The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-05
Margaret Downing Kicked to Death by
Her Drunken Husband.
END OF A LIFE OF TERROR
Sal Stories Of Domestic Woe Tod by
the Victims Neghbors

been produced by iall or with any but homcidal
intent"
He had found it lying in the position in which it
had been left by her husband the murderer after he
hal given her the death blow. The chamber is a
small and narrow one the tenement at No. t5i
West Nineteenth street. The house is q the
oldest in that part OF the city, built Of wood and
very miserable i'll its plan and dimensions. The
Downings. who had children lived on the second
door, back. and had only two rooms. There was only
little space beside the bed i'll the one already men
toned, and here it that Mrs. Downing had
crouche1 after her husband had pulled her
10 the floor. He must have kicked her many
times for her head was partly beneath the
besead ana her feet were the door opening into
The kitchen The pillows looked perfectly smooth
and the mean bed clothing only little mussed,
but near the foot board confused heap OF cloth
ing some Of which torn aud considerably stained
II Is very probable to Judge from the terror in which
Downing held by his wife, that when he
first home Tuesday night she had quite
addressed and III the act of putting her night
robe that he entered she, in order 70 escape
the dspleasure which she feared he had in store for
her jumped into bed. She lad not touched the pill
lows when he seized her and dragged her out.
To reporter of the HERALD Mrs. Maria Robinson,
very old woman who inhabits onehalf Of the story
above told the following last evening About four
O'Clock yesterday, when came home, he was beat
ing her. / could hear the blows distinctly. al
though she did not cry out She never did say
anything when he abused her. I made my
fire and then went ont to get some groceries.
When / came back he still beating her. II
about half past four. heard him say, Speak to me-
Ii you don't speak I'll kill YOU. II you don't speak
I'll cut your throat. She did not make word Of
reply. Then he gave her very heavy blow and she
said. My God, John, you've killed me. All
An 4 L1lJ
thought that he had killed her. to creep up to the
door aud look through the keyhole There l her
lying the floor. with her head under the bed. She
entirely naked, except the stockings her feet
The dressed himself aftcrwar6 in his best
rlothes and went out. Pretty soon, though, he came
back and think it because he had forgotten his
watch; he had it all through the and
thought great deal of it. We standing down
stairs on the stoop and he coolly asked what
The matter
LIVED II FEAR OF HER HUSBAND.
It appears from the statements Of other persons
living in the house. among them Mrs. Evans and Mrs
Holland. that Mrs. Downing showed great signs Of
fear whenever she heard the voice Of her husband If
she sewing when he in she would shake like
Leaf and. rising. would go nervously to work
at something else moving about the room as if not
daring 10 remain moment III spot.
Bhe very deaf and could only be made to under
stand what said to her by shouting close to her
This affection isolated her very much for her
neghbors. although they attracted by her man
ners and her appearance. avoided speaking 10 her.
Mrs. Robinson said that she had heard her husband
beat her hundred and nifty or two hundred times.
and information obtained from another more
than confirms her statement.
Mrs. Downing well known to very re-
spectacle people. She was for thirty years servant
in the family of the Hcnriqucs. and nursed
Albert and T. u. st. John Henriques. These two
gentlemen drew repuisive picture Of her husbands
continued brutality. They married about one
year before the breaking ont Of the rebellion.
His motive not much love il the desire
49, 81.
lars which she had saved. He enlisted in 1861 in
colonel Ferrara's regiment, and was quar-
tered in the Palace Garden. which then occu-
pied the site 81 the present armory Of the
Twenty second regiment in Fourteenth street.
He scaled the wall one day and deserted going the
Henriqnes residence where Mrs Downing was still
employed. The elder Mr. Henriques wenttto Colonel
Fcrrera and induced him to condone the offence.
After the war, when he returned e New York. he be-
ran to treat her cruelty. The latent bru-
tality o. his nature seems 70 have been
brought out by has experience in the South.
H drank necessarily. When sober he appeared to
b. fond q his wife. who not bad looking She
~ light complexion short in stature. with blue
ish eyes brown hair aud very pretty teeth. IN his
cups. however he treated her atrociously. Once,
when they lived in Eighth avenue. he lit her with
cup the forehead and she bore the the blow
70 the last 1t il alleged that he has served in
prison for larceny. aud ii is that he has spent
sonc months on Blackwells Island for DRUNKENNESS
a few years ago he made himself obnoxious 10 his
vrifes employer ana being forbidden the house
threatened to take his life subsequently, it Is said
be declared that he would kill Buriette
MuncheHott because he failed TO repay him
tie Of 81 which he had borrowed His
habit OF drinking strong liquor grew upon him. and
he compelled his wife 10 pawn ali their household
With money. the Hcnriques. out Of regard for her.
have redeemed Ss5 or $50 worth ~ property at
ono time and restored the articles 70 her
After leaving the Henriques household Mrs. Down
Ing lived about year in the family ~ John
Brongha1n, taking care ~ Mrs. BrOugbam who
IN invalid. This lads has spoken very kindly and
afectonatcly ~ her nurse as indeed have all those
with tho exception ~ her husband, who have ever
had anything % do with her she drank little her
SET, but was never boisferous. II she took too