The New York herald., 1878-11-17
BARNEY FERRoN's MURDER.

GHE ASSASSIN TELLS HOW HE KILLED THE OLD
BoAraAS, AND ALLEGES TUE DEED WAS DONE
IN sEIF-DEFENcE- cE-coNTRADIcroRY STATE
AIENrs AND DAMAGING ADMISSIONS
When the Court Of oyer and Terminer-Judge Gil
bert and Associate Judges OF Sessions, kings
county-reassenbed yesterday morning pursuant
TO adjournment TO continue the trial OF John "
Wright for the murder Of Bernard Ferron the boat
man. the court room was crowded IN every part
William Crook was called and testified as to the fact
OF the prisoner having admitted before Judge Ferry.
that no had killed Ferron. The prisoner. Wright,
was then called TO the witness stand by Colonel r. r.
Wood his counsel and in answer to questions gave.
IN harsh tone Of voice and with apparent callous-
OF disposition. the subjcned history of his ante
cedents and the crime of which he stands accused.
THE siURpEIrR's STORY
nv name is John w. Wright. and reside at Indian
River. Me-; that is the seacoast: live with my
father and mother who keep house there;
father is carpenter both parents are
still living: l am twenty years old; was
nineteen years old the 10th of March; first left
my home about three years ago when shipped on
board the schooner Lizzie cook; after had been
fye or six months on that vessel she laid up in the
fal of the year and returned to my home and went
school; the following spring shipped with Cap
tain A. L. Crowley on another vessel. where re-
manned during thesrmmer season. the next season
] shipped on the schooner J. c. Nash, and re-
manned on her four months. in 1877; then went
the James Warren one trip TO New York;
my father collected half my wages and !
took the other half; I stopped home, them one
month, and October 22, 1877, shipped on board
the schooner Mary B. Harris and came with her to
Brooklyn; when Captain Crowley left the Harris to
visit his home in Maine he settled up with me and
paid me s46 "a; l kept my money in a wallet in a
Did you ever see Bernard Ferron before the 10th
of MarchY interrupted the counsel.
NO; never saw him before" was the rejoinder
OF the prisoner.
DO you remember March 1e 1s7s?'
II do curtly responded Wright
'What kind Of a day il r.
1T pleasant day" the retrospective
swer of the murderer, who continued coolly The
morning was left the vessel alone from in
the morning until two in the afternoon; after my
frlend Talbot LETT the vessel cleaned up the cabin
and was getting the lamps in readiness and
preparing dinner in the pantry; I don't
know who took Mr.. Jewett's luggage ashore
when he lett the Harris. in the Erie
Basin; don't remember whether it Bernard
Ferron or not; was standing in the pantry when
Ferron came in this door, said Wright indicating
the place ON the drawing; he came into the cabin
and sat down on a chair on the starboard SIDE and
sat on the lounge: as he did so he said Good morn
ing" then he commenced talking about the weather;
got up and sat down on chair; l asked him he
would have drink; we had bottle OF gin,
asked. ''Where is the Captain p l told him he
was away; bag of coffee standing III the door.
buy the coffee, and said wouldn't like to sell it;
after he felt of the coffee he made offer for it;
be said he would give me SIS for the bag; he
took his pocketbook out and showed me $l5; told
him wouldn't sell it, as it was the captains.
ROW TIE KILLING DONE.
Then he put his pocketbook back III his pocket and
said. .You damned Downeaster. l will have it !"
after that he made for me: told him TO go out of
the cabin WAS there alone and did not want him
there; he said. "You damned Downeaster. you give
me that" and he came for ., and struck me. (At
this point of the narrative Wright indicated. on
sessel.l On resuming the prisoner saif:-He
struck me three times and he bit me
up and tried to Seea, - away from
him; went back 10 the mates stateroom and when
got there the first thing thought of was that there
was hammer under the mate bunk; reached my
hand under. drew it ont and it Ferron on the head
and it rather stunned him; hit him second time
and struck at him third tirne, when the hammer
flew out of my hand and the handle struck him.
While the prisoner was recoulating this traglcal part
of his brutal murder of the old boafraan he
became somewhat nervous. He spoke with greater
rspdity, his eyes sparked and his cheeks flushed
he pointed with his right ha I'd to the diagram to in
Il ran out he continued. ',f the cabin and up
the gangway; did not know what TO do. for thought
went round TO the forward gsugway and looked down.
when saw him lying ON thel hoor.
Judge tsiLDERr-Aeu, he dead?
PRISONER ,slosslyI-I think he was: considered
what had better do, and thought had better take
him ont and beiive him board.
Objection made by the District Attorney 10 the
witness telling what he gllt.
did you intend to kill NJ IN Ferron)?' asked the
counsel.
mo, sir" was the reply; 81 thought he was going
70 Kill me; Twas in fear of bodily harm. and was
sfraid he would Kill me, the way he came for me-"
Wright hen said that he tt ok hold of Ferrons feet
and dragged him out OF tas cabin. and taking the
body to tine starboard side OF the vessel he collected
some old iron and getting bag he tied the weights
to the body; he Lifted the Gag to the rail FIRST and
then the body, and threw til overheard; when the
body wasson the rail he wallet sticking out of
the pocket and taxing il out he threw
II on the after hatch; then cleaned the blood
of the cabin: at half. past twelve be rowed
ashore In the boat of deceza ed witness said that his
weight was about one hund red and thirty-ve pounds,
anu ferron was larger raan; there fracture
OF thesskuIl when he threw the body overheard.
On the crcsss-examinat ion by District Attorney
Catn the prisoner frequ emily contradicted himself
he admitted stealing co,e and selling it, aud that he
had made restitution of SO to Captain Crowley and
had commit ted other thests The trial adjourned
tiu MONDAY. when the will be given TO tho jury.
THY CIT yTp IaEr rpAnEnv