The New York herald., 1878-09-15
A MISERABLE LIFE ENDED.
Suicide Following an AlrOciOus AT.
tempt at Murder.
RUM AND BAD TEMPER.
Babylon, l.. l., in Ferment OF
Excitement.

Twenty years of marital misery found nttins de-
nouement IN Baoylop T. l., on Friday, in the death
by suicide Of Mr.. J0hn heudricSson, resident OF the
village For many years Hendrickson had lived 10 .
small story and bau cottage, surrounded by half
OF ground, about mile northwesterly from the
heart OF tho village OF Baby on. twenty years ago
he became the seconi husband Of The Widow Van
Cott. who wns the owner OF the place, and had a
son. Henry Van Coti then twenty, but
forty years Old. Hepdrckson was bsyman thstia
lie nshed "a tho Great South Bay during the nshin1
season and hu nted the wild ow during the shooting
season. lie vas noted as an experienced clsmmer,
and through his occupation picked up considerable
money But he spent great part OF his ngs for
whskey. aud was frequently drunk His habits were
peculiar He WINS early and was often on
tho camm,ng grounds b,iore other bay fisher men
GU, of she'r bets Hc pedded his clans IN the
village and after dsposing of his catch would spend
good part OF the proceeds IN drink, gong home, as
a rule, drunk, but always before night. He
in the village after nig,hfa.
Going home In this condition he generally
managed TO pick a qu,rre' With either
MS wife or hts sepson more frequently the latter.
When not drunk ne was good natured enough, ar
parenuy but when under Inc innuencs OF liquor be
became Quarrclsome with his family. This, his
wife Nara saws haa been going on ever since
they were married, and gradually growing worse
Aoudr1CkBor
was about hitysix The son, who served three years
In the ot The Rebellion, boat builder trade,
but also "ioliows the bay" Tor a hvlng whom soi
otherwise engaged.
rKSiIMxAgY gArrLK.
s.nrn., h.narnks'n ms, was IN no,. the -, vi'as, on
OF liquor, bat went home before dinner less
drunk than usual Al the ,,Ipner liable, however. he
began ms usupi quarrel with his stepson, Van Cutt,
without any apparent cause which ended IN rough
und-,umbio hight IN the dining room, and aualiy out
on the front stoop, where the fight continued.
HIS mother subsequently said. henry not being much
him Gown aud was choking h:m severely, when tho
mother went 10 her sons rescue and, she says
pulled Hendrickson of by main force lie mad Ire.
aucn,y before IN his drunken ts threatened th. life
OF his wife, ana now he exclaimed: God damn you.
l'il murder you"
rAE ArrExrrEp MrRDER
On being Released from his step atuer's clutch. Vat
Cott expressed Tue determination 20 aud get
rant for Hsndrickson's arrest, remarking that he
should not live in that house any longer Hondrick
son appears to have sueniy gone into room on the
opposite side Of the small hallway from the dining
room where there "A bed. ana lard down.
Van Coti actually went to the village aud procured
the warrant; bus as tue sequel shows, II vas never
served. A lew minutes sler the son left tho mother
entered the room whore Hsndricksop lay, and she.
too, told hi m that ho would have to leave He made
no reply. Then young man named Charles saxton,
who wanted Van Cot 10 do some work Tor him, came
iiendrckson law and spoke s'' to ' him M.nSr,eH'
son sand, GLOW dye do. Cha-tc5" In hrs ordi-
drunk and noticed scratches his face received
the cinch with Van Cot. Tnen soxt0n went out on
the stosp with Mrs. Hcndricksou and she sat down
In chair, with back toward the house, while
stood by OF the posts IN front oil her. Just then
girl named Mary Jane Davis engaged in the family
OF Mr.. Androw Arnold, who lives about two hundred
yards Of Hcnd dricksons place, came get pail
Of water ana stood IN me yard IN front OF the stoop
crash or glass, and mrs Hsndrtckson ana les Davis
| islt themselves wounded. Heudrickson had
nssa nss room 50: %hsn Was 'as ae O.
that the window was cssei at the time doubtless
counts for the slight nature OF the Injuries received
| pation showed that only ono snot struck Mrs Hem
drckson-in the cheek. only penetrating the sixth
while hve struck MISS DavIs--twv left breast,
one In the PIT OF the stomsch, one In tho upper r,
aud two In the right eloow-ali iunic,ng only ssn
wounds. Saxton called upon the Otncrs4 10 ron spc
himself started for Mr. Arnoids house. Miss Davis
ran ou, Al tho front gate AMI along the road IN ihs
same direction, while Mrs. Hcndrickson rnn around
the house 10 the rght and made her way through tns
| rear lots TO Arnod's
belonging respectively To Hendriekson and his step
zoe. he former loaaed and tue latter ioaaed
drleksou was one barrel Of this gon be nsa dis.
charged through the window standing al tne pier be-
tween the two windows and aiming diagoualy. A
screen. several pancs OF glass we're smashed
and a branch Of large sr'pevne ".osa Hosa
| snerward Mr. Giipert Morris, VINO lives {.
| shsrt distance eastward OF the house, saw Hcndrick
son como ou, with tho gun ami 10 around the house
In tho direction taken by his wife, II looking Tor
nor, returning IN lew moments after with tDc gun
on his shoulder; pretty soon another report was
hc,rd No one supposed that Hcndrickson had cum
| mitted suicide aud those who fed did 10
return 10 the house Tor fear o psibg again shot A.
| CHASTITY scESg.
| Thus matters Remained until hr. John J.. Seaman
came 10 the house deliver gram ordered tue
| day before by hcniricksou. lie Inc hrst 10 enter
The house, ana upon gong into the room from which
The snot had been red horrible sight met his view.
Hspdricksoa lay upon the floor, his mead toward "a
small stone by the fireplace MS fees toward The WIN
dow and the gun oi the feet The lct sido
! OF his head Was almost completely blown away. The
back OF the door, zoe wilis sud the ceiling by tno
window where tue deed committed Uero thicky
epsttered and bcsmoared with blood. lie Getting aoUvs
tue muzzs OF the gun under his chin, aud ieschlug
the trigger probably with his toe, had tbus discharged
the second barrel cndod existence. IL Is
possiDio to say whether the prcmsditated of
tho result OF impulse caused by lear oi arrest aud
punishment. curious circumstance is tue i~ct
that beioro shooting himself tie went 20 tho front
stoop ana completely giralcd tho fnsio s'sik OF tue
mined n he could epJoy It's iruIt tho others
| should not Mr.. Seamsn Immediately gave an aafD,
the neighbors gathered snd tue Irightsnsi iustves
returned. Wort was sent TO the village, aud "a Kuow
| edgo OF the occurrence mus nrst reached the
| stepson. coroner Preston summoned from
Amityvle, aud held an inquest at The house. whicu
not concluded untIi one O'Clock Yesterday novh-
out at the inquest. anu verde, vas Ia aceovd-
ancs win tnem, tnat hcndrickson died BY MS ova
| act
Iu cobvsrsation with reporter yesterday Mrs.
Hendrickson, who u apparently sn ansbic snd mid
tempered woman, cxpr-ssed great thank tuincss Tor
her tort unste escape from death she describ,d nee
experience since marrying Hendr ick son as bio
one 1horc is evideuly l.ttic sorrow the TAM y
| IN consequence OF H-ndricxsou's asstu.