The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-09
THE FtTdL CARBTNE FOUND.
jesse billings, Jr., Arrested for the Murder
orh's Wire-A sad Parting.


Jesse Billings, Jr., OF Fort Miller Bridge,
is now in n prison cell awaiting trial for the
murder OF her whom in early life he had sworn
to " love. cherish, and protect"
On Thursday afternoon. while Billings. with
lying lips. was cndeavorlng to put Detective
Gilbert on wrong scent in his search for the
gun which the ill-starrcd murderer had used.
by saving that he had probably thrown il into
the river. Chief Detective Markham. on the sug-
gestion of Officer Durkce was searching on the
hill whore the horse had boon tied on the night
OF the murder, LOOKING through tho tall grnss
70 find the hiding place Of the weapon. Soon
his prncticed eve caught trail. and following
it. he found in another lot. about twenty yards
rom the fence, an old covered well;
were ut once informed Of the clue. and our re-
porter was requested not to make use 81 the
should warn Bil lings's friends and tho con
cealcd weapon be removed stcnthily; Early
Schuylerville, assisted by Marcus Casey, began
TO search the well with grnppe. After re-
moving quantity Of debris. at \. ~, they
hooked on to the carbine. which was brought TO
the surface and soon aftcrwnrd exhibited to
Coroner Cow The we'll was about twenty-one
feet Deep seventeen feet Of which was fllcd
with water. The well was formerly in use Of n
house which stood near by and was long since
burned. The gun was recognized by John G.
that was kept in the store chamber. II is
breech loader, two feet barrel. and carrying
empty cartridge shell which had held the fatal
bullet WINS yet in the barrcl.
District Attorney Ornsby now applied TO JUS
tice Augustine W. Shepherd Of Saratoga Springs
twho was present Tor warrant. II was issued,
chnrglng Jesse Billings, Jr with the murderof
Mary Eliza Billings on the night of Juno 4, 1873.
and delivered to Deputy sheriff Gilbert to scrVc.
and he at once took Billings into custody. Tho
iron nerve Of the man which had enabled him
10 endure for three DAYS the awful charge with
which he WINS accused gave way. and he seemed
To quail. dazed and overcome. Soon altcrwnrd
him 10 tho county jail M Ballston Spa. Billings
requested IN intcrview with his daughter. which
she accorded him. 1t took place IN the room
above that ia which the murdered wife and
mother ay shrpuded for the grave.
The scene il said to have been hcartrcnding
IN tho extreme. and the daughter tainted ~ her
Inflated iathcr was led away. He wcut biucrly
as he said, Good by good by 10 my home ~
he was leaving the house and again on reach
INK the wagon. llo has not seen his victim
since I'll. night he entered the room an hour
after crmurlcr shortly after his arres, he
have found the gun. Yes" replied The 6ni -
Ger. have found gun in the oil well ON the
In the mean time tho inquest was being con-
tinued before Coroner Cow, Mary \. Lynch.
former servant IN the family, .rstncd rclutNe
70 quarrols between Mr. and Mrs. Billings: ".
II. Durkce. mn officer. To- facts relative 70 the
after the shooting. and 10 finding tho tracks of
Billings across the garden; lsnnc Nashhurno
and MS mother. Mrs. Frances W Wnhhurae.
To- Biliings's HppcnrfWce at their hoit~s twenty
minutes before nine on the evening OF the
murder. and George Washburne to Billings's
declarations when he announced 10 him TINT
his wife had been shot. The testimony WIS
then closed. and the room WIS cleared for the
Jury: ~ p NJ; they ANNOUNCED their agree
ment upon the following verdict which, with
the inquisition. Foreman Baucus delivered TO
Coroner Cow:
jury ani that the body Of the .aid Mrs MARY Eliza
Bnt, was found stvi- dead no chair IN herfesdcuce
IA y rilumherlanl ana mat aid body. when found
nfci from nr pistol y some person 90 said Jurors