The New York herald., 1878-07-03
James P. Deering Shot Down at Noon
Yesterday in Fulton Street.
THE ASSASSIN ARRESTED.
Not Even the Shadow Of Justifi-
cation for the Crime.
NOBLE CONDUCT OF THE VICTIM.


about quarter to O'Clock p NJ, young English
man namod George Foster Howell, about twenty
years OF age deliberately hred pistol at James 7.
Deering, a young clerk OF American pareptsge. and
shot him In tho back the ball penetrating 10 the ei
lung ana lacerating to sucn an extent that the le
OF the victim Is despaircd Of The shooting, though
cnly the work Of instant, drew immense crowd
to tho spot whore Deering fell, right in front OF the
Commercial Advertiser Office. There was no lack OF
police officers either and while the murderer ran as
fast he could down Fulton toward the river
onicer Jeremiah Sweeney OF the First precinct, paid
his attention to the wounded man. who was bleeding
lcarfuy, and had him placed in a coach and ten
dcrly moved him First police precinct station in
New street. Onieer Coulter, OF the Fourth precinct,
caught Howell at the corner OF Fulton and Water
Streets the very time that Inspector Murray hap
pensd pass BY and the two dsarmed tho young
shootist and took him before Captain Cafrcy, at
the New street police station. Exaggerated stories
began circulate the OF the shooting,
W which threw veil Of mystery the entire affair
well calculated to increase the excitement AS the
HERALD reporter made his way TO Captain Cafrey' s
Office he found II surrounded by group Of curious
clerks ana curbslone brokers. 1t was evident from
actions and sayings oil the prisoner that the affair
resolved itself into case OF cold-booded murder
caused by Jealousy ana which tho murderer sincerely
regretted now that no was the officers Of
the law.
APPEARANCE or THE PRISONER
George Foster Howell is young man OF i've feet
seven inches. well formed, and has more the appear
apce OF American than an Eng shman The thin,
long brown HAIR hanging carclessy his forehead
adds TO the ''devil- may care look which is plan ted
all over his face He was dressed IN light summer
suit whito neckte and standing collar, and upon
being searched by the officers at the station house
hibtsd great coolncs In reply the questions
ne stated that had been born in England, resided
now at No. 45 West 12sth street; was formerly en-
ployed by his brother, who represents the firm OF
Jonn Thompson T. Co., iron commission merchants,
Al No. 32 Pine street had been discharged by his
brother, owing to representations made by James
P. Decring, the young man whom he had
shot ~ had made up my mind, Captain, "
he continued, Ito do OF two things: either
10 shoot myself TO shoot Deering l am
out OF work, out OF money and soon would have been
OF q home To-day accidentally saw Deerng com
ing from the General Post Oice, his way TO Pine
str Get. followed him through Fulton street, and
whom at tho corner OF Nassau street / pulled out
the PISTOL shot him and ran" The pistol, which Is
OF Smith Wesson s make, with ivory handle.
hero shown him, and ho confessed that 1t was the
weapon with which he had committed the deed.
CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS.
Tho wo unded man, who had by this time also been
conveyed 10 the New street station, was bleeding
from the mouth fcsriuily when the doctor from the
Chambers street Hospital arrived and desired him 10
ps taken In ambulance, to be cared tor At
the hospital Mr. Deerng objected, however, TO
gong there and said, "Oh, no: want to comfort my
mother Take mo to my mother" The doctor again
urged MIN TO accompany him TO the Chambers Street
HOSPITAL, when he tartly replied, IL don't want you
10 talk 10 IN that dictaioral manner. ! insist
upon being taken to my home"
Before beng conveyed to his carriage the piis
who lying in another room. Tho moment ne saw
Deering Howell lost control OF himself Toll upon his
knees and embraced .ne man nc IN has Jus, n eno.
ing; and the murderer said, ''Oh, | am awful sorry
for you" The wounded man repicd, audioly, al
die DO want you 10 su1er Tor me-" The two
young mon-for neither OF thcp, Is over twenty-two
years OF age, both apparently well educated-here
casped their hands, and the scene was such
but seldom witnessed In police station In TACT. the
wounded said II he had seen Howell before The
shooting he would have been giad 10 have taken
him by the nand, for he bad no idea that he
entertained any malice toward him The physician,
maS" Ds,Ss' eapeu e%amn",ion Of the wound. and
said that about half inch to the right Of he
les shoulder blade and that the ball had penetrated
the Lett lung Of course IL impossible to extract
1t there and then, and though he considered the
wound a very dangerous one he did not pronouncsJt
as necessarily fatal In accordance with his wishes,
previously expressed, Mr. Deering was taken TO his
residence No 2S6 West thirty seventh street,
wnere the hysieans OF the family commanded abso-
Lutte quiet thro ughout the DAY and evening.
THE PRisoSKR's STATEMENT.
Howell, the prisoner aiter shaking hands once more
with his victim by OF plain Cal.
Trey to one cells the station house Hero, by
u
noou the reporter OF the HERALD obtained from tho
prisoner the following statement-'l arrived this
coun,ry about two years ago NY brother has been
upon my arrival here no asked mo to DO his clerk
My mother resides In Nerves street. Liverpool
aud l have also sisters residing there. For
four years previous to my arrival In this country
apprentices on board merchant vessel,
and acted as bird mate on tho ship Cavalier dur
Ing her voyage IRON Callao. After had been with
my brother Tor some timc no became somewhat dis
pleased what had done, and on Saturday last no
~.
place. Tho reason my uroiher discharged
because there was somo irrcpularity IN ms books
during the month OF June when he made trip TO
Caltfornia IL 10 true that made away with
currency belonging TO him while Ia his employ, but
decline TO give the particulars OF these
really had no feeling against Dceing but alter mad
been discharged did not want nim to 20 back my
brother's place, as could not bear tho idea
shoald be IN position. Yesterday Monday morning
nv brother also told me that must leave his home
! boarded WIN him l2otb street. therefore eit
his hoass shortly alter breakfast Uut before dong
1 toox ns pistol with me- and shortly after bought
tho necessary cartridges i have bccn wandering
arosnd town ever sBce yesterday morning, anu ihis
40 as TO brace myself up TOOK ten glasses
ruined n4e. 1 have expended a great deal Of Lonoy
sItn 1nem. notably at house III 1874 street and
The East River, and also al "A certain place near
Maeomb's Dam Bridge. l was getting no regular
salary at my brother's aud drew what needed as |
went along. There also other women VINO have
.urped my head, but do not want 10 name them.
! am very sorry Tor what have doDo aud Wien IL
could bo undons. wv brother did the best Tor me he
could, Dut he turned me out al last"
kdward 4. Riddle, young man employed In the
Office OF tho general agent oil the Associated Prcss,
was also brought TO the station house as witness.
HIS testimony, as taken thus tar, agrees In the main
with the facts gwen above
WHAT THE PKisosERis BROTHER SAYS.
Mr. William II. Howell, the brother OF tue prisoner,
visited at his Office IN Pine street, but he knew
nothing Of tho occurrence except what he nad just
heard iron friends Who had called TO INFORM him Of
tine fact lie did not regard the irregularities US to
the missing moneys Of any great Importance, but no
said that OF late his brotners habits had become
tolorabIe He could not permit him 10 stay at
his house and come home at All hours
vi the night Wien he noticed that the
pistol had boon taken, which. by tho bye
was very valuable Que. he feared that George in-
tcndcd 20 nx him. but hc had no idea that he would
wreak his vengeance on young Dccrng. When told
that he had been ruined by women and VINE, Mr.
Howell said the moment lac heard OF tho shooting tho
idea struck nun that he had been urged TO commit
err me ike this by the pad women with whom he hau
no DOUBT kept company. There was never any ncccs.
a A clor as he 90 n