The New York herald., 1878-10-14
MURDER IN THE MOUNTAINS.

THE ATTEMPTED TRIPLE CRIME OF NEW
JERSEY NEaRo-.A SHOCKING STORY OF DE-
PRAvI1Y AND DLooDsHED.
The old Court House In Ficmington, N. j., which
has ssu contained of the Inhabitants OF the
Lowerland Nountain within Its walls viii to-day wit
ness the commencement OF trial for murder. Of
which the scene that seli-same range OF hills
Benjamin Peterson, a colored man. was the murdersr,
and Peter Nixon wss the victim. Tho Lowerland
range runs along between Hunterdon and Mercer
counties. and is rough tbi0kly wooded region, pop
ulated almost exclusively by. negroes Right on the
summit and back o couple Of hundred feet from the
road leading from Wertsvills over the mountain TO
Stoutsburg for several years past lived Peter Nixon
= colored man, at tho time OF his death about forty
years OF age. Owing 70 soms trouble between
Peter and his wne, they separated . year
ago, she going to Princeton TO reside. Last
fall Peter secured the services OF a girl
from Psnnsyivania to keep houss Tor him, although
according the lax morality si that section she
lation was probably mere intimate one. Her name
vas Peterson, and last spring her mother Elizabeth
Peterson, came over see hor and remained at
Nixon's until thsls Of May Her husband, Benja-
min. whom she had left alone In tnoir house
New Hspe Pa became worried a. his wiis's Abssnca.
and sent word tor her 10 return. Ho did not hcar
from her, but he did hear that thugs were not as
stories OF his wfss uufaithfuinsss which had rom
time 10 time reached his Iufamed BY rage and
jealousy he determined revenge, and the OF
May 20 last startsd Irsm New hope Tor that purpose
Ho borrowed gun from q neighbor, which together
wsn nnoaS main h ms
Jersey anu up the mountain he reached Nfxon's
house a. Two o'clock on tne morning Of me 3oIh Il
that HIS object was to make new graves, not adorn
old ones. Nixon's dog barkcd on Pelersen's ap-
nanh ntAf nSSiaa
the cog IN some way and loading his gun, Benjamin
called 10 Nixon who was sleeping up stairs with his
When Peterson called, Nixon answered, "Wno's
sneref" "a friend, piled Peterson .'lst In"
harm, and lighting lamp no descended 10 tns door,
aEd holding the Light ABOVE his head, drew the bolt
Tha! was IS ms last conscious moment. tor as me door
forehead aud fired. The shot passed through the
skull. on the left side OF the head, and came out
al The top. Nixon st Tho lamp alI. tnus exiting uish
ing the name, anu dropped TO the floor
Peterson then went ~ search OF his wife, Eliza
beth. Startled BY tho voices and the shot Elizabeth
anu ner daughter attempted 10 hide. me daughter
hrst went behind the door and tnon, on tho near ap-
proach of her iatner jumped out OF the window and
started help. Elizabeth crawlei N bc,wsen The
mattresses OF the bed and IN that position Benjamin
found her when he entered the room. He SAID ne
WAS going to Kill her. She begged ior mercy and
asked 10 De allowed to go out o tho house before he
murdered nsr. This request Peterson granted, aud
wniis she crawled out he loaded his gun again. AS
coon as Elizabeth was without the door Peterson I
frcd. In ths dark he missed hts aim, and the shot
frightened that sue fell, ana Peterson supposed hs
had badly wounded her. He came where she was
and excaiming, 1--WE Will die togetherl" he laid his
gun down rock, drew POCKET KNIFE, thrust the
blade In his windpipe and Toll down oy his wiie's
eiie. As she was NOT hurt much, however, she got
up aud ran over to house The other side OF the
road As light the neignb nbors came
took charge OF the men. Peterson was not
fatally injured and recovered In low days. Nixon
died within thrty-six hours. This the story
the HERALD correspondent lesrneii lew hours alter
Tho triple tragedy had been committed TIE trial may
bring forth mocincstonaf Peterson taken into
custody on May 30, and has bssn In the Ja a. this
place ever sincs HIS w,ndpfpe was sswed up by Dr.
Psrsh the county pnysisian and he Is IN arst class
physical eondtion.
tho prosecution win be conducted by Attorney
General stockton ana tho prosecutor, john q. Raj
ferty. The defence, AS Tar ms can De ascertansd 10
70 be carried on ny Messrs Il. ;. KunI aud W Wilam
W. Allen two native lawyers. Cnici Justice Beasey
will preside IL Is not generally known that tue
Grand Jury found throa counts IN the Indictment,
but Is tho fhe hrst count Is for murder.
the Tor manslaughter and the third ior I'M
proper assault upon his daughter. rhis latter crime
Is rcputed 70 have been committed about year
Tue utmost interest Is ested In the proceedings
tor all the peacs.ioving citizens IN this part Of the
state ANXIOUS that the numerous shocking crimes
which are constantly transpirins on the mountain
shall be puuished and abated. The murder oil Nixon
was the th ird that has been committed within two
years there, aud Peterson the nrst OF the
srs who has been caught. Plenty Of minor offences
have had justice metsd cut 10 thom, but this Ii the
hrst tho hon pcids line The Court will
open at ton O'Clock to-day. KICK