The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
OLITER sTREEI,S TRAGEDY.
Another Supposed Murder and Ghost story
Recalled by the killing of Madden.

With his face and shirt front red with
blood. John Smidt. the proprietor Of the sailors
boarding house Mt Is Oliver street. who shot
dead Henry Madden. m English seaman. on
Thursday Mt midnight. presented himself be-
foro n coroner's jury yesterday. The blood was
supposed TO come from wounds made by Mad
don and his two companions before Smidt fred.
and It had not been washed OF in order that
the jury might know under what provocaton
the fatal shot was fired. Several women. the
three Italian musicians who happened to be
playing in the barroom Mt the timo OF the
tragedy. and the dead mans two friends APP
peared and told tho details Of the tragedy
Snidt said that the three sailors boat him with
out mercy. and that he had fired only when he
believed himself in danger.
The jury's verdict was against Smidt. His
lawyer. while pleading to have him admitted to
bail, alluded to the guns being loaded with bird
shot rs an extenuating circumstance. and then
spoke Of the winged col tcnts Of the gun send
ing Madden to his last account"
II the charge had been bullet and not bird
shot. Il wouldn't nave been winged. would IN"
somebody asked.
The lawyer WINGED visibly. and pretended To
be listening to Coroner Woltman. who COM
mtted Smidt without bail.
The tragedy, recalls incidents that created
sensattons in the ncighborhOod a few years ago
The Sailors Return WAS then n notorious re-
sort. Kept 10y one schwartz and woman sup
ppbtu 10 " HIS WIG. lDtN kept tho n0lKhDOr-
hood In a continual broil by their alterations
schwartz was vicious follow. and 1t WAS said
that he knew more about the murder OF n man
who was found near his house with his pockets
rined and the blade OF knife IN his heart than
would be agreeable for him II made public.
When the woman was found in her room one
morning with her throat cut. tho bad repute Of
the place and schwartz was Increased Schw
ayerred that she committed suicide. He was
aiterward killed in drunken brawl In San
Francisco.
The place was fitted up Ms n sailors boarding
house 10y one Buck. He might have succeeded
had not some rivals started the rumor that the
ghost OF Mrs. schwartz nightly roamed about the
house with blood flowing from the cash in her
throat. Sailors would rather face a storm or a
man l-war than a ghost and the house was
soon deserted. Some time nfterward his board
ers began TO return. but not ono OF them could
DO induced TO sleep in the room where the
woman died. and II was used as a sitting and
smoking room.
Bucks bartender was ono Koran. who was
not in the least afraid Of ghosts. Ono warm
nlght IN september he got out Of bed. went into
the haunted room, and. fitting his chair before
mo open window, began smoking a cigar.
About q dozen sailors slept in cots In a large
room adjoining. and one OF them hearing the
haunted room. Something in WHITE with fire
issuing from It's mouth. startled the man and
lac gave yell that sent tho other sailors ont Of
thelr COTS and into tho street. Koran, hearing
lhe uproar. and not suspc'ting that no was the
cause Of II. Joined tho fllitivos thereby adding
pay Ia himself, and after that u sailor could not
be hired 10 stay in the house Buck had TO give
up the business. The murder Of Madden has
now revived tho ghost story. and 1t ia already
whispered that he aud Mrs. ) 'hwartz have been
seen arm IN arm at tho window Of the haunted