New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-25
TRACKING THE CRIMINAL.
INSIDE VIEW or THE WORK OF THE PoLIcF-RE
VIEW OF THE CASE BY COMMISSIONER DAVEN

i
CATION of The case better informed Of every step taken
by the police from the discovery OF the crime to the
arrest Of Cox than John l. Davenport. A TRIBUNE re-
porter wishing the various cews aud theories
followed up called yesterday upon Mt. Davenport
when the following conversation occurred:
"My attention was first called TO the case" said Mr.
Davenport. by the superintendent OF Police at Head
quarters VINO stated that dispatch had been received
from the Twentv-nnth Precinct that morning informing
him Of the murder and that he going 20 the house
abOut O'Clock 10 meet the Coroner From the state
ments made TO me, 1 saw that 1t was likely
to he somewhat intricate case, and re-
marked to the superintendent that would 20 w
with him, to which he replied that he would be very
glad if | would. Leaving Headquarters soon after
| dropped IN at the DstTictAttoney's Office
and mentioned the fact OF the muir
der 10 Mr. Prelps found that he was
acquainted with Mrs. Hull. having met her at Watch
Ill., r. t. during several Summers. lie expressed de-
sire to go up 10 the house at the time when
The Coroner Superintendent were TO be there,
and about O'Clock that afternoon went together.
The Coroner had not then arrived The Superin-
tendent OF Police there, the people
in the house, Captain Williams. Sergeant
Heating and Detectives Price and schmlttberger
Immediately after arriving at the house Captain Will
Jams informed OF the position OF the
body at the time of his arrival and the ar
rival OF the officers. He detailed
account Of the condition OF the body. went In ana
THE DROPS FROM THE CANDLE.
Captain Williams also SAID TO the Distrci-Attorney,
the Superintendent and myself, that he had
discovered upon the lett arm OF Mrs Huh's
nght-dres5 two or three drops from
sperm candle We inquired If he had saved that sleeve
or any portion Of it, and said lie had not. As the
body had been placed in the ice-bOx IT suggested
that that portion Of the sleeve TO which
the drlppings the candle sim adhered The Coroner
arrived and the body was removed 10 the dssect
ngtabe that portion of the sleevewas cut out and
carefully preserved Captain Williams examined the house
for the purpose of ascerlalung whether such candle
was by any the inmates, and found IN the room
occupied by Dr. Hull PORTIONS OF Two sperm candles |
He took possession Of one OF these the |
other being q very small piece, and subsequently |
either Captain Kealy, Of the Detective Bureau, |
who arrived shortly afterward. Captain Will |
Iiams found in the kitchen third candle !
which the chsmOermaid said she had brought |
down that morning from the Doe tors The Doctor
OF the opinion however, that there were only two
candles in his the night before and that the cham
BERNARD mistaken with respect 10 bringing the third
piece down. There were no other candles which had
been used found IN the house except small piece OF
colored wax candle found in od-fashioned candle
stick by the side of Mrs. Hulrs bed. This had the |
appearance OF not having been used certainly for /
months, while everyone the house thought 1t had
not been used at al.
THE HOUSE SEARCHED.
"An informal examination OF whole house then
made by the police and very close examination OF
the Doctors room ordered. In closet adjoining
his room was OF his shirts which lie had evil
IDENTIFY worn the day before. A close examination !
OF this led to no Developments and his bed next re
celyed the attention OF the officers Here II was found
the sheet was tied with asout cord to the head
part Of old string which had neen formerly used in
tying the sheet found still fastened around one OF
he side rails OF the bed These facts taken in
ton with the peculiar tying OF Mrs Hull-her limbs |
You viii remember, we're not tea together AZ Is ofdl |
as TO tied the side railswere regarded as crcum
WAS the examination confined to the interior OF the
"No; the police soon after being summoned made an
examination Of The rear yard fences windows ana
suspicious marks on the fences, Tnlcn were |
very high, aud the dust on the window-sIls lay |
to he closed ana fastened, and an examination |
of the Of the house resulted in positive assur-
tened the night Of he murder An examination OF the
servants showed that they retired abont 10 o'clock the
night before the basement securely fastened
front and back and that when the chambelmald went
down IN tGg bas or bee feoneny stated that 1Re
doors on each side-hat Is all four doOrs-were found
open bnt that is mistake The which have bolts
on them closed and fastened only those by which
person could enter with Key were found open, dhe
notnmg further about the doors, andi merely |
remarked 10 the cook that they were open,
t tnS '"1 About 7 o'clock on the morning Of the
murder the cook Nancy Francis 1avng occasion TO pay
money for the purpose, and then discovered the
crime.
CONDITION OF THE DEATH CHAMBER.
'The body was found by the police substantially as
stated by the witnesses at the Coroners inquest except
that three pillows found instead of two upon one
OF which traces OF foam from the mouth !
and some blood This bad evidently been used to
smother Mrs. Hull There no marks upon the !
iody save slight scratches upon the nngngers OF each
hand and upon the side OF the There was slight
discoloraton where the hands were tied across each
other at the wrists, and this was Where |
the only tight bandage found. 1t was |
apparent that nothing USED IN sne pin n
had been brought into the house. but that an had been
found in at the very mana OF Tue murderer.
was determined by the police 10 Ind out possible
whether any an@sthe:c was used ana thorongn
search was begun. cologne bottle was found empty,
and there was discovered also that which I'D some
theories OF the would be an Important ac namely
the water and cologne. particularly the c0l0gue, was
not observable elsewhere than upon the O" hat was
nscd to smother Mrs Hun and the bandagc around her
mouth gesiiod made with respect 10 the use OF
the cologne that II might have been employed lor
the purpose OF neuraizng me odoro some aneshetc
Captain Williams caused inquiries 10 be made OF
uieOieal gentlemen, and some tests were had
the odor OF either cnoroform would be discern
n endowed and thar if chioroform had it could not
be aecerained by its odor situated as the room was
period OF thirty minutes Dey Ond the tne OF 10
use"
HARMONIOUS ACTION OF THE POLICE.
What seemed % be the first theory a. was asked n
"To answer that" replied Mr.. Davenport. d" should
say tnat Immediately after the discharge for the day OF
the Coroner's Jury q consultation held between su-
perntendent waiting. Captain Williams Captain |
Keay and the Coroner, at the outset OF which !
1t was made clear that was the determination oil ihe
authorities that In TINS case there should DO no Jealous
les and no rvalrles the part of any officers OF the
departuent The superintendent treated the case as
case which had arisen la the Twenty-niuth Pre- |
cjnct aud that primarily 1t was IN charge !
or the Captain OF tnat precinct acting VITA the |
Corouer and that such assistance n captain WIIas
desired from any officer OF the Depai lment should Pe
Lest after consultation with the gentleman named IL
,vas 49, determined that while there we're crcuIn-
sauc which pointed rather more III one direction than
another no theory should be adopted and puT' |