The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-16
WRfeHrs rR1iL Fon munpEK.
The sailor Boy who Confessed that no KILLED
bernard Ferron.

An intelllgent-looklng jury was obtained
In the Kings County Court Of Oyer and Ter
miner yesterday to try John NJ. Wright. the
sailor boy. for murder In the first degree in
killing Bernard Ferron. the old river specu-
lator who went on board the schooner Mary b.
Harris In the Eric Basin. on March 16 last. to
buy old iron. ana was killed in the cabin Of the
vessel and then thrown overheard with 100
pounds OF ship-iron fastened to his body to sink
1t out Of sight The jurymen, for the most part.
knew little OF the case. and they manifested
strong interest In tho story Of the murder as
related to them by District Attorney Catlin.
Wright was dressed with neatnness., He sat
Herbert Hull. but did not speak TO them At
first he seemed the coolest person In the room.
the ships hammer the piece OF Ferrons skull,
Of the chapters headed Grimes Punishable by
belled in big ink letters. . Murder and Man
slaughter" he began to show a feverlsh interest.
sd SSG Ss p uS grew ST HS sd to aSo
tho gaze of the large court room throng. and
seemed panied When aHy group pressed for,
expression among the spectators because OF
the friendless situation Of the prisoner. who Is
stranger IN BE9osyp and has no f RE this
a poor carpenter lives His brothers and sisters
are industrious and much respected.
the District Attorney laid out the piece Of
Ferr0n,s skull and periee, . skull preparatory
to calling Ing DR. W. Shepard the paysTSS S Who
tor fitted the piece OF skull TO his own head and
showed where IL belonged.
Justice Gilbert-It fits nicely. tLauRhter.l
Dr. Shepard showed by the specimen skull
that the thick part OF the piece came at the oc-
cipital protrpberance. The skull Of Ferron was
unusually thick. the specimen piece being
about quarter OF an inch thick. The Doctor
Judged that some such instrument as the ring
turc could not have been produced by the heel
Of n boot. and the skull could not have been
6rokSn by man nan JUMPING On y That EaS the
ture Is in such q place that man could not
have made 1t by jumping on It Il the injured
made in the skull was three inches behind the
front OF the forehead. The weapon must have
been two inches IN diameter; The skull might
Justice Daniel Ferry testified that when
gully gully" to the charge Of Killing Bernard Ferron.
and signed voluntary statement TO that effect
after having been duly informed that he was
Other testimony was taken. and then Mrs.
| Bridget Ferron, the widow, Of the muir
ss Wben was showS the kn ,o comS
| other articles taken from her husbands body.
| she turned TO the wall and sobbed. The District
Of March.
Well, remember it to my grief. My hus-
| band let that morning ana dldnt come Dack no
more, / never seen him since that morning
| alive"
Tho prosecution closed their case after prov
ing that Wright had said that he had taken SIS
In paper money and sl.75 in silver from Fer
| ron's pockets.
MIR. Herbert Hull. in his opening. said that II
| Wright had kept his mouth shut, he would not
be in court to-day, for, the police, seriously
thought that they would have TO discharge him
| for lack OF evidence. Wright had been badgered
| into making u confession and had been kept In
close confinement until he owned UP TO the
| murder.
Philip Grove testified that he and three BOYS
In rowing about the basin on Easter Sunday
saw the body They took the painter aud made
a moose. and threw II over the head. The head
the witness said was as sound as his. They
| could not pull the body away The three com
panions OF Grove corroborated him. all testify.
| ing that the head was not crushed.
| Capt. Daniel Leighton of Indian River. Maine
| had Wright in his employ. and testified that he
would Away run before he would hight. Hi
legs would never stand still and see his body
abused" added the Yankee Captain with
| drawl.