The New York herald., 1877-02-10
THE "REAMER" CRIME.
Result of the Inquest on Mary
Flood Yesterday.
ASSASSIN AND ACCOMPLICE.
A Night of Debauch and a Morn
~ ing of Murder.
FLOOD AND MORRISON HELD.

FLOOD AND MORRISON HELD.
1--WE, nine good and lawful men OF tho State OF Now
York, duly chosen aud sworn or affirmed and charged
to inquire behalf OF said people, how and in what
manner Mary Flood came to her death, do upon our
oalhs aud armations say THAT the said Mary Flood
hsr death bv stab wounds OF tho chest aud alb
domen inflicted with iron instrument (known a
reamer) while In tho hands OF her husband James, on
tho morning of Sunday, the 4th day OF February,
1877, IN front Of the house No So Crosby street. and
in our judgment Joseph Morrison was accessory be-
fore and the actn This was the verdict rendered
yesterday by tho Coroner's jury, which Coroner
Einger committed James Flood to the Tombs, with
out bail, and Morrison. in default OF 81, 900
Tho story ol the murder, as related by the officers
and eye witnesses sunday after It's occurrence,
somewhat amended the inquest yesterday, but not
divesed of any Of its horrible features An accessory
to tho crime has been found aud he who at the close
Of tho testimony yesterday regarded himself ono
who was merely held 10 aid tho conviction OF Flood
suddsaly awokc TO his true position--a partner In
guilt Joseph Morrison had no idea that his nights
spree with Flood even ON his own showing, would
bring him before the bar of justice paticeps crinis.
BEFORE THE IxouEsr.
The inquest had been sot down for twelve O'Clock,
and as usual cxpecant throng congregated around
tho building in winch are the Coroners Offices Tho
loungers were principally whose leisure hours
are generally those OF daylight and whose busiest
at night Many OF them knew "Jimmy Flood" and
they wanted to sec whether he had "weakencd
anyn since no had fallen into the hands OF the
police. Captain Aliaire, in full uniform, de-
scriod by them coming up the street from the Four
tcenth precinct and on him all eyes were nxed The
prisoner II felt, must be near him. the Captain
was an object OF little interest He crossed Houston
street. mounted the steep, old fashioned stoop OF the
building and undoubtedly would have passed in
partially unnoticcd but that he carried in his right
hand tho ..reamer" which had deprived Mary Flood
of life
X, ssThcre It is" said one.
swhat ?" said another, eagerly, and every head
turned.
..The reamer that Flood killed his wife with.' re-
marked somebody else But the Captain had disap-
pearcd inside the building instantly, and then Il was
Whispered. "Here comes the prisoner" Few, II any
saw him. for no was spirited" SO to speak, into tho
house and hidden from vulgar gaze This WIS quickly
known, and then the curiosity seekers hastened up
stairs to the room in which the inquest was
three women, one man and Deputy Coroner
Goldschmidt The women werc Mrs Burns, of No %
sister another who had no active in
what come, and Joseph Morrison, the principal
Witness He sat, or rather crouched near the Jurors
stand the lower part of his face buried in his hand
and chewing tobacco He was ordinary looking
mortal, with small oyes dark muslacnc bringing air
meany clad. He did not appear to feel moro than
usually III at ease Still he would bo taken for
bold man.
MISS MzzE PAGE.
Miss Page the hitherto mysterious sister, Is young
girl, whose cOuntenance wore traces OF gricf and
Something too. that told OF hardship She was dressed
In black Her dress was silk, her paletot velvet her
hat veil Of thickest Grape. She was In ALL quite
isinge looking and in marked contrast to the porty
be more than twenty five. All eyes were bent on her.
both before and during tho Investigation, ut frequent
stages OF which she was visibiy affected
The first nutter Of excitement was created by the
advent OF juror No. ], who was speedily followed by
the rest and then the people poured IN through each
Of the uoorways fast that 1t With small DIM
Guilty the officer prevented the place from being over
crowded.
The centre door opened minute or two later and o
man about i've feet eight mine, dark overcoat
| pants clean linen and black necktIe with a broken
| by Officers Corey, Moran, Wade and others He
paused second, but was quickly shown
passing around tho table Immediately In front OF her,
was seated one remove from Morrison. Officer Covey
sat between them. There was buzz among the audi.
ence as the broken nosed sat down. II James
Flood who had just taken chair next TO Mrs. Burns.
separated from his victims sister He just glanced
ut her and shc at him, but their eyes did not meet
TACT at ctage OF tho proceedings did either catch
the others gaze.
| At twelve O'Clock precisely Coroner Ellinger took
his seat at his desk beside his deputy. He related
briefly tho jurors the circumstances OF the MURDER
whereupon they were sworn While this was being
done Flood bent forward and scanned the
of the Jurors narrowly whde the cold professional nc.
cents of the Coroner brought tears to the eyes OF
Lizzie, who strove IN vain 10 hide them rhe autopsy
made by Deputy Coroner G0dschmdt was then read.
| 1t is as follows:-
the Morgue inspection found the body with
ss S
wounds was situated on the right Srsast in the tne
inch a half to the right Of the median line; the
@ as nse !. Ss sas s
Of the wound the probe strikes agans. the seco
and backward to a depth Of about six or q
iuaing Vessels in its course, but NJ" entering the
The second wa. "na to be sDaUmns
dian iine. woundng the peritoneum cmentum and per
examines aud found normal. The head EXAMINED aud
death ns ~ my by shock
THE FIRST wiTxRss.
william Foster, tho first Witness simply related tka
he lived ut No 81 Crosby street, and that he was
compostor and then :-' have been this house
| since August last, and when came thcro deceased
lived the first oor with her husband; at that time
l did not hear OF any quarrels between them, bu
heard that Mrs Flood wns rather fast, and that she
and her husband did not live very happily; never saw
deceased under the influence OF liquor; on the 4th o
February, about half past live or SIX O'Clock A. NJ,
was awakened by my wife and Informed that there
was some fight the street; looked out Of the win
somebody groan and my attention was directed by. o
man or boy 10 woman in the hallway, who
he said was IN dying condition; went
| out and found woman In the hallway covered with
blood and surrounded by several policemcn did moi
recognize her at nrsl and even stated to policeman
who asked me about her. tina; It was not Mrs Flood
her head toward tho street, her feet toward the
STAIRS sho covered with blood; my wife wanted u
| 20 out and assist her."
During TINS narration the prisonor began to evnce
signs of nervousness, biting his nnger nails and NOV
ing restessly In his chair. This. hOwevor, soon sub
sided and before the last witness OF the day was
amincd Flood had quite recovered his possession
James Conway, OF the Fourteenth precinct, who was
|
hallway of No. b2 Crosby street, described by tho
previous witness. She had nothing on but black
skirt and chemisc She was living, but unable to
thought the stabbing must have been done
| IN the house; | went to all the houses
In the neRhborhood, but could nnd out nothing about
~ after came from the first examination oil No.
81 Crosby street to the street again, found this
reamer tpointing to the Instrument on tho tablet on