New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-02
SHOT BY 4 NEGRO HUSBAND.
PROBABLE MURDER OF A WHITE SERVANT
ATA FARMHOUSE NEAR MORRISTOWN.

THE MAN. JOHN THOMSON. IN JAIL. WITH
sELF.INFICTED woUND-INsIsTING THAT
THE DOUBLE DEED WAS AN ACCIDENT
HIS STORY OF HIS wIFES
wANDERINGs.
Morristown " j., Dec. l (speciaD-A constable
drove into this place at about Today with colored
prisoner in his wagon He went directly to the county
JAIL showed warrant for the arrest Of his prisoner,
and the man, J ,hn Thomson, locked up; and as
he was Suffering ION bullet wound in the abdomen,
doc or was sent immediately Then the constable
told his story lie from Troy Hills small
hamlet six miles flom this place His prisoner was
arrested for shooting his white wife and then him
self
Thomson called at the home OF benjamin S. Condit,
farmer living Troy Hills. at O'Clock this morn
Ing, and went into the kitchen, where his white wife
preparing breakfast for the farmers family. Just
what occurred then Is not definitely known, there
were witnesses to the tragedy. They soon began
to quarrel IL Is said Thomson charged his wife with
being untrue to him. However. they both got ex-
cited, and at last Thomson drew revolver from his
pocket and told his wife that If she did not behave her
self he would shoot her. She became
frightened and seized him, and in the
struggle the revolver discharged three times
Ono ball entered the womans left side, another went
through her clothing and lodged in the floor, and the
third took effect in the abdomen of Thomson.
The man then tried to away, but he was hurt
badly that he could not walk CondIt's family
aroused by the plsolshots, and constable ard
a doctor were sent for. The doctor arrived first,
and examined Thomsons wound, but devoted most
OF his time to the wounded woman. The constable
arrived shortly aferward, put Thomson under arrest
and brought him directly to this village. Upon the
prisoners arrival at the jail DR.. Douglas was called
ln and after working several hours he succeeded
in finding the ball and removing It, The pistol that
taf.c bv Tho cta bIa ras a
32-calibre fve-shot, sclfcocking revolver of the
bulldogs pattern. Three of the chambers had been
emptied.
Troy Hills is completely shut of from the outside
world there being no communication between 1t and
any other place, either by telegraph, telephone stage
The last advices received from there were to the
effect that the would probably die. Thomson
was in the Morris County jail at Morristown last
night, and Jailor william Montgomery conducted
Tribune reporter to the negro's cell He was
stln somewhat under the influence Of the ether that
had been given him. and said he suffering consider
ably from the wound; but his mind seemed to be
clear, and he talked lntelligently. When asked why
he had shot his wife no said accident With
a little questioning the following story got out Of
him:
81 sailor, and married my wife
eight years ago in England. We then came to this
country, and l was employed on cOasting vessels,
running both South and East few years ago
| fitted up a nice home staten Island, ard went
off on a trip, leaving my wife and her children,
by former husbanda boy Of ten and girl Of seven
and my boy, age five years. in comfortable
home. When l returned, few months afterward
| found the house burned down, and my wife
working in New-York I rented some rooms
in NewYori, furnished them. ard went away
another trip and returning again found she had
sold the furniture and had put my boy IN asylum
tried it two three times bought furniture and
furnished rooms. but each time returning from my
voyage would find that my wife had sold the furniture
and had gone out to service. She did not stay
In place long, but kept moving
around from place to place During the
last year she has been in Jersey City, and when
&C uncd from my last voyage. about two months
ago, ! found that she up here working for Ben
Iamn Condit. came up TO see her two or three
times, and had any trouble before. Yesterday
came up again. and walked out there last night bur
when arrived al the house the family Were all in
bed, and the house was closed up, | went into the
barn and slept there all night This morning !
went UP to tho house at about O'Clock.
and found my wife in the kitchen getting break
fast for the family. She gave cup of coffee,
which | drank Then got into some argument,
and we both got excited. She began throwing the
dishes at me- took out the revolver and told her
If she did not stop would shoot her. cried out:
IN shoot you I'll shoot your She got scared al
that. and grabbed hold Of me; and during the scufie
she got shot and did IL
Then you had not the least intention Of shooting
hcr!7 was asied.
No, sir, not the least idea 1t was all an acct
dent
How did you happen. TO be carrying tho pistoll'
ooh, | always carry that he answered
The constable brought the story that the shooting
case OF Jealousy. but Thomson stoutly denied
this. II IS hard to tell what will be the result OF
Thomsons wound It is in dangerous place. and
the ball passed nearly tin ough hi, body
DistrctAtorney Cutter vas seen at his home last
night and said he had sent instructions TO Troy Hills
lhat If the woman rot already dead he would
send officer 10 take h,r ante-mortcm statement.
AS he had received word up 10 late hour tonight,
he thought that perhaps she had died. The constable
said that ThumSon's wife Irish woman, but
Thomson says she Is English. Thomson is aOou;
forty years DID, of light COLOR and rather Gcod-lookng