The New York herald., 1878-11-16
THE MURDERED BOATMAN.

JOHN NJ WRIGHT PLACED on TRIAL FOR TAKING
The LIFE OF BARNEY FERRoN.
The trial of John NJ. Wright. the youthful murderer
of Bernard Ferron, the South Brooklyn boatman and
river spec alator, was begun in the Kings County
Court Of Oyer and Termiler yesterday morning be-
fore Judge Gilbert ana Associate Judges Of Sessions.
Two remaining jurors. necessary to complete ths
panel, obtained without dhiculty. The pris
oner, who sat by the side of his counsel, Col0ne:
T. L. Wood watched the proceedings in careless
sort of manner, never once maniiesting more than
passing interest in the case, which is to decide the
question of his life liberty. The court was
crowded when District Attorney Catlin opened the
case for the prosecution. In his opening General
Catlin reviewed in detail the incidents connected with
the disappearance OF Barney Ferron. the subscquen,
recovery Of the body OF the murdered man IN the
river. between the Erie Ercakwater and the Brookyi
shore; the indsputable evidence OF iuurder-thc rope
that held the body to the bag containing
ships irons; the working up of the links
of the chain OF evidence, and the arrest
and confession OF the prisoner, John NJ.
Wright. In the course OF his address General Catln
said that the injuries to Ferron could not have been
produced by the prisoners boots. as Wright had
stated to the Superintendent of Police and to Captain
Riley. but they were caused by blows dealt the de.
ceased the head with ring bolt or hammer,
which instruments the District Attorney exhibited to
the jury He then showed the jurors an inden-
tation on the skull of the victim which the imple-
ments shown appeared to fit His theory Of the
crime that Ferron was in q STOPPING position
when Wright struck him ON the head and in con-
Guiding, General Catlin said he would show that the
prisoner he'd been guilty OF murder in the first de-
gree.
The first witness examined was Dennis McNamara,
'longshoreman, who had known Barney Ferron for
years. He said he found the body OF the deceased
on the 10th of April while pulling in boat near the
Erie Basin. with man named Mcdonnell; his atten-
ton frat attracted by seeing little black speck
on the Of the water. and on pulling the object
he found it was piece OF rope to which the corpse
OF ferron Was tied. aa
that he made postnortein examination OF the body,
which was very much Gecomposei; the tongue pro-
truded and there was mark the side OF tho face
that indicated compression; the piece Of the skull
attached the back OF the head by portion of the
ecap the piece is about threc-eght of an inch thick
which is of greater thickness than the average skull;
a skull OF this character would resist considerable
force and witness did not thiuk that it could have
With With ths arSnis heels Of ooots as Z the pdy Spdy
lay the floor the skull could not bs
tho TOP Of the head; the heavy bolt or the hammer
fits the fracture and 1t could have been made with
either: the blow was sufficient to suspend animation,
il not to death; when witness saw the body thu
rope had been removed from the month his impress
zion was that the rope had been placed around the
head before the body was taken from the water. On
the cross-exannntion the witness said heavy blow
from a passing vessel or blow from an oar might
have broken in the skull after the first fracture had
been made.
Justice of the Peace. Daniel Ferry before whom
Wright arraigned. called to the witness
stand and Identified the paper on which the affidavit
containing the charge against the prisoner was writ
ten; when the charge read to the prisoner before
said he was twenty years oid lived in Indian River
Me- in the voluntary statement the prisoner said he
guilty Of the offence; Wright had no counsel at
the time; witness did not racollect the prisoner
saying that he did not exactly understand his posi-
ton.
wsrGHr's coMpATrox
Ernest Talbot, who was left by the captain Of tho
schooner Mary B Harris in charge OF that vessel in
company with Wright. in March Last. testified that
on the morning Of the 10Th Of that month
he went ashore about half-past seven o'clock,
rowing in the yawl boat. which he made fast at tbs
dock; he went to New York on business and did not
get back till four O'Clock that AFTERNOON; he then
hailed the Harris and Wright rowed of thd took him
time; In May last he went with Detective Looney to
Wright in the Raymond Street JAIL and hal con-
veyation with him in which the prisoner told of the
murders he then said that Fcrron on board In
the morning, and wanted to buy some coffee that he
in the cabin Wright said he told the deceased
that the coffee the captain and he would not sell
it Ferron said he would have any way; they
then had quarrel. in which Wright said he knocked
Ferron down and In falling he knocked his head
against the stove and mashed his skull: he struggled
tor while on the cabin deck, and Wright said lie
Jumped on his head and supposed he killed him about
robbed. and witness agreed with Wright to stay
up deck half the night by turns. to protect
that Wright was very cowardly after dark and mp.
pesrcd TO dread being alone on the lookout aftsI
niuhtfau. Wright's general character pcaceablc,
witness believed He would not positively identify
the irons found in the canvas bag as belonging to the
schooner
tilted tina. he had known the prisoner for year; the
schooner arrived in the breakwater February IA; he
positively identified the irons found in the bag az be.
longing to the Harris; May lie saw the prisones
at the Eleventh precinct station house, and told him
that the proofs were then strong sgainst him, and
"A - xylx.
arrived; the prisoner said he knew nothing about the
murder. On the crossexaminasion witness said that
he went to the foot Of Fiftyseycnth street New York.
with Detective Daley, and pointed out the prisoner
ON board the schooner Abbio H. Hodgeman, which
vessel arrived there Mayo.
jury to the skull could have been caused by jumping
it. He said that he was unable to say Us surgical
expert.
Supern endent of Police Campbell testified that he
the prisoner Oh May >. AZ the station honse. and
the irons then shown Wright, who said he hal
no recollection OF having seen them beforc on
Sunday. May .. witness again had . conversation
not recognize them; this murder. may have
been colnnitted IN sei-defencer Wright
sssn sst saa he shsS said that When Ferro on
board they talked about iron, which he wanted to
buy: they next talked about wrestling and cnchcd,
when. Wright said. he threw Ferron down, throwing
him against the stove; when down he jumped on him
and Kicked him: he drew the body on the deck. tied
the bag OF irons to 1t and throw IL ovcrboard; he
next rowcd Fcrrons boat ashore aud returned TO tha
Harris in tho yawlboat that had been left there in the
morning by Talbot.
Captain Riley and Detective Daley corroboratvi the
main points OF the Surerintendents testimony.
Captain crowley. OF the Harris. aud Mrs Fcrrons
widow OF the deceased, also testified but their testi.
mony unimportant
shortly after nve O'Clock the prosecution rested
aud the court took recess till scven
THE Defence.
When the court reasscnblcd Mr.. Hull opened the
case for the defence. lie said that Wright. who had
not seen Fcrron before March 16 would tell
RAJ tfOrN
only show tina. the prisoner he'd no enmfty toward
Tcrron. but also that the rope found w the pohcs
around the boatmans head was placed tncre ny iouf
boys, who had cndsavorcd to tow the body ashore.
Wright ne sad was led into telling story OF tha
murder by being locked UP in the station mousse Tor
several days aud made to believe that snperniehdens
OF Police Campbell was his friend
The nrst witness called was Phillip =. Crouch who
tc,Hc that who rowing to staten Island " ith threa
other boys on Easter Sunday, he observed in ths
water what he supposed 70 be melon or porpoise.
Upon rowing near Il he found y was mans head: