New-York tribune., 1880-02-05
THE WEST ORANGE MURDER.

was perfectly sound condition.
THE WEST ORANGE MURDER.
cRoss-rXAMISArIoN OF JOHN MEIERHoEFFER5
wipow-TnE FIRST STATEMENTS ADHERED TO.
The trial of Franz Lammens and Margaret Meier
hoefer for the murder Of John MclerhOefer at West
Orange on October o, resumed in the Court of
Over and Termner. Newark, yesterday. Lammens
had passed the night in the Court House, where
room had been fit, up for him, and he was taken
into court wrapped in blankets and appearing to be
very weak Soon afterward cot was placed in the
inry-room and Lammens was allowed to lie on it,
where he could hear all the evidence.
Mrs Meierhoeffer was recalled to the stand and
her cross-exainination 10y the counsel for Lammens
was resumed She said she saw Lammens take
pail of water and 90 down TO the cellar. When he
washed the blood up he got rag, used as q mop
cloth 10 do t with lt was not the rag she was
washing when the schoolmaster came home. She
did not tell the who called at the house for fear
Lammens would kill thcm both, and she forebore TO
tell the hunters and put herself under their pro-
lection, because they seemed to be intox-
icated. She so frightened she could
not speak She did not send Theodore
after the officers ia the afternoon because
if they would not come in the morning they would
not come for a child and Il would need man to
make them come; she did not Keep lheodOre M her
roam the night OF the murder because she did sOt
think he would be protection, and l.ammens
might kill them both. Lammens had said the BOY
must go up stars everyth,ng wa I'M ST. lngre Sh
could not say why he entered there ~ he could
have come n by the door. There was no use trying
10 prevent man like that. He might have blown
the house up If she had done anything besides she
expected the police every minute.
Counsel-Now. e lady called at the house for ap-
ples and Won sent Lammens 10 the barn for them.
While he was gone why did you not tell the lady
The witness replied that she was a sickly, deli
cate lady. and besides she had already told Pier-
son and was expceting the police On the day be-
fore shc did not tell her husband what Lammcns
had done because he did not have lis mind and she
did not know what he might do. She did not want
any killing done IN her bonse. Her husband had
Inisket The witness did not remember having
asked PiersOn, the teacher, what medicine she
cOuld give her husband 10 make him sick Possibly
something of the kind said in jest. She had
never asked anybody about pOsOns She could not
remember having consulted "a lawyer III Orange
about having her husband sent 10 lunatic asylum,
but once applied to Justice TO have him sent there.
When she saw Lammens follow her husband into
the house she did not him. did not call TO her
husband did not scream. because she could not She
had no strength and no nerve. Aitetwarl she could
NOT run away for she weak and afraid. When
Franz went away for the whskcy she bad only
lime 70 look INTO the cellar battle her face
and s,t down for a few minutes before he
re!urncd. Witness denied that she
scrujhng the cellar stairs when the hunters
came She was then IN the closet IN the back Of the
house. aud she heard Lanmens go down in the cell
lar for the milk.
James y. Osb"Ine was The next witness. he stated
that he worked AZ ST. Cloud last October. and bearded
nj the MeerhoeileTs. Witness left on lhe Saturday
before the murder. Lammens had told him that IT
a husband. lie I.ammensD would shoot HIM Tor
cents. 80
stand until 10 o'clock this morning.
TWO POLICE COMMISSIONERS SURPRISED.
An UNAFFECTED STEP THE CASE or CAPTAIN
M'DoNNTII.
The trial Of Police Captain Mcdonnell on the
charge Of falling suppress the disorderly houses
oll.1.. l.
fore Commissioners Wheeler, VOorhis aud MacLcan,
hut was adjourned till tomorrow at $3.50 a. m the
Captain s mother being at the point of DEATH The
charge was preferred ~ the Superintendent under
tho rules but u was reported that the proceedings
were due 20 plan of some of the Police Commis-
sioners 90 get the Captain removed for political
reasDns. Captain Mcdonnell Is n strong Iammany
Democrat. Much excitement was therefore caused
among tue persons vino thrOnged the court-foOm
when John d. Townsend, as counsel for the accused
man announced that he had received affidavit
flat made it his dsagTeeable and imperative duty
60 suggest OF behalf Of the defence. that Commits
eioners Macl.ean aud NOOrhis should not sit as
Judges as they would probably be called upon TO
give testimony as witnesses.
The Commissioners, after briefly comforting, de-
cided that the matter had better lie over till FRI
day. MIR MacIean looked slightly ncttled. Cap
tain Mcdonnell said afierward that the affidavit was
conspiracy to irive him from his Office, and that
ii was on this subject the two Commissioners would
be called 10 testify. lie refused 10 speak further
about the matter.
FATAL QUARREL BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS
A BLOW wfrn An AXE IN DRUNKEN FIGHT.
Two brothers named John and William Nor
rssey had a quarrel at the rooms of the latter at
No. 2 Jay-st. Brooklyn, on the night OF January 26,
ami John received blow on the head from his
brother which caused his death yesterday morning.
The brothers, together with John Fleming and a
member OF the United States Marine Corps named
Jones, had been drinking freely and playing cards.
Whcn the supply Of liquor became exhausted John
Morrisscy took the bottle and started out for the
nnruose of getting IL Teiilled. HIS brother pro-
tested against his going and attempted to stop him.
Angry words and blows ensped, aud, at length Will
lam seized an axe and struck his brother heavy