on Kate's
clothing and supposed to be from the murdered chds
head to the private examination of the parents, and
they expressed the opinion that the hair WAS
XaggIes The members of the Rhoads family-thc
same to whom suspicion attaches-wcre subjected to
close examination. They werc somewhat confused and
contradictory in their statements and abb for
Albert Rhoads was not clearly established The intcli-
gence Of the family appear be of very high
order ana the discrepancies may be the result OF i'm
perfect recollection. The irshman Collins who has
been under arrest suspicion since tho day following
the murder succeeded IN pretty clearly establishing his
innocence and he was discharged on his own recog'
nzance.
Mrs Charlotte Rhoads wife OF Richard. testified that
she at home on Monday all day; her husband was
part Of the forenoon and alter dinner land down
and went sleep; Alfred got back from picking ber-
ries about twelve o'clock he and his wife had dinner
about one they stayed at home until three or four
O'clock when they went to Fowers TO pick beans the
clock TOO fast; Richard got up between two aud
three, and stayed around the house; Richard got up
while Philip was eating dinner There were some ap
parent discrepancies in the witness statements IN
regard to time, that Mrs. Fowler recalled TO ex
pain, and the tange partially clcaredthe state
ments OF the two witnesses mainly agreeing SiuthoH
thought 1t was about halipa three when they went
to Fowler's
berries at George Motifs he went Carriers store lett
nbout O'Clock went home and got dinner and then
went 10 picking bcans-he thought about Two O'Clock;
he las at home meantime all tho time. and so was
Stuthon in going home from Carriers he went by the
main road most OF the way; he knew Richard was at
home because he saw HIM on the bed. and he got up
Dali nOur uIterWurd-aOOut napaSt one by tho
true time; when witness lett he Richard was
al home-about hali-past one or two 0'cock-becausc
he heard HIM talking.
Samuel d. Garter, storekeeper, remembered that
Albert Rhoads at his Monday he thought,
about haiI-past one; he sitcrward Albert IN Fow
ler's lot picking beans about three O'Clock.
CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONY.
Mary ChappeIl Richard RhOads' married daughter,
only sixteen years Old testified that on Monday ut her
fathers house, they took dinner about twelve o'clock
first shc said she lay down IN the forenoon, then III
the afternoon; she did not know whether her father
lay down not; did not know where he was but knew
he was ut home before she went to pick beans: then
her father lay down after dinner until three O'Clock
she sure because she looked apthe clock; he
out doors in the afternoon while witness there
The Witness was evidently much confused by the Dis
trct Attorneys questioning and her evidence was full
OF contradictions. She said she had never been TO
school and could not road or wrte she positive
that she went 10 pick beans about three O'Clock.
Cattarna Dayas, who lives some distance south Of
the Hummel place, testified that Kate Hoffman called
at her house on Monday about two O'clock and asked
the way to the Valley Stream depot; drank q glass OF
beer and paid for IT with live cent silver piece Kate
said she was In hurry TO catch tho tram; she lett
Valley Stream Tor Hampstead eight four
O'Clock.
Albert Rhoads recalled, said that Mary Chappc was
mistaken IN statement that she had made that sho
him around the house before three O'Clock:
he got his dinner he went to pick beans; he
not at nome from O'Clock to three had been
testified by previous witnesses.
Mrs. Albert Rhoads cstiei that she HAD been mar
red 10 Albert about thirteen years; she did not go
Albert called for her the way home they got home
and got dinner; 1t took her about hour; they
got homo about one O'Clock; Richard was on the bed
asleep but got up afterward; Stuthon went out
TO Mr.. Reynolds store; Richards folks had mad their
dinner; Stuth0n brought some butter from the
and they had dinner together Richard still in the
house; Mary Chappe was up and around while they
having dinner, and immediately after dinner they
pick beans at FowIcrs alter they reached
homo Albert went out to the barn to look after
chickens; witness and StuthoT waited up on Monday
night uuti about midnight, when the searchers after
Richard William Rcising, Sarah F. Combs, Mrs
Maggie Walters, Frank Fowler, Mrs. Mary Ann Came
ron Herman Cameron, H. Suthof, Mrs X. Fowler
the other witnesses
Mrs. Mary Ann Cameron testified that sho had known
Collins u number of years he Is little quarrelsomc
when hs drinks on Monday she saw him several
times at Wood Chuens house, and seems to have
had q knowledge OF his whereabouts until hat-past
two O'Clock. Her testimony was pretty convincing
to Collins innocence
Herman Cameron, her husband. corroborates her
testimony.
Christopher Hess testified that he saw Kate Hoffman
ut Mr.. Bauers house in the presence Of the corpse
She crying and making great noise. He said he
would like to SEQ tho person VINO killed that child, and
she exclaimed, casping her hands, my God, forgive
all my sns!" and kissed the corpse. AT Anthony
Wrghrs afterwsrd. witness saw Kate, and sue APP
peared though AFRAID no officer, and was
afraid he was going to arrest her.
Michael Collins, who has been under suspi-
cion since the day following the murder, placed
the stand He Is an unprepossesstng lrshman, with
cast IN his lett eye and Is addicted TO occasional
sprees. He was on spree on the Sunday before the
murder and lay down to sleep In Wood Chuen's
house Kate Hoffman was locked up IN the Town Hall,
at jamaica where he had been confined, and he had
heard her repeatedly say that she was innocent Al
the conclusion OF Michaci's testimony he dis
charged on his own recognizance, promising to keep
sober, and BE- ready when called as a witness.
Sarah Hartner was called to testify 10 Kate HoT
mans character. Kate about last Easter tme talked
against the Baucrs alleging that they KEEP. her hus
band away from her and wished that they would
have an hours luck She OF violent temper and
frequently made use OF harsh language toward the
Baucrs
Wood Chuen, the colored man In whose house
Collins went TO sleep on Monday testified that when
he went home to dinner about two O'Clock, he found
Collins asleep in his place; he had known Collins
since he was boy, and had never known OF his dong
anything very bad, though he occasionally got drunk.
Al the suggestion of the District Attorney there
had private consultation OF himself the Coroner and
Jurymcn the proprety OF taking further tes
timony AT the present time. 1t determined 20
on and finish up all the testimony at hand and after
recess for dinner the examination was continued
BAD FOR KATE HOFFMAN.
Peter Walters called He testified as to the find
Ing OF Mapse's body; examined around the cedar
and found, as he supposed, tho tracks OF a woman
wearing gaiter shoe with . high heel-a shoe
witness mentioned THIS to his brother at the me and
he II also he first the track about four feet
from the body. He had Kate HoGman's CATERS,
and he thought they would make such track
Morris Craft, officer OF the OF Hampstead testi
fed that he went to the poorhouse Tuesday and got
Kate Holman Al. Rhoats with hun. Kate
asked II ne had came after herr her old man tmean.
ing her husband) had sent for her. The officer said
mo" Kate SAID they couldn't take her any further
than the JAIL and did not express any objection TO
companylng them. On the way she did not say any
thing about the little girl Mr. Lewis, keeper, gavo
witness kas's clothes al the poorhouse
Oficer Abraham Hamer, OF Jamaica, testified that
he first saw Kate Hoffman at Mr. Bauer's Tuesday,
when they were talking about the murder Kate SAID
that she left Maggie Hammels house. when she gave
her 10 cent piece with hole kissed her good
bye when Nate lett Mr.. Bauer's house he followed
and overlook her. and told her get the wagon
sns asked ''What do you want of mcy DO you think
murdered that chidf' She aierward asked, ''Why do
they accuse mo of killing that chidy Hamcr SAID, III
don't Know she then sad. ''Its that dirty Dutch
lob at baueis;" tho officer asked what the trouble
was, and Kate SAID II Was about some furniture, when
she went ihere Bauer and her husband wero always
taking Dutcn together, and about her; she further