The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-05
MURDERED FOR HER FAULT.
IN ERRTNG WIFE PUNISHED BY UER
HUSBfND WITH DEATH.


the Mnn's Pursuit-Ono Mortal stab.
A woman's shrek and the words "Opon
the door; for the blessed Virgins sake. open
the door. were heard at 81 o'clock yesterday
morning. near tho middle Of the block in Cros-
by street betwoon Spring md Broomc. Many
OF the residents OF TINT neighhorhood had Just
arisen to prepare for = O'Clock mass, and tho
outrry drew thcm 10 tho windows. They saw
woman, clothed only in n whito undcrgarmcnt.
running ncross tho street. pursued by n man.
who held what seemed a long nail or spike in
hls clcnchcd upliited right hand Her long.
black hair WIS flying. and tho broken
ice In tho street was cutting her baro
feet She was ascending tho steps lead
ing 10 tho door she begged 80 pitcousy to
have opened. when tho man overlook her.
Instantly his weapon was plunged into her
right broast. She fell in n knceng position
upon the stcps.with hands reached forward and
above hor. SO that she seemed in the act OF
prayer. She remained so hardly n second. hut
aross and again attempted tho nsccnt OF the
steps. only to fall second time. Slipping down
t. the sidewalk. she lay helplessly. Tho door
WIS opened too late, and man looked out upon
tho dying woman. The murderer. throwing his
weapon away, ran up the street to Spring. and
disappeared in the direction OF Broadway, An
INK from which the murderer and the woman
had emerged. turned into Spring street. and
went toward the Bowery; police officer soon
signallcd for assistan -. stret'hcr was
brought, on which she was carried to the Null
berry street station. whore she died.
The steps on which the woman WAS murdered
were NJ 50 Crosby strcet. and 81 was the place
from which She ran. Tho latter il u grocery
kept 10y William Alfka. a German. Behind the
store is his bedroom. with II door leading 10 u
passage giving access to the upper portion of
the building Tn which Italian families live ON
entering the premises the police found this
door broken and punrtur"d near the latch. evil
IDENTIFY by metal instrument Of the weight and
shape OF the one that the murderer had carried.
A woman in tho story above said that she had
been awakened 10y the noisy efforts To break the
stairs in tune to see the man run into the street.
apparently In pursuit of somebody. Alfka was
intsrrogatod but he stoutly denied knowledge
who had been murdered. His bedroom was
searched. and n womans clothing was found
hidden between the mattresses Of his bed. The
store door and the door between the two rooms
were open. II was thus clear that. when the AS
sault was mad" on the bedroom door opening
on the passage way. the woman ran through
the store into the street
-. Investigation brought out the following facts:
with her husband at 81 Crosby street Her for
mer home suggested Itself ~ n refuge. and that
was why -h. Neg thrre. While living IN that
and. keeping ny the intimacy when she moved
away went 70 visit him on Saturday night.
Her husband the murderer. learned OF her
cundu !. caught her in Alfkas company. and
klll"d her ms described. description of
James Flood, sometimes known as mcfarland.
search i0r the nur,l.rer began The nun Who
ran up tho east side Of Crosby street amer tbe
iuurder was committed WIS soon found IN tho
Bowery. lie WIS Joseph Monessey and he a.
knowledged having been with Flood through-
spree" he said. and he had no no idea that ia any y
harm was intended when, after visiting many
posed going to his Old homo in Crosby street.
Monessey. suspected nothing when Flood
entered IS while he waited on the sidewalk
the chase and the murder followed. 80 soon
that he had no time to interfere. After the
murder he tried 10 escape. drcading 10 be ar-
r,st"i rs an dccomplicc.
The REASONABLE theory is that Flood was jca-
oqs, Of hiF wife. IN consequence OF having.
trntons paid 10 her 10y Alika. in whose store
she bought groceries. After the separation. he
suspect that She visited Alfka. Yesterday morn
ing his mlnt. excited 10y liquor. became filled
with the old jealousy, He uiereupon went with
entered hy the unlocked door TO the hallway
Thrn he listened at the door of the bedroom.
and overheard enough to convince him that his
wife was there; Drawing tnsmiths tool that
he chanced 10 have in his pocket lie tried with
It To ioreo tho door open. Tho pair within were
aroused, and the woman. expecting his immc-
diato entrance, did not stop To drcss herself be-
fore flying She ran through the store and
thence across the street. while Aifka hid her
clothes between tho mattresses Flood heard
her 20 out, and gained the street almost rs soon
ms sh9 dld. The chase and the murder have
already been described.
Jimmy Flood. the murderer. Is a tlnsmth
or mn'hlnist. and II was reanor. a steel in
tin. with which he killed ms wife. He is known
as an expert boxer and fighter; Is broad shout
dered and muscular He is not known to the
police as n criminal. although several years ago
he fed from Cleveland under suspicion. He is
said 20 havo ba"n scout on the plains Alter
going away from Crosby street Mary Flood did
not live with her husband, nut stayed alon" ut
q Grand street, and worked in n laundry in
Thompson street At both places she had the
reputation Of being an honest working woman.
She was refined in appearance, and very pretty.
Yesterday afternoon girl. wearing velvet
cloak. trimmed with fur. and otherwise richly
dressed entered the police station and said.
May see the lady that was -
iled sad the sergeant in charge She
has he"n taken 10 tho Morgue; but who are
your
am her sister" was tho reply.
Shc SAID that she and her sister had been
alone in the world. hut had seen little Of each
other slnc" the latters marriage. She refused
10 give hrr name or address.
Flood has not been arrested. He is believed
to have gone 10 New Jersey. where he has work
ed more than IN this city. with the intention Of
finally going West and resuming his wild life
on the plains. A detective with five ass stants
crossed the river yesterday afternoon ~ search
for him.