The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-20
THE HULL MURDER INQUEST.
DR. AEONzO GRANDSON HULL BEFORE
CORONER WOLTMdN AND A JURY.

~ the PeIice Hypothesi. OF Murder Done |
nv Inmates OF the House In which Mrs. |
uum and her husband DweIt-A Long and |
almost xhau,tiVc Investigation only Just |
Bcrun-Mr. Cdttendcn's Estimate of Mrs.
uulI-The Coiored servants Heavy sleep.
Coroner Woltmar opened court yesterday
morning at l0h O'Clock in the trial room OF tho
polico Central ONCE and began an investiga-
ton into the murder OF Mrs. DIR. Hull OF West
Forty-second street by Coroner Woltman's
eide sat John |. Davenport Capt. Williams AS
sstant District Attorney Rollins. ox-Police
Commissioner Thomas G. Acton. Deputy Cor
oners MacWhinnie and Miller. and John ID.
Townsend After Jurors and the Coroner had
been seated the witnesses came Mr.. John II.
Coleman. Carroll Coleman. ]. ID. Hyde. and j.
u. Chittenden. were shown to the room in the
rear OF the trial room. This Ia the school room
In which police recruits taught how 10
handle thor locusts. Mrs. Ballard. Mrs. Boeuer.
Nancy Francis. and Nellie West. waited in the
rooms Of the iunitor Of tho Coroner's building
across tho street. Tho court waited for DR..
Hull. who was to be the first witness Mr..
Kellogg, the Sixth avenue school teacher. who
forgot all about the inquest on the first day.
was excused from duty. This left thirteen Of
the original fifteen jurors. These thirteen
were in their places The Coroner In opening
the inquest bade the jurors dismiss all they had
heard and read and remember only what was
about to be adduccd on the stand.
DIR. Hull entered with quick. nervous stride
and was shown to a seat near tho Coroner's
desk. H. was dressed in black broadcloth. and
wore n low-cut wastcoat. black silk bow. agate
studs. heavy gold chain and black kid gloves.
In ono hand he held light bent wood cane.
He looked fatiRued and did not seem conscious
OF the stir his entrance created. He could not
have looked in any direction without seeing an
artist sketchlnR his ngure-but evidently he did
not see any one in the room. As a witness he
was mechanical and little irritable. His voice
is like that OF n man whose mouth is full and
who has n cold in his head. He could not be
heard six feet away. Tho Coroner. Mr.. Rollins.
Mr. Townsend. and tho jurors requested him to
speak louder. and on their reminding him
every time he managed to keep his
voice at an audible pitch. The Doc
tors memory was weak that he
seemed not to keep in mind the substance Of
the questions even while the Coroner was pro-
pounding them. He stammered and got con-
fused. He was asked whether he lighted the
gas as soon rs lie entered his bedroom. and he
replied. on. l immeIt-immejitly-oh l lit
the gns immedately-I liz the gas Immediately
-immoliatcly" He didn't remember when
his wife was murdered. He said it was on
Tuesday and looked helpless when he was told
It WIS on Wednesday. It was predicted that
detectives would watch him. and note his man
ner and his answers. They were strong in
nun bers in the room. and they did watch him
narrowly Can't Williams seldom took his eyes
from the Doctors face. but leaned over the
shoulders Of John l. Davenport so as to got n
better view. and Commissioner Davenport
stared in the same way. Around the room. all
gazing persistenily at the physician. were De-
tectiv,s Golden. Schmittbergcr. and Price and
Capt. keaey Of the detective corps. All that
has hecn said OF the tenacity with which the
police have held to the theory that the murder
was an inside Job" was corroborated By As
sstant District Attorney Rollins's line OF dues-
tioning.
The tonor OF Mr.. Townsend's questions was.
apuarrntly. TO smooth away whatever points OF
tho testimony seemed to point against the
Doctor.
subordinate purpose Of Mr.. Roins's dues-
tons was to prove by the Doctor that on the
morning Of the murder he tho Doctor did
nothing that man would he expected 10 do
under tho circumstances The replies showed
windows, the ether bottle the bsndaRes. or the
Tihed trunk; did not look 10 see wnat wa wns
the murder was committed. and did not send
for the police. There was only one dramatic
feature in the Doctors testimony. That was
when he was asked whether he was startled al
the sight Of HIS murdered wife's body.
Oh! ii was horrible" the Doctor said. rails
ing his voice and leaning forward in his chair
II WINS horrible murder saw that at once.
The following is verbatim report OF
Dir. HULL's TESTIMONY.
Dr. Alonzo Grandson Hull. sworn. Ques
Q.-What is your name? A-Alonzo q. Hull
Q.-Wheru do you resideI A.-l40 Wes
Q.gWSst is your business? "A physician
,,0.-How long have y4n! been married - A.
Q-Are you still a practising physician' A
Q.@Now. please tell US all you know about thu
death ~ your wife. and speak as loud IA yol
] heard OF Il was from the servants In thu
morning. that Mrs. Hull was dead.
Q.-At what hour was that abOutf A.-Abou
seven or half past seven. should think. Th
time that the bread man came.
Q-Qn what day A.ITuesday: n,
tor a Iuusel All Wednesday,
,.QI;Well, state what further you know abou
quick as I could, and on entering the room
found She was murdered. -.
Q.-plrase describe. ms far as you can. hoy
you found her2 A.-She was lying. on he
back. hhndaRes about her. neck and face an
about her eyebrows. and her hands plniono
over this way Jcrossing his handsl tight. wit
largo pieces Of bed sheets or something. yer
tight. this way lagain illustratnRl and the ban
dagc this way: and her legs were bandaged
tied down to the side rails on each side OF tn
O. IHs tho Doctor seemed to hesitate.l Wei
continue right on. What dtd you DO after 20
rs | found her in that condi ton. the moment
went IN, was struck with the awful sight. sh
WAS dlbeOlOrcu SO. anu l ShW III u HlbtltnN tlt
she had been murdered Then ! went out m
wont up stairs to put on more clothing. ! 60
on the rest OF my clothes. except my crayat an
collar forgot them-and came down.
ODD you feel the body Of your wiieP, A
did. 1t was cold as could be- cold as
stone.
Q.-What time did you retire on Tuesda
night2 A.-About halt past 10. think,
Q.-Who was at your house that night as
visitor? A.-Mr Chiitendcn.
Q-Anybody else, sir? Al think not.
Q.-What time did Mr. Chittenden come
your housei Al cannot recOllect exactly.
think about 8 o'clock. H., was generally in II
habit OF coming in about that timo.
Q-Do you know his object in coming in thu
night? Al do not know ! suppose the san
Hs usual. III was very social.
Q.-What took place between your wife VI
Chlttruden. and yourself on that EVENING" A
think we talked on politics and the news OF u
daY ,
Q.-Was there anybody else present in III
room at any time after Mr.. Chittendon arrive
there? A.-Not that know Of.
Q-.Or prior to his arriyaf A.-Not that r.
membcr.
,.Q..-Was there a gentleman by the pamo {
Mr. Hyde there tha. EVENING" Al think no
Q.-Dd you see Mr.. Hyde Mt any time TN