The New York herald., 1878-11-06
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
A woRKnfAN's WIFE BURNED TO A CRISP IN PAT

woRKMANs WIFE BURNED TO A CRISP IN PAT
ERsoN, N. J.-EvIDENoEs OF BLOODY sTRUo-
GLE-A TRAMP SUSPECTED.
What may yet prove to have been = cowardly and
brutal murder, but which has thus far been called an
accident yesterday threw the city of Paterson n j..
into fever of excitement and for the distracted
attention from the aabsorbng topic of the elections
At eleven O'Clock in the forenoon smoke was seen
issuing from the second floor Of the building in rear
of No. 300 Marshall street. The floor is occupied by
William Rafferty,. workman employed in the Passaic
Rolling Mill. who lives with his wife and daughter,
the latter two years old.
AROUSED By sHRlEKs.
At the time the smoke discovered Mrs Raj.
ferty and her child alone in the apartments and
their piercing shreks attracted tho attention Of James
Murray. who occupies the front building Hurrying
their assistance he found the doors leading to the
first floor locked and returned for his keys By this
time number of men had gathered in the yard. ana
when the door unlocked rushed to the floor
above. John Cahir, who first ventured into Mrs.
Rafferty's room, stiled with the smoke, being
restored to consciousness with little difficulty
When the atmosphere had slightly cleared another
man entered the rooms and kicked ont the window
sashcs allowing the wind to blow away the remaining
smoke.
HORRIBLE SIGHT.
When tho air had become sufficiently clear horri-
BILE sight met the gaze OF the who had gone to
S
floor in the agones Of death. Her clothing had been
entirely destroyed, and her flesh, especially on the
lower extrcmities burned to crisp. In the midi
die of the pool of blood, and everywhere
traces OF terrible struggle The walls and CELL
ing of the in which the dying woman was found
and Of the adjoining bedroom spattered with
blood, and the window sils smcared as II an at
tempt had been made to escape in that way Mrs Raf
ferty carried into the front building the chnrred
flesh actually dropping from her bones. Death came
to her relief in a few moments. Her husband. who
was summoned from polling place in the neighbors
hood. was well nigh crazed by the catastrophe.
THEORY THE CRIME. Isf tsAattrl
There seems to be little doubt that Mrs. rafferty,,
room where sho found not sufficiently heated
to have set fire to her clothing. and the bloody evil
denccs of the death struggle in her apartments
proof that her taking off was not accidental. Tho
theory that finds most favor with her neighbors and
the townspeople generally is that she was mortaly
wounded by desperate who sought to make her
death douhly while at the time conccaling
the traces Of his bloody deed What lends color to
this supposton Is the fact that illfavored man.
apparently tramp, to leave the house in
which the tragedy occurred shortly before the arrival
of relief. Instead of leaving by way Of the front
yard thu unknown man made his escape acrose the
vacant lots bordering Main street. The police
actively investigating the mystery. and strenuous
suspicious actions attracted the attention of those
who saw him on his way from the scene.
The little girl, who was left In the rooms with her
mother when Mr.. Rafferty, went ont In the morning.
was found sleeping in tho bedroom. tho bedclothes
covering her face 30 closely to have prevented
her being awakened by the noise OF the struggle the
cloud of smoke that filed the apartments The
afflicted husband is wholly in the dark as 10 the mo-
tive Of the crimefor that terrible crime has been
committed there is little ground for doubt.
Up to late hour last night no further clew had
been obtained as to the identity motive of the
guilty party. An inquest will be held to-day. r.