The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-19
BEGINNING THE INQUEST.
CORONER AND JURYMRN OFFICIALLY
VISIT THE HULL MANsION.
Nancy Francis and Police Captaiu Williams
Describing what they Saw the NJ orning
the Murder was Diseovered-No New Clues.

Nancy Francis and Police Captaiu Williams
Describing what they Saw on the Morning
the Murder was Diseevered-No New Clues.
The persons who were passing through
West Forty-second street yesterday morning at
10 o'clock, and the noiRhbors who were at their
windows at that time, we're astonished at seeing
great number OF men enter Dr. Hulls house
by the front door. These mon came in twos or
hrees. and we're at once admitted. Capt Will
liams who had gone before them. received them
In the hallway. Tho throng in front OF the
house took for granted that n wholesale arrest
was impending; but the fact was that the men
wero Coroner Wotman's Jurors. and their err
rand was TO make final and thorough study
OF the house. as IN aid toward comprehending
the testimony they were to pass upon. Coroner
Woltman. Deputy Coroner MacWhinnie, and
Capt Williams entertained the jurors In the
dining room until thirteen OF them had arrived.
The dining room is the original back parlor
and is the room from which the jewelry was
taken. and in which the heavy plate and costly
ornaments yet remain. Tho hall room. in
which Mrs. Hull was murdered adjons this
parlor on its right The jurors. whenever on
their feet peered curiously into this room when
they had an opportunity. Nothing had been
altered since the murder. except that the bed
had been made and the trines that told OF tho
crime were not there. There were fifteen
jurors chosen by the Coroner. and all
but two were present. Tho absent
jurors we're T. ID. Kellogg who has n private
school in Sixth avenue. near Forty-frst street
and Mr.. De Witt d. Langley real estate agent
at 740 Sixth avenue. Mr.. Langley has been ex-
cused from duty. and Mr. Kellogg became alb
sorbed in something and forgot the inquest
until moon Mr. KalloUu aava ba ado n mama
randum Of the hour and date OF tho Jury meet
ing. and dismissed his pupils so as to attend
but at the last moment other things attracted
his attention and the Coroner and the murder
fed from his mind. Mr.. Kellogg says that rs
far as he can discover Coroners jurors are not
provided for by the law as thoy should be- They
seem TO have no rights and but little power
He says the Hull jurors on the day OF the in
quest sat half an hour In the front room. half an
hour In the back room had n hurried explanR-
tion OF the manner in which the body was tied
and were then asked to quit the room while the
post;mortem examination was made. He and
another Juror asserted their rights, and re-
mained. He says the body was not seen by the
Jurors. and they knew only what they had been
told about IL.
The jurors who were present at the Hull man
sion were all intellgent-looking. prosperous
men. mainly from, tho, neeighborhood;, They
street. who assisted Deputy Coroner MacWhin-
ME at tho post mortem. and his son. whose
=, j. Clark. q. doctor and neighbor Of the
Finels; DIR. Knox. whose residence is at So
Carmine street: DR.. Mcintosh OF AZ Sixth ave-
nue:f; @. Renner. dealer in fine works Of art
M 7l9 Sixth avenue. within gunshot Of the Hull
mansion q. Thomas. photographer OF 707
Sixth avenue; II. L. Hayman. who Keeps a FUR
nishing goods store at 697 Sixth avenue; d. s.
Pilsbury. a bookseller nearly across tho way on
the same avenue; j. simpson whose dry goods
avenue: W. A. Carman. n trunk dealer at 7G3
Sixth avenue. and William Munnie, stationer
g. ssss IN On 1he 9s
in Sixth avenue.
Capt. Williams described to these jurors tho
appearance OF the house when he entered II on
the morning OF the crime. Capt. Williams car
ried roll Of charts which represent the posi-
the house. The Captain told the jurors that he
found the front parlor windows patty open
but covered with dust. The back parlor blinds
were open. but tied with pieces OF cord. and the
windows were wide open. The blinds open
outward. and the windows. which are In reality
windows aud blinds in the room in which Mrs
Hull met her death were also open. but tho
blinds were tied. and no one had como in or
The jurors were taken TO the kitchen. where
Nancy Francis. the cook. repeated the story of
her movements on the morning OF the murder
when she iound the dead body OF her mistress
tied TO tho hedstead. She went into the back
parlor first There. she saw her mstress's
near the bedroom door. She saw Mrs. Hull
lying on the bed. but did not look closely and
noticed that a drawer in the sideboard was
open, This troubled her. and she went out into
the hallway and ratified the door OF Mrs. Hulls
bedroom. Nancys primary object had been TO
get money from Mrs. Hull to pay milkman's s
bill. Mrs HUI did not awake Nancy re-
turned TO the bedroom and saw that her mis-
trtss had been murdered. She ran through
III" house crying out, Mrs. Hull is murdered !
Mrs. Hull IA murder"dl"
The jurors examined the kitchen. the Doc
tors workroom. which If filled with all sorts Of
tools and cohtrivances, and the Doctors office
and reception room. Then the Jurors went up
stairs. ana in those stories that are occupied by
the dodgers they confined their nvesiightion TO
fndng out who slept IN each room. Ona Of the
jurors expressed astonishment when he was
Informed that Of ths four married couples in
the house two OF tho husbands rOomsd with
their wives and two occupied separate rooms.
Ia the fourth story the Jurors were shown Nellie
Vests room. which is lighted by the skylght.
and the Do otor's room at the head OF the stairs.
II Is said that "a detective who searched DR..
Hu!Is room found there letter from Mrs.
Hull dated Watch II r. l.. 1876. 1t WAS writ
ten on heavily edged mourning paper. In II
Mrs. HUI upbraidrd her husband for leaving
her without money and without paying her
rent. She concluded by saving that she falt rs
Though she did not want to return to her home.
When the Jurors returned 10 the FIRST story
they found the inmatrs OF the house seated IN
the front parlor, dressed and ready TO 20 To the
inquest The jurors went out in u body. and
the others followed ono or two at time
A few persons stood In gronps at the corner of
Houston AM Mulberry streets, opposlte ne
hour appointed for the inquest The benches
IN the CorOners court room were packed
10y 10 o'clock. The space in front OF the
rail at the head OF tho room was too small ior
those who were privileged to enter IT, There was
not room for the reporters and artists who mr.
rived before the Coroner and the jury. The ju-
rors occupied double row Of chairs set apart
on purpose; the Coroner and tho stenographor
squeezed into places behind the bench, and
District Attorney Phelps aat in the window
behind the Coroner. Assistant District At
torney. Rollins who is expected to DO
shrewd work ~ cross-eXRmner. was
Obliged to stand up. Deputy Coroners Mae
Winnie and Miller and Coroner Ellinger got
no further than the doorway In the mean
time the inmates Oi the Huh mansion began 10
arrive. DR.. Hull came with John ID. Town
send. The Doctors bsnt form WAS clad In a
now suit OF broa1coth, His beard and hair
were trimmed and he seemed In better spirits
than on any day since his wife died DR.. Hull
was shown W stairs to the private Office OF the
Mr. Townsend talked with him half an hour.
Mr.. Townsend had come in response to a letter
signed by the friends and relatives OF tho muir
dered woman, The signature "A. q. Hull "
led the rest. The De Porrrsts had also signed
the paper. The purpose OF the letter WIS TO re-
gust Mr.. Townsend TO guard the interests OF
Justice and TO endeAVOr to throw light upon the
murder. Mr.. TCwnsend repudiated the notion
that his retnnment was due to anxiety on DIR.
Hull's behalf,
John H. Coleman. and his son Carroll Cole.
man. and MIR. BHllHrd-al dodgers In the house
OF DR.. Hnll--0crupied tho large room with the
Doctor Mrs. Ballard. accompanied by friend.
sht in the Ianiior's front parlor. and chairs
Nancy Francis. in tho iHnitor's kitchen. Other
vi naaataa Ilr Rullar Dir Hpnsphpl and oua