New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-06
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
COMPOSING THE KILLING OF FERRoN.


j. II. WRIGHT ASSERTS THAT HE ACCIDENTALLY
KILLED THE OLD BOATMAN.
The man who was arrested by the Brooklyn
poce Last Thursday on suspicion Of being implicated
In the murder Bernard Ferron the Brooklyn boat
man. was found yesterday to be j. H. Wright, nineteen
years Of ngc native Of Indian River, Me- where DIS
father, who is carpenter, resides, with fanny OF
seven eight children. Wright was seaman on poaru
the schooner Mary b. Harris, on which the boatman
came to his death
From the time that Ferron reported missing cay
tain Reilly of the Van Brunt street Police made every
effort 10 dispel the mystery surrounding the case Oh
Apr 26, six weeks after the disappeinS' tne
mans body was found In the Ere Basin, Wel%bte'
down with 100 pounds Of iron. The Iron was IN can
vas bag, upon which were found the words JOIN H.
Lewis, 81 SOuth-st, ship chandler, MI Lewis "aS
HHSi'SS '1t i the obnmf Mach IG and which had
such bag board schooner, the Mary b. haIti.
she anchored in the basin about February l. ana NeI
away April1. Captain John Crowley was ~ eoiIlinu
and there were only two other men, j. ii. wright ana
Ernest IabbOtt, on board. In the later PaII W
February the captain Went M"S 1or bs ,ntn of the
schooner George Jewcu, had left her on February ~
Wright subsequently admitted that he had stolen.
Jcwett who had shipped on another vessel was toGnd
by Captain Reilly and fully denIhed the 1ag, els
dered other assistance III WORKING up the case AlSr
leaving The Erie Basin, April the Harris went 10 Tue
IIUbOkcu coal dock, where she remained two days.
taking in cargo OF coal. While there Wright, VINO ha0
COueu iis ~ was sot a vi , ~ p1S hr sfar,pd
upon her About the same time another schO0ne
the A. II. IIodgman, with a similar cargo stare Tor
Portland, Me- Intending to stop Boston Wright went
by rail 10 Boston and there shipped on board the Hodg
mau which proceeded to Portland ana then returned to
this city, where she arrived last Thursday alter
noon. The schooner took her cargo to the
foot OF Fyseyentlst, and when she arrived There she
met by Captain Reilly and Detectives LOOney ana
DAILY, NhO were accompanied by Jcwctt, The mate. The
latter pointed ont Wright who WAS taken in custody.
He supposed that he arrested FOR stealing four
sniris rom Jewett board the Harris, and remarked
Wright was taken to The Van Rrunt Street Station
House where every effort made 10 induce him 10 tell
what he knew abU4t the murder lie denied all knOWi-
edge OF IT, and said lac had never seen the bag OF any OF
the IRONS. once, however in tine presence Of General
JOurdan he almost admitted that he mad eenJcwet sew
ing pdtch on TIE bag, nut 81 once denied IL wien
searched, pOCkctbUOK found upon hum. This was
shown 10 Mrs. FCrOn, exclaimed when she saw IT.,
8" My God! That is my poor husbands" and Rugged
and kissed It, Fun reliance was not placed upon her
Identification, as ntr mind is somewhat weak by
reason OF the trouble she has gone through.
the pocket book Ia Maine. and Superintendent Campbell
had decided 10 scud man To Maine To ascertain the
TACT, when yesterday he concluded 70 make another
effort 10 induce Wright 10 confess wright nj hfst re-
| pcatcd ms d.uaE, but finally SAID lie would
tel what lee knew. He SAID mat he wa,
alone on the schooner on March 49, Talbot
came Ou board ana thty had Wrestling match III th'
cabin Dunn. tins lac tnrcw the old man against stove
and siIl,d nm. lie then dragged tho body on deck
| attached the weights ana hung II OEeIbOaVl
Tai, was done IN broad daylight. lie sal,
hc put gag in ms mouth lie TOOK l'
DDgtuau- boat ashore, and returned in the schooner
bott returned be- -gu1cd o wright, Who went out ATE
him. WRIGHT explained that lac ndd gone ashore Win
bDlmqu aud returned IN The ya"i Inc aSt lh A'tvI
ing tu Michael Smuss story, Fcirou boat was htouEh
ashore BY three men Is ,Np.hHcd ~ the su!toS,uo
that the found 10 tied loosely aud went Out III II /"
Wr,sat Is closely watched by two men, who move
leave him. Captain Reilly fears that he VIII make al
attompi 70 commit suicide