The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-02
PREPARING FOR MURDER.
John Rails VIE Saying that he Intended to
KIN her and her Daughters.

No. TT Beacon avenue, Jersey City
Heights. is a building Of apparently uncom-
iortably contracted dimensions. but view Of
the interior shows it to be sufficiently capacious
TO permitthe proprietor TO let out apartments to
dodgers. Up to last Thursday it was occupied
by John Rail. his wife. and family. Rail was
married in 1859. and has four children. all
girls. three Of whom support themselves.
one of them working in Lorillards tobacco fac-
tory. Mrs Rail Is about 3s years OF age. and a
comcly. Industrious woman. Her husband is a
good looking man Of forty-eight. German
like his wife. but lacking her industry. In fact
according to her account. he ia a dangerous.
good for nothing fellow. though when ne is
sober" his wife remarks. Il" a better man never
lived"
His hours OF sobriety. however. are too rare
to bring much consolation with them. He has
frequently threatened to kill swife and chill
dren, but Mrs. Rail took no notice OF his vio-
lencc. because. rs she says. she II amply able to
defend herself. being. she thinks. much the
Atout month ago Rails laughter. employed
in the tobacco fa,Sory. went home early in the
day, saying that TIA" great beet ~ the workshop
bad made her faint aud SICK. Her father told
her to 90 for some beer. and gave her money.
She pleaded that she was too al TO go out, but
drank some Of the beer. and then. in drunken
frenzy; SMASHED quantity Of crosskery. and
cd. and he was sent Ia prison for twelve dnys.
He came out worse than before aud Mrs. Rail
began 10 fear that he would do her or her chit
dren AN injury. She watched him carefully.
and last Thursday she had reason TO congraiu-
late herself that she had been on her guard.
One of the Rail girls. going home from work,
sat down 10 her supper. Her father ordered
her away from me table. ~ hr Wished 70 cat :
but the mother int"rf"red. say ing that the girl.
who worked for her living. had better right 10
eat than her father, who never did any work
This enraged kall. AMI quitting the dining
"a 4.
but rarely works at his trade. When the daugh-
ter had finished her meal Mrs. Itu invited her
husband To- take his. hut he replied that he WAS
not going - eat any more in THE world and he
did not think his wife or daughters would ever
This alarmed Mrs Rail, and soon afterward
n her husband went out, she searched the little
razor and an iron shoe. usel for hamnlering the
leather upon. from the drawer VIII ere they yer"
bedroom she discovered "a rope hanging from
one II the raiters. and NJ once surm sed that her
husband bad decided 10 XII her ana the chn-
drrn, and th"n hang himself. ~ c had often
threatened g. do She was terrified. hut said no.
hing % her children, ana 81 night retired 10 bed
At the usual hour. She was awake when her
husband came in. and her alarm was in
creased as she saw him 20 20 the table
IN the adjoining room and ol9w out thr
light-a thing he had never done before. she
asked him what he meant, hut got no answer.
In the dark be approached III" bed ard lay
down brs de his trembling wife. she felt some
thing coli touching her bosom. ana putting ny
her arm She found II was the heavy iron shoe
which her husband had removed from It's plnce
in the drawer. She had no doubt 'hnt the razor
was in tho other hand. and getting quickly out
Of bed she made some excuse and quilted the
room. She told her dodgers what had occurred,
and while they were talking ot il Rail dressed
| himself and followed his wife. she accused
him Of trying to murder her. and, without an
swering. lie went out.
Mrs. l.al and her children watched for his
return. and at about o'clock on Friday morn.
ing he went back. His wife and daughters hid
in the garden. and they saw him enter the houss'.
| light limp, and search from room to room for
them. Failing 10 find them. he NJ last went out
again. and Mrs. Rail and her daughters sat W
until morning. The former then procured her
husbands arrest. and he was locked up to
await tho action Of the Grand Jury. He is still
IN prison, not having been able 10 procure bail.