Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1880-12-27
NEW JERSEY.


An Enraged Husband's Terrible Revenge
TRENTON, Dec. 26.-Yesterday morning
about 1 o'clock fire was discovered in a
frame dwelling house on Warmers alley, &C.
cupied by colored man named Henry John
son, which soon increased in fury and de-
stroyed the building. At first no one thought
that any person had been injured, but on a
search being made the body of Johnson's
wife was found in the debris almost burned
spree during Friday, and coming home late
at night, while his wife was up stairs in bed,
he upset an oil lamp and set fire to the
house. When the fire was discovered john
son himself was found lying PROSTATE and
insensible in front of the house. and when he
came to himself and was questioned he said
that he had jumped through the window to
save his life, and had done all he could to
rescue his wife. Later Developments tended
to throw upon johnson the suspicion that he
had not acted right, and consequently he was
.arrested and locked up in the police station.
It is supposed by some that he had quarrelled
left her there to perish. An inquest will
doubtless throw light on the calamity.
Christmas Tragedy-A NegrO-Beats his
Wife to Death-SIeeping all Night
With the Corpse.
NEWARK, Dec. 26.-Edward Nissan, q
burly negro forty-four years of age, a waiter,
was arrested at his residence tonight charged
with the murder of his wife. An adopted
son of his named Pebisco, ten years old, was
arrested as witness. The boy said that on
Christmas day party of friends came from
went to visit neighbours and remained until
evening. On his return home he found his
mother lying dead on the floor with
blood spattered all over. 'sOh,
father" said he 'tmother is dead"
''She is not was the reply. t'She is only
asleep will wake her." Nissan took
a club and struck the woman several blows.
He was drunk and threatened to kill the boy
if he did not keep quiet. He then dragged
the body up stairs and took the boy to bed
with him, sleeping with the corpse. They
arose this morning about o'clock. Nissan
took the boy with him to an eating saloon
on Bank street, where The was employed.
and kept him there until 10 o'clock, when
they went home. The murderer then swept
the house and sent the boy to see his
half-sister in Brown street, telling him to
came home in the evening. When the boy
came home he found the door locked and
could not gain admittance. He then went to
Mr.. Weiss in Broome street and notified him
of the murder. The police found the muir
derer at his home. He made no resistance.
At midnight reporter visited the scene of
the tragedy with County Physician Hewitt.
The body of the murdered woman presented
a CHASTITY sight Her skull was fractured
at the right side and over the right temple,
and there were abrasures under the left eye
and mouth from a heavy blow as if made
with club. The room where the body lay
was about seven by ten and was in most
filthy condition. Decomposition had already
set in and the stencil was most sickening. On
the floor to the left of the bed were some old
clothes upon which Spitz dog and cat were
sleeping Upon the wall were some cheap
pictures, one of which representing Pontius
PLATE and the judgment upon Christ hung
over the bed. In an ante-room was small
Christmas tree decorated with string of col
ored popcorn and the plaster figure of a kit
ten. The shanty was placed in charge of the
police. The murderer denies all knowledge
of the crime. He says he don't know how
his wife was killed.