New-York tribune., 1886-04-01
GOEBFERD TELLS HOW He WAS ROBBED
HE FIRtD BECAUSE HE FEARED ANOTHER ATTACK


ON HIS LIFE-HIs WIFE TEsTIFIEs.
The trial of Frederick Goebferd the Blackwell's
Island keeper, VINO is accused of killing Ellen
Ihibbs III tie - House of Bazes' in Muiberry-st..
was continued yeqteiday i'll the Court OF General
Sessions. several witnesses, wood-turners, poIce-
men keepers, etc, tesufed to the prlso 'ers UNI
form good character. Mrs. Louisa Goebferd, the
wife Of the prisoner, testified that when GoeDierd
came back 10 his home Oh the uight OF the mur-
der ms face was scratched cut and swollen. his
clothes torn and he looked, TO use the words OF
!"he heated T''H''t, terrible" de-" HIS watch and
cnain and scaIf pin,. which be BAD
Morn at GeoGk wsie rSIs and Sh had red @ at
the robbers, but did not know II he had strdck
anybody
consumptIve looking German with sunken eyes,
bad, ret.catng forehead and yellow mdstache
lie laid tnat lie was thrty-one years ola ana uah
been keeper On the Island for three years. Before
that he was a woOd- urncT, his speciality being
ppe-making He met Ellen Phibbs on the Island,
where she was runner" go M
How came YOU to be so infatuated with her y
asked his lawyer, and you married man Win
three pretty chi ldrenT
(ioeD.erd's bead fell forward and he burst into
tears but did uot answer. lie then gave detailed
account of his movements on the night when the
gil was killed. lie SAID:
I went to the house IN Mulberry-sr. because had
promised Frank Golden, the night before. that wonld
fnd out for him whether friend OF his named VIII im
Forbisop on the Island or not thought Nellie
two before asking me 10 come and see her had
place once Dc1Ore al nous" III "
room on The srcoud floor Thomas Burnes. Frank Golden
Mary Sullv IN. and Mary Ann sherry | got to the
house at 8 O'Clock. We passed the evening
drinking and talking, l paying for the
beer Nellie Phbbs care In about IL O'Clock. she was
drunk She and | sat on the sofa and put my arm
around her and kissed her She tried to borrow MY
cents from me. bu told her al first had no money OF
my own. ! had $40 Ia NY pocket belonging 10 the
prsouers Island. Finally gave her 80 and told
her TO get the change. sne went out and when asked
fer my charge she asked me TO come out down In the
hallway We were then IN a room on the second nOor
went downstairs ana asked her again for my change
She said: haven't got it," said Nellie. yon have
g0tlt" She said {: "You are liar" Just then some
one struck me In the neck. made rush
for the door and another fellow got NE
nv the throat and dragged me to the ground. was
kicked ana cued In the fight struggled partly into
ulied my pistol and fired at the figure OF man III the
hallway In the scuii- was robbed OF wacn ana chain
scarf pin and all but S36 IN money
Assistant Distrct-Attorney Fitzgerald brought
ont several in eIestng facts on xamination
GoebieId admitted that he had been instrumental
in procuring Ellen Phbbss release from BLACKWELL g
Island when her term was half served out. lie
dozcd of tn ice during the evening spent In the
"Uouse of Blazes' when il would have been
possible to rob him. lie had no idea of shooting
Ellen Phibbs but feared another attack on his life.
The Jury will visi; the " House OF Blazes to-day
aud inspect the place of the k ling for themselves