The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-18
WHO MURDERED MRS. IlULL7
TIE OEETCIIL INQUIRr 10 ne BEGUN
BY CORONER HOLTHIN JO-DIK


duplicates amy une-Dr. Hull 90 he the |
FIRST " Itness. aud Mnny Others to Follow. |
The inquest into the mysterious death OF |
Mrs Jnne Lawrence De Forrest Hull will be |
begun this morning. All that hns been done |
toward the inquest thus far under the super
vision OF Coroner Wotman was the post-mo
tom examination OF tho body OF Mrs. Hull.
which was conductedsby Deputy Coroner Me-
Winnie DR.. Finell. and Dr. Fuller. and the
cursory and uuconsidered examination OF DIR.
Hull which was made bv the Coroner. Before
that time. and ever since. tho police Of the city
bringing to their aid greater number OF
skilled detectives and more untiring industry
than they havo ever applied to a criminal case
in this city before. have been endeavorinR to
supply for tho Coroner to-dHy sufficient
basis for magisterial action on his part
The first theory that they worked on WAS that
the crime committed in the house was in
tended to have been burglary. hut that 1t acci-
dentally resulted in murder They saw that
the work was not done by professionals and
turned their attention to the colored men that
freaucnted the house. Up to this moment. II
their own testimony is Trustworthy. this hypo-
thesis has not afforded any satisfaction.
Tho next and principal theory was that the
crime was committed 10y somebody in the
house, and the person whom they suspected.
and to prove whose guilt or innocence they
have been laboring since the day OF the muir
der. was DR.. Alonzo Grandson Hull. the hus-
band Of the murdered woman.
To-day. at the corner OF Houston and Null
berry streets. the Coroner's Office. tho twenty
seven witnesses who have been subpDnacd will
be assembled in an upstairs room. above the
court room. while below. Coroner Woltman
will occupy the bench. The witnesses will not
be allowed to hear each others testimony. They
will be ques; oncd by Assistant District Attorney
Rollins who has at east local fame as q cross
examiner John l. Davenport will be at his
side. The witnesses will be brought down one
by one Dr. Hull will bo the first witness ex-
amnod. 1t ia not known whether he will have
counsel. II Ia an open secret that. either at the
end OF the first day or at the end of the inquest.
District Attorney Rollins will present to the
Grand jury (which is now sittngl the tcstl-
mony taken by the Coroner. which will be elic-
tied in the order that will bring out the most
important facts earliest before the public. 1t
will be taken down by n sicnogrnpher and tran
Bcribcd soon as possible. Mr.. Rollins will
ask the Grand Jury to ind an indictment
OF DR.. Hull IL the evidence points to him
as the guilty person. The inquest will
certainly last three days. The sessions will
continue from IL O'Clock A. NJ. until p. NJ
The room in which II will be held is very
small one and. although the public are free to
enter, it does not seem possible that many per-
sons besides the police, the District Attorneys
people. and the reporters will be able TO find
seats. 1t is said that early this morning the
jurors will visit the house in which the murder
thorouRhy-in order TINT they NAV understand
the testimony which they will hear. In the
evidence that will be presented to-norrow II is
, said that II will be shown that the police havo
been misiniorned AZ othe amount and charac-
house. Many OF the ofnrers believe that The
only missing articles arr diamond ring. an
antique English ring aud a watch and chain.
The position Of ne police to-day indicates
only partial success. However convi incing their
evidence may prove. they say that II Is hardly
sufficient for conviction. The jewelry has not
boen found; ana although there have been many
motive for the murder is yet ckoudsd by doubt
In other words, while the police believe that
many facts point suspicously 20 DR.. Hull, they
have vet no proof OF such n motive MS will sat
isfy jury tnat he committed the cr,me .
The dwelling Of Mrs. Hull, 40 West Forty
second street. was the scene OF grenter activity
yesterday than at any time since the burial OF
the murdered woman. Mrs. Lita Barney Sayles
-since ihattme the mead ana lronto tue house
hod-had announced her determination 10 re-
turn 10 her home last evening She 'Ame 10 the
house on the day after the discovery OF the
murder ant her visit has taken the nature Of n
reception. Tor Mrs. Sayles is very popular
among womcn's rights women and spiritual
lists and the members OF Sorosis. Consequent
ly. yesteriny there w're many p4rt ne visits
jealous care II a special officer. Mrs. Sayes
came from hillingly. Conn, and II the wife OF
Col Sabin /. Snyles who was on the staff Of
Gov Jewell II Connecticut during moro than
one GubarGs storni term He and his brother
formed In. rrrnt frm OF Saylcs Brother. an /
were engaged In the manufacture o. woollens.
Their mills are IN Dayyille. Lisbon Ners. les.
and MechanicsYilie The brothers gained mo
reputation Of being rich, popular. and exceed
ingly enterprls NJ. Some time ago th"r busi-
ness was h,nlered 10y financial complications.
but their creditors trusted them. tue work in
their mills goes on. and II is believed that the
Sayles Brothers will soon DO as firmly estab-
Mrs. Lita Barney sayles seems to have deter
mined upon At least two things before she came
Dr. Hull and Mrs. Coleman because she
was the confidential friend Of Mrs. Hun. The
two things were to guard sn"red'y the reputa-
ton and thr personal prouerly ol me murdered
woman. and t) keep within doors Whatever oc-
CURED there. After the burial Of the remai ms
OF the murdered woman. Mrs. Snycs and Mrs
Coleman began - the top OF -" hou-- and
searched down to the basement for the br~ng-
lngs Of their friend. and. saving m" furniture
they collected theso things and packed ihem up
was completed. She returned % Connecticut
last night.
missioner d. Forrest OF the Croton Board, vIs
ited the house yesterday with her son, who is
employed in the Custom Housr. II WIS under
stood in the house that to-day the nitcrs VII
visit the house and take possess on ~ otl1rrts
OF their dead aunt. legal opinion ~ tho rights
ell in THE Sun. and indicates Dr. Hni's claim
on his wfes Elects by right OF courtesy; hu
the Inmates OF the house seem t. De- c-rtain thai
the property is 10 be- taken by the De FORESTS
from which family IL was brought by, me dt,
ceased when she married the Doctor. Il T. said
that a number Of women VINO wrre intimnt,
friends OF Mrs. Hull nt the time Of her deatt
arc to receive as memcntoes ornhmrn,s ron
her somewhat large and valuable nssort
ment Of iew"lry. Some Of these women have
already been notified OF what they will receive
On the lst of August the house in which the
murder occurred will revert to its owner, Tn
rent for this month has been paid. Tue Cole
mani, the Boetier-. the Ballhrds, md the Others
now occupying the upper hoors oi the mansion
will have found other rooms hy that time
Tho house was originally owned by a Mr.
Conklin but ne Is dead; and 1t Is believed tina
his daughter. y Mrs Fitzgerald. who lives II
Nha ferbl l.gr 10 nny fhtA T.
business is transacted by an agent. Ever
room in the house is completely Furnished. hn'
all the furniture belonged 10 Mrs. Hun. Their
are fifteen rooms in the house, ana they are a
larger than those in ordinary city houses. tn
furniture as it stands looks rich and costly nn'
would stand the wear Of many years mt i Il
not new. and win bo sold at great snrrlfce
The most costly among the many painting
and engraVinss in the house belong 4
Mrs. Wilbour, Her portrait hangs in q plac
Of honor on the parlor walls. She ~ innuenta
in Sorosls The most lfe-liko portrait tha
Mrs. DR.. Hull ever sat for hangs near the pic
ture OF Mrs. WilbOur In the parlor. II is an ol
painting on ivory framed heavily in eilt.and wa
painted whils Mo murdered woman was IL
London. II repreepnts Mrs, Hull rs yOunl