The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-23
REVENGE INDEED.
What Prompted Jacques to the Orchard
Street Crime.
A CORONER'S INVESTIGATION.
Annie Surman'S Death "by Stab Wounds,
Pistol Shot Wounds and Blows"

The inquest in the case OF James W. Jacques and
Mrs. Annie Surman, both OF whom were found dead
in ut No. l94 Orchard street. last Wednesday,
the by suicide and the other by murder, was held
yesterday, at the Ceroners' Office, Mulberry and
Houston streets, by Coroner Woltman Beside the
Witnesses seven in number, the women clad IN
black, there were NO others present The evidence
presented has been or less anticipated, except
that what is here given rendered under oatb ana IS
far exact and conclusive. The Coroner was par
ticular in impressng upon the minds OF two oil the
witnesses when cry OF murder 10 raised there
should be no hesitation the part OF any one
hearing 1t to break down windows or doors,
no matter whether invades the rights hurts the
property Of tenant or landlord From the evidence
OF the policeman 1t would appear that addition OF
few more officers the patrol in his precinct which
Is full of crowded tenement houses, is demanded by
the Of this case, wherein Is seen that
time was lost seeking the help of police Officer
THE TESTIMONY
The first witness examined John Bors Of No.
194 Orchard street, who testified as foows:-I am a
cigar packer; did not know Mrs. Surman, but have
spoken several times to jacques saw him alive last
about two weeks ago; on Wednesday, January
Is, two O'Clock p NJ, Mrs. Edwards, liv-
ing In tho house. said, 'My Godl that
man Jacques must be killing that woman -
their room, winch was the first floor, but it was
quite dark; / then out for officer, but could
find none; returned to the house and met my sister
at the door, who informed that she had just heard
a shot fired l then intended TO 30 to tho station
ana met Officer Gibson on the way; he came
with me and burst open the door and won't into the
and found both jacques and Mrs. Surman dead and
the full blood; jacques had lived in the house
about Ave months; saw Mrs. Surman at the house
only once.
BoRsrs STATEMENT.
attic Bors, No. 1874 Orchard street. testified as toll
lows IL knew Jacques by sight; saw Mrs. Surman
al times passing and out; on the 10th OF Jan
nary about two o'clock p NJ, l was up ironing
ON the first floor when Mrs. Edwards came In TO me
mud said, "Don't you hear that man down stairs ho
ering and screaming? l think he must be killing that
woman went down stairs with my brother, popped
in through the blinds and saw Jacques with knife In
his hand stabbing and cutting Mrs. Surman; ho-
lowed AT HIM, Out he did not hear; went Tor an
officer bat could mol lind one; returned, ana whilo
standing the hall heard shot tired heard Mrs.
Surman cry, "Help murder! lew minutes alter
ward officer came and burst in the door; went
into the room subsequently and found both dead on
the floor the room being full OF blood.
Coroner Woltman-Can you say now long it was
after you first heard the NOISE OF what going on
until the police officer Gamer
Witness-I could not
BY aJuror-Was 1t ten minutes, or half an hour, or
an hourr
Witness-lt must have been over ten minutes.
Coroner Woltman-Was there no man present who
would 70 and burst in the door when he heard these
cries OF murderY
witness-rhere was at first only my brother; but |
suppose he thought II was u policeman's duty
Coroner Woltman--I want IT to be known that there
Reserved rights IN cares of this KIND and that
anybody is free 10 break into any room or house
H. Your brother had a perfect right TO
break III che door, and Is not necessary hunt
ing around for man with blue and shield. IL
Is hard TO lind a policeman when you want him. es-
pecally IN emergency, and people should learn To
act without him. particularly where 1t is question OF
lie or death There Is no reflection on anybody
these remarks, but II Is FOOLISH To rely at all times
the police.
WHAT MRS. EDWARDS HEARD.
Mrs AnD:e Edwards OF No. 194 Orchard street. testi-
6ed:-l did know Mrs. Surman or jacques eX-
cept by sight; l had lived in tue house about
month and had them four FIVE times; on
Wednesday, January Ii, about two O'clock | was
washing on the same floor with deceased when heard
the cry proceeding from the room OF jacques, ''On,
you are numbering meln the cries OF murder contln-
ued and got frightened and mp Mrs Borst
on the next moor; lew minutes afterward, while
s,anding on the landing, heard pistol shot, and
u few nutes alter beard another, the police
came; The time consumed between the first cry and
the arrival oil The police was about fifteen minutes:
did not 20 into the room, but looked in from
lance, and could not tell whether they dead
not.
THE PoILcE oFFIcER's STORY
Henry G. GIBSON, an officer OF the Tenth precinct,
next testified as loiows:-On January IT, while on
my post, winch extends for thirty-slx blocks from
DIVISION to Houston, orchard and Ludlow ana cross
streets, relieved man about ten minutes after
O'Clock when met John Borsta block ana half from
No. ly4 Orchard street; burst open the door aud
found both Mrs. Surman and Jacques The floor
dead; Mrs. surman lay with her leet In the sillng
room ana head aud body in the bedroom; the pistol
and knife were near Mrs. Surman and the razor aud
the stove litter were near jacques; then reported
the case ut The station house; On the day mentioned
the precinct covered by ten the patrol going
roun nd once would take about hour
JACQUES EMPLOYER TEsTIFiES.
Conrad Missoach said II reside at No Ill Essex
street; have known jacques since september 1870;
he agent for collecting orders Tor the Empire Guy
1876, when he went iall account OF some diamond
affair, and remained In jail until about March 1877
when he Came back to our employ ment at No. TAG
broadway; he renamed with until the time
oi his death; he told tual he was well on lived
previously IN Chicago, but did not say why he lett:
oil lace lac appeared downhearted and asked me 10
write 10 his sister Tor money TO enable him
new life IN the West; no answer received from
his sister, but he mad letter from his son. he mad
nine children
"REvESGE REvESGEr,
He often spoke about tax ing his life but did not
attribute any importance To IT until The nght before
thc occurrence, when he came my place crying ike
u child and saying everybody had gone back ham,
anu muttering the words "ReveDge, revcngeln ne
seemed very despondent; 1 saw nm again next
morning and he was looking horrible with a Kind of
insane expression In HIS eyes; he asked me for
twenty-five cents but could not give il TO hm as 1
did nave it, but asked him to come to the Office:
that was about eight O'Clock In tue morning ana the
last saw of him awe; he was not n drinking man,
but took ms beer occasionally.
FRIEND OF hKs sURMAN.
Mary Waldo testified thus:-I reside at No. 2l3
Bowery; have known Mrs 5urman Tor three years: 1
also knew Jacques, but saw him only twice my
house; when first knew Mrs. surman she lived In
Second street; since then she lived IN Christopher
Houston, stanton street and lnlrd avenue; she
never spoke abou, her troubles to me; knew 10th
ing about the occurrence until wac informed Of II
by her son; the body was subsequently brought TO
my house aud buried from ~; dad not know the re.
lsiionship between Mrs. surman and ia ques knew
man named Kemp; he was boarder OF Mrs Sur
while sac lived on Third avenue
TESTIMONY sUKgAS's SON.
James Edward Surmaa said IL reside at No TAI
Ihird avenue; The deceased, Anne Surman was nv
hAr fact
evening AT about eight O'Clock; | went to bed
ten O'Clock: at that tame my mother
was IA bed; the next evening was informed that
my mother had been murdered By James jacques
nj No 1914 Orchard street; knew Jacques since 1871
I became acquainted with him in Chicago; he Kent a
hotel the corner oi Lake aud Halstead Streets NV
mother lett Chicago In 1873, with children aged
Tour, seven anu nine years, Two boys and one gir:
remained la Chicago until ls16, 4 Then
came to New YORK tho Invitation of nv
mother; 4 found her living in Elm street;
lived with her from May untli July ana during this