The sun., 1879-02-22
ALMOST IN THE HONEYMOON
Felix LaveIie Sentenced to Life Imp-isonment
for Shooting sarah Maden.

Felix Lavelos trial In the Court OF Oyer
mination. He was on his way back to prison
under life sentence within four hours OF the
time when the case was opened to the jury. II
appeared from the testimony that on the after
noon OF Christmas Day. Lavelle and Henry
Baker. at Worth and Centre Streets met Mrs.
Sarah Haden. with whom they were acquainted.
They walked together for some distance up
Centre street. but At the corner OF White street
Baker left them. In n few moments aiterward
n pistol in the hands OF Lavellc wns discharged.
und the woman cried. oh oh |" Lavelle
helped her up n step into doorway and tried
to pull her shawl around her. He then went
away toward Bayard street Mt n rapid pace. He
was arrested after going q few blocks. lie told
the officar the shooting WINS accidsntal that he
did not mean 10 shoot the girl. and handed over
the pistol to the officer. Mrs. Haden was taken
to Bellevue Hospital. where she died soon after.
She was 20 years old. and had been married
before she was Is. Just before her death she
said that when Lavelle shot her he said. Take
that. now" and she added. can't forget what
he said 10 ma before he shot me-"
The court room was thronged with spectators
The murdered womnn's husband. father
mother. aud sister were present, The prison
srs two sisters sat near him; the prosecution
12-year old boy. who lives at 100 White street
with his father who is n City Marshal. About
O'Clock on Christmas afternoon he was skating
in the gutter opposite the freight depot in Gem
tire street when he saw the prisoner and the
woman standing on the corner oi White street.
could with his skates on to the scene. and saw
the man assist the injured woman across the
street. place her on the doorstep leading to the
liquor store and then hurry away
Catharine Sullivan. the mother OF the mur-
Richard Hadsn before she was is years old.
On Christmas Day Sarah visited her home and
took dinner with the family. After the dinner
Sarah left. and her mother next saw her after
she was shot. lying In the back room OF saloon.
She aiterwnrd visited Bellevue Hospital and
Her daughter spoke OF what passed betwesn
herself and Layelle on the day OF the shooting.
and said that she told Layelle that he had shot
her. and that Lavele replied. did. and take
that now" Her daughter complained that " her
head was splitting. and asked her husband to
tie his handkerchief around It. Sarah's father.
husband. and the witness we're present ut the
time.
Richard Haden the husband OF the murdered
girl. testified that ha was nt the hospital on the
morning Of New Years Day when his wife died.
She .aid she expected to die, and wanted to be
carried home on n stretcher. He asked her why
Lavelle shot her, and she replied that he wanted
| TO get the best OF her She also said: can I
i9rgs & What =, hS he sad % tp me before 9s shHt me
the prisoner said that he did not mean TO shoot
Michael Sullivan. the father OF tn. murdered
girl. was next cal ed. Hs said that after Sarah
was shot he saw her four times before she died.
On & New Years morning the physicians ia At the
break that she expected she was going to die
that day. She wanted him to take her home.
and he replied that he would after while
Layelle. who took the witness stand in his own
behalf. testified that he was 27 years old. and
lived in PARK street. He never had an angry
word with Mrs. Haden or any OF her relations.
and never made any improper proposals TO her.
While he and Baker were walking with Mrs.
Haden he gave her some candy. At the corner
OF White street they were about to part rs she
was going in different direction. She asked
him to come TO a party at her house. and he
| playfully told her that before the time arrived
she would forget about It. and. ~ he was not
acquainted there. there would be no one to
receive him. He pulled out one OF a number OF
| cartridges he had IN his pocket and gave II 10
her saysng it wes 20 remind her OF nor prom ise
| to see that he WIS properly introduced. Then
she asked TO see his pistol and TO be shown how
| the chambers reyOlved.
While he was exhibiting tho pistol to her II
Was wa: %discharged; dis He did not know at tiTsl W
thought she was frightened. She asked him
| twice 10 take her home, and then he first dis
covered she was shot He admitted. on cross
New Jersey from 1872 TO 1876 for burglary
| He had also been In the House OF Refuge and
| in the penitentary.
Judge Barrett. in charging the jury. said the
| der In the flrst degree and that the offence was
| murder in the second degree II the jury found
! that the killing was intentional: mAnslaughteI
in the fourth degree II II WIS the result OF cul-
| pable negligence. or II II was an accident foI
| which the prisoner was not to blame. he should
! be acquitted. The Jury, after having been out
! about AN hour. found ths prisoner guilty oi
murder IN the second degree.
Judge Barrett sentenced him to State prison
for life. Two young sisters OF the prisoner who
were with him In court were greatly affected
| when the verdict was announced, and thelI
cries were 10 be heard throughout the building