New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-21
THE HULL MURDER MYSTERY
SEEKING FOR LIGHT IN VAIN.


francis ARRESTED IN NEwJERsEY.
A. the inquest in the Hull murder case pro-
Goods II is apparent 20 close observer that
those who are managing 1t are not working
on any theory as 10 the guilty person to the
oven martial exclusion of others but they are
usiee the few facts IN their possession in such
a manner as TO obtain all possible information
which may lead to a solution of the mystery
There are times when the questions put by
Coroner Woltman aud Assistant District-At-
torney Rollins seem 10 indicate that they are
attempting to bring the testimony into such
form as to establish what Is already assumed
nv them to be fact; but soon other ques-
tons are put. which show that they are equally
re,dy 10 establish other facts inconsistent with
the first BnstOw Francis, the husband OF the
colored cook. was arrested in New-Jersey yes
tcrdav. and Is now In custody IN this city, but
II Is believed to be certain that he was not III
Nev-York on the night of the murder.
STRIKING POINTS OF THE TESTIMONY
The proceedings opened at 1890 o'clock, with
Nancy Francis on the stand Among the spectators on
theplatform were Police Commissioner Wheeler and
Alderman Morris. Alexander r. Shepherd. Of Wash
iupton. was present for d short time, and listened
with interest to the testimony Dr. Hun
was in the room all day; at first be
sat back among the audiences but IN the
afternoon. when the housemaid was testiiying he
went forward and took seat behind john d.
Townsend. his attorney where he could hear dis
tgctly all that was said. lie has evidently become
aware That he is under some degree of police sus-
nicioD bat the knowledge has produced no effect
upon his cOuntenance OF demeanor lie Is,
20 all appearance, the same as ever since
the discovery of the murder, feeble old
man with his spirit utterly crushed by a
great horror The witnesses who had been sub
ppuaed u appear on Thursday were In waiting;
some i'm the room at the Of the COURTROOM and
some Il the Cor0ners Office. At the latter place
were two new witnesses-Maria Harris, coiored
servant Al No. West Forty-second-st., and Miss
Nellie Forbes. with whom Nancy Francis formerly
lived q, servant. The latter was very nervous at
the thought of appearing before the jury and the
crowd iu the courtroom.
Nancy Francis gave no additional testimony OF
import 4uce. except to the condition OF the BODY
Mrs. Hull when she first saw IL. She had not
noticed that the limbs tied, and could not re-
member that she had seen any baudages over the
ewes and mouth. She would not say that
they were not there, bat she had not
noticed Them She did not say 10 the milk
man. Mrs. Hull is murdered and her eyes
are vide open." She was closely questioned by Mr..
Rollins about having been at the door talking with
some one between II and y o'clock one night. She
denied that she had done so. She was asked about
having heard Dr.. HuPs steps in his laboratory.
which adioins her bedroom. and as 70 whether she
had heard him 90 up stairs before she went 10 sleep
she answered the latter question IN the
NEGATIVE and another followed as TO the
reason why she had slept so soundiy
that night She could only say that she had
been washing and ironing that day. and was very
tired.
Nellie West. the housemaid, in the course OF her
testimony touched on this point She said that the
cook had been sleeping in the back-dOor way all
through the evening that she was very tired and
that She reused her up TO make the basement Sc
cue ana go to bed. The housemad's testimony
was given with apparent desire TO tell The exact
truth; bur she was often led by questioning To
make positive statements, some u wmch sue alJei
ward qualified, and in regard TO some others
she admitted that she might not have full kno"l-
edge.
The candles and matches used by DR.. Hull were
the central points Of interest Two partly burned
steariuc caudie of different lengths were produced
which the housemaid at FIRST did not re-
roeubrr having brought down from the Doctors
room on tine morning following the murder; she
afterward thought that she did bring them down.
Size sand 30 one in the house used candles OF that
Lind EXCEPT the Doctor he took one up every even
size brought III uDN lii tiio ilAHiH1' A@N4
she said hat she sometimes forgot TO take them
down. and then he would put another IN bottle
or something and take il up the next night Some
+r,es the accumulated in his rOom and then
she took them down and put them on table IN the
hall or m the passageway 10 hs office, sometimes
somewhere aud sometimes another" She sad that
only enc KIND of matches was used IN the mouse,
and picked one OF the kind out OF lot suoWn by
fbe Coroner. Ii was a common, square sulphur
match, such as Is sold ny every grocer AIJ5I w Id
she said. Il don't know whether the Doctor
us-d n3rlOr matches IN his room or not
never paid DO particular attention. SLe
saa that Mrs. Hull always turned on the nan gas
AT night: but when asked how she knew tals, as
sbe went 20 her room II 10 o'clock, she answered
that Mrs. Hull always told me 70 leave 1t ana she
or lie doctor would attend 10 It, she was asked II
She heard d. Hull 20 10 bis room that night; she
answered hat she aid not but she also dd Lot hear
the Coemaus 20 to their rooms on the
meDts perfectly about his having been IN ms
laboratory about o'clock and again about 10 that
Dr.. Robert n Fuller and Edward Henschel, Wis
tied tl scene Of the murder before the arrival OF
the police. BOtn noticed that there was no odOr OF
chlorOiorm OF ether; that the hands or the
dead woman swollen and dscoiOred,
and that she mad probably been dead more
than three hours. Dr. htnsehel believed ina
the dis cOOratiou of the bands had been caused by
TIE compression of the bandage5 before death He
noticed that the left foot was turned more an the
Ot4cr and he thought due 70 pressure against the
side OF the bed. The baudage around the throat
Was so thick that DEE could not tell whether IL
had been drawn tight enough for strangulatlOn or
lot. The bsndage about the eyes covered the
br0wS, and was drawn tig tly.
The production of some Of the bed-clothing and
bandages taken from the murdered Womaus bed,
in the course of the hOusemai4s examination,
Great al intense sensation IN te COURTROOM ana
Dr. Huh who sat esT, looked upon them with
great interest. Mrs Boeqer lodser IL
Dr.. Hulis house. was called a. witness,
but her husband said that she was sick,
and tie iu0uest was adjourned until Monday morn
ing Haf an hour later - he Coroner took Mis-.
Boilers deposition in his Office.
The candles produced ia court yesterday were OF