The New York herald., 1876-03-18
A HORRID MURDER.

A POOR wAsHKRwoMAN OUTRAGED AND MUIR
DERED-HRR HEAD CLEFT IN MANY PLACES
WITH A HATcHET.
Another horrible murder occurred last night in a
tenement house on Second avenue, near Tooth street
poor, respectable woman n washerwoman, aged
forty years, the mother OF nvo small children found
in the house OF her employer. lying dead in pool
OF blood her head frghtiully hacked and her brains
spattered on the walls and door. The perpeirator of
the terrible crime believed be odger the house
named Thomas J. Bartell, aged thirty years The
motive for the decd is as yet shrowded in
mystery, but it is suspected that the murderer
first outraged his victim aud then, TO hide
his crime, killed her. The details of the terrible affair
follows:-
Yesterday afternoon Mrs Freeman, living at
No. ALA Second avenue, went, at tho suggestion
OF Thomas J. Bartell lodger in her house,
and the husband OF her niece overo Wards Island to
adjust family difficulty existing between Barell and
his wife, who is living with her father ihe islaed
The father, Mr.. William Healy, is the head baker
on the island Somo four months ago his daughter
left her husband because OF his habits of drunkenness
Mrs Freeman being her aunt, and Interested
her welfare acted sort Of peace
maker, and made several efforts TO reconcile
the differences between husband and wife.
These Efforts far proved successful that few days
ago Barte assured Mrs. Freeman that he intended to
quit drinking and live proper life II his wife would
only come back to him. Upon this assurance she de-
termined to act and therefore cnt Mrs Barell
stated. The latter only too
GLAD OF THE SEEMING GOOD RESOLUTIONS
OF her husband, and willingly agreed TO go back and
live with him. The two ladies took the ten mnutes
past five p ~ boat for New York, arriving shortly
the house On arriving there, Mrs. Freeman
expressed much astonishmcnt at finding the basement
door locked, as she had left II unsecured wnen she
started Tor the Island her washerwomnr, Mrs Ann
Hammond, being inside engaged in washing Mrs
Freeman rang the bell several times. but there
response.
Mrs Freeman finally forced open the basement win
dow, and with Mrs. Barte entered the room through
It, All was quiet within. They proceeded to tho
kitchen in the rear, whore horrying sight their
view. Lying on her back the floor Mrs.
Hammond covered with blood. Tho walls and doors
spattered with blood and brains The head OF the
victim presented shocking sight There live
deep and CHASTITY wounds upon it, Thick punches of hair
scattered around Her clothes were disarranged
and torn Her hands were clenched and bloody All
showed that death did not take place without terri
bic struggle.
The horrihed spectators quickly ran from the scene
and notified Captain Robbins, OF the Twenty third pre-
man suggested that
else in the house with the unfortunate
woman. Tho Captain at once detailed officers
to hunt for him. He was found leaning !
the house, watching the place He was
promptly taken into custody and locked up On his |
cuns noticed spots OF boods but his hands
Clean apparently having been recently washed. He
manifested no alarm when arrested but went quietly to
the station house.
Tho police made thorough search of the house for |
evidence and found small hatchet in pail OF
bloody water the of the house. Some OF the |
blood had been washed from it, but the handle red
with gore.
/ STATION HOUSE,
Captain Robbins asked the prisoner to account for
the blood which to be upon the cuffs of
his shirt He alleged that he got the blood |
Ia fight with certain Patrick Ryan. |
Search was made for the latter, and he |
Iound Upon being confronted with the supposed |
murderer, he denied having been engaged in any fight
with him. Ryan accounted for black eye he had by
stating that IL received days ago fight |
TO warrant this statement it clearly not the
suit OF very recent blow. The prisoner, aluding to
the blood stains said
''rHs THING THAT GIVES AWAY,
but got 1t in the muss with Ryan" The prisoner at
the time Of his drunk and when in the
TO make any statement and sald that ne would wait TO
speak until he should be brought before the proper r
bunaL There is much difficulty in getting at any tan
gblc motive for the horrible crime Although the prs
has for the last four months been separated
his wife, still the latter is rm In her denial of any
Ill treatment at his hands She that the sole
for her leaving him is his habitua intoxcaton.
Her statement this point is, in the man, |
roboraed by the wfe's relatives. He is reputed
to be man of violent temper disposition
Consequently the crime imputed to him came
terri BILE shock to the neighborhood IN which he lives
lend itself to the suppostion that she had IN any
unusual way provoked the murderer She
known to be sober, honest, hard
working woman, pleasant and inonensive IN all her
ways In the absence OF all ordinary motives for the
dreadful decd is believed that she met her death in
neil ighborhood who say that such is the only cause
nationally asslgnable.