New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-18
Vol. XNXIX... NO 1927.
THE MURDER OF MRS. HULL
DISCLOSURES At TIE INQUEST.

The result of the investigations OF the ~
&c and other officials in regard to the HUI
murder, is summed up below. AT the inquest
o-day important evidence is expected TO De
presented, but it is uncertain whether or not
arrests will be made Immediately, as no con-
lusive proof of the guilt of any person has
vet been obtained. SOrosis has adopted reso-
lntions IN regard to Mrs. Hull's death.
pprSrvT CONDITION OF THE EVIDENCE.
wr,r rHE AUTHORITIES KNOW AND WHAT THEY
no NOT KNOW PRESENTED IN COMPACT FORM.
while tbe leading police officials engaged on the
investigation of the Hull case and Coroner Nolt-
man. who will hold an inquest to-day, do not hesi-
tate TO admit that the most startling ana sensa-
tional revelations are to be forthcoming they care
ullv conceal from the reporters the positive
evidence which they have collected ana are formu-
latlnp for prcsentment TO the Coroners jury III Is
not concealed however, that on the evidence to be
submitted to-day one or more arrests may he
ordered of persons who have been long occupants OF
the house in which Mrs. Hull was murdered, and
one of whom has been witness in the inquest
Precisely what this evidence will be the authorities
will not state in anything ike positive terms; they
do not claim that It Is more than clrcum5tantlal
and are not satisfied that it is complete enough TO
iustfy them in the minds of the public. Yet they
believe that the step will be necessary to unravd
finally what is spoken of as one of the most extra
ordinary in the brief category of unusual crimes"
In answer to inquiries as to the nature of tins
evidence from negative replies by various officials,
not only of the police but also of the Coroners and
and District-Attorney's officers it appears that the
following facts have been accepted by the police as
already conclusively established:
l. The murderer lived In the house, or was adj
mitted to it by some within.-Ihere was no
evidence whatever of forcible entry; none of con-
cealment in the house for any length of time pre-
yious to the commission of the crime.
The doors, which were found open, had
not been forced, and if person had
entered by means of keys, he would have required
two keys as the locks on the outer and the inner
door were different. They of complicated pat
ferns. and it would have been impossible To make
keys from wax impressions.
ii. The object of the murder was not robbery
The most valuable articles were left behind; these
could have been easily carried away. and could
have been more readily disposed ofin the crucble
of the receiver OF fence" than the watch OF
other jewery taken.
Ill The murder was accomplished by suffoca-
ton not strangulation.-If stTangulatiOn had been
employed the prints of the fingers or the bruises OF
tie rope employed on the throat would have been
apparent at the hour when the body was found.
There were no such bruises Strong as Mrs Hull
was a very much smaller person, taking her at
disadvantage when asleep could have held her
securely and prevented her from crying out for
help either with pillow or a shawl thrown oyer
her head. shawl, called by the Coroner q" break
fast shawl" was found the head of the corpse,
The strips of cloth linen tied over the mouth and
around the neck were not the cause of death, as
they too loosely drawn to stop either breath
fng cries for help
". The body was bound and gagged after and
I.f,r dot bis 10 the fact
that there were no bruises about the ankles, where
they were fastened very loosely. In q struggle
with the murderer engaged in thus binding her,
the flesh must have inevitably been infamed and
perhaps bruised. Many minutes must have been
occupied In tying the body IN the elaborate man
ner in which it was found secured
v The murderer was not professional burglar,
or thief of any kind-This is conclusive, not only
from the fact above cited that the most valuable
articles were left behind but from the further fact
of the elaborate tying of the body. thief would
not have taken steps to bind either an unconscious
or dead person. but would have made off as soon as
possible after securing all his booty. thief might
possibly have taken precautions to leave what evil
dence he could TO throw suspicion upon inmates of
Che house. and this could have been done by lcav-
ing any small trinket scrap of dress ut the door
of any Of the inmates but he would not have taken
pains by leaving the doors open, to indicate that
the crime had been committed by some one who had
left the house. All the signs found seemed to lead
to the conclusion that after the offence the muir
derer had left the house.
vi. The murderer committed the offence by the
light of candle obtained either from the servants
rooms or from the room occupied by DR.. Hull-Drops
Ofspermaceti were found upon the nj ght-dreS of Mis-
Hull. They were not from the candle found in her
rooIn which had not been lighted. They were not
of the same material as the candle in Mrs. HuPs
room. Candles of the same material were found III
the servants rooms and in that of DIR. Hull and in
these only. There were reports current that SINH
lar drops found upon the garments of DIR. Hull
but they probably untrue.
VII The murder Is set down in the category Of
unusual crimes" because of the absence of any
apparent motive THAT of robbery being rejected :;
because of the absence of any attempt conceal it,
and because Of the extraordinary efforts to direct
suspicion from the inmates, who had free access to
the house, upon those who had none. These efforts
will be shown to have been so "oyeTdone" rs 10
direct suspicion to the inmates themselves.
VIII. The negro husband of the cook Brstow
Francis. is not suspected by the pOice.-They have
not particle Of evidence to show that he ever was
in the house much less that he was there on the
night Of the murder. He is wanted by the police.
who deem il incumbent that he should be called
upon t. prove an abb on the occasion, but they
have no doubt he can do so. His nOn-appearance to
justify himself does not, the minds of the police,
imply his guilt. He Is an ignorant Negro. who can
no, read and is well known TO be "A thief who con-
eeals his identity from those whom nc meets aud all
VINO would be likely 20 tell him OF the suspicious
against him.
TX The relations Of Mr.. and Mrs. Hull, of which
50 much has been said IN the papers, were not un-
friendly, though they were not warm anu LOVING
The police have made full inquiry into these rela-
u9uS, and into the Doctors personal character, his
relations TO other women, ms habits and ms nnau-
eal condition. All the evidence bearing upon tins
delicate point will be given to the jury the course
10 IL which