The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-29
HALLINGHR'S crime.
Evidence to Guide Judge
Knapp in Fixing the
Penalty.
II WOULD KILL HER AGAIN."
The Murderer's Own Story Shows
That His Brayado is Aban-
d0ning Him.
II WOULD KILL HER AGAIN."

into the facts connected with the murder
of Mary Petersen on April 5. as published
yesterday in THE NEWS, was finished by
four O'Clock. There was no effort made
by the Prosecutor to make the examina-
tion appear like murder trial, for it was
not necessary. The murderer had admit
ted being guilty. Judge Knapp's only
duty was to find out how guilty.
Whether the brutal ex-prze fighter and
ex-preacher should hang for his dastardly
deed, or whether he should be sentenced
for murder in the second degree, the ex-
treme penalty for which is twenty years
in states Prison.
During the grave proceedings Of the
examination, the only person noticed in
the oppressively GRO wded court room who
smiled was HalIinger. His face wore
semi-smile constantly and frequently a
broad grin. This was particularly the
case when he testified in his own behalf.
Without recapituIating the evidence pub
l!shed yesterday, il is enough to say that
after half a dozen witnesses had laid
foundation for the theory Of premeditated
murder. Joseph Moore, III whose house,
No. 3l7 Third street, Mary Petersen was
stand.
WHAT MOORE KNEW.
81 was washing that morning." he said,
"when my wife told me some one was
knocking at the door. l let him knock
till got through and then went to the
door The man had gone out to the side
walk, but when he heard me ask what
was wanted he came back and asked for
Mrs. Hallinger. demanded his name,
and said, Il will ask my wife about the
| matter and then locked the door in his
| face. | spoke to my wife, and she sent
me to Mary's room. Mrs. Hallinger had
heard the voices. and as soon as I told
| For Gods sake, don't let him in. He'll
kill me if you do Hallinger heard her
and burst open the door. He brushed
| past me- almost knocking down the
lamp, and drawing his axe. ran TO Mary's
door, saying, You don't want to see
me, ehr As soon as he passed me l ran
out to get policeman. l thought
he meant to beat his wife, l couldn't
| find any policeman, aud coming back my
| wife said. Joe. thiuk he must be killing
| that woman. / heard lot OF blows and
! an awful groan.' went TO the room and
there sat Hallinger on a chair holding his
head on his hands. He was bleeding. He
- and Pm glad of it, ran out
again as soon as l saw Mary's body on the
bed and telephoned to Police Headquar-
ters."
The rest of the tragic story was told by
Mrs. Moore and Policeman Vanderzee
Hallinger took his eldest child from the
| bi0od-soaked bed where it had lain dur
! ing the murder. and wrapping the little
one in a quilt taken from Mrs. Moore's
| bed, left the house. He told two colored
men what he had done and accompanied
them toward the Second precinct station.
Policeman Vanderzee was met on the
way and, hearing of the murder, took
| Hallinger TO the station.
AT THE POLICE STATION.
Roundsman John +. Cannon, who was
at the desk when Hallinger was brought
in. testified that the murderer made a
statement which was read in Court 1t
was to the effect that Hallinger admi tied
he had committed the crime
Il killed her with my lath hatchet and
| / would kill her again If had her. hit
| her on the head every time until she was
dead, dead, dead. l killed her for my
babies, and / would do IL again for them.
She had me arrested twice for nothing
and she made me lots OF trouble for two
| years / never raised my hand to her be-
fore. but told her would kill her some
day and then give myself up. / did kill
| her and here / am. l made sure she was
dead and then tried to kill myself. but
the hatchet wasn't heavy enough or
WOulQn'J De mere now"
DR.. Charles b. Converse, County Ply
sician, testified that he made post-mor-
| tenn examination Of the body Of the dead
woman, and found twenty wounds in all
on her. Nine were gashes in the skull so
deep that the brains oozed from them,
| one was cash three inches long behind
the ear, and the others were on the face,
head and arms. At least thirteen blows
had been struck the woman on the head.
The brains had splashed on the wall and
| bed when the natchet sunk into the skull
THE MURDERER's STORY.
| When HallinQer was called TO the stand
every eye watched the block who lowered
half head over the tallest man that was
| present. With mis- accustomed smile and
a firm, strong voice, but not loud one, in
| ply to questions Hallinger said.
| u am thirty flour years old. Twas born
in Ireland. My mother was an African
and my father an Arabian. l settled in
Connecticut, where l worked at my trade
as kalsominer. plastererp and lather.
was widower when met that woman
We didn't run away together. She went
to New York and followed. ! gave up
my religion for her. / wanted to marry
her, and several times asked her to marry
me, but she wouldn't have it. We had
two children. one of them born in Novem-
| ber two years ago, the other In July last
We lived in New York awhile and then
came to Jersey. got work after a time
| at kingsland, on the Delaware, lacka-
| wana and Western Railroad depot
Kingsland is about eight miles out. I
used to come in every night as long as I
| worked for the company, but later cou Id
only get down once or twice week.
The hatchet with which he murdered
his wife was shown Hallinger and he
identified 1t without tremor. He said
he bought it ten years ago in Connecti-
cut, and had carried it almost constantly
ever since Continuing he said.
II hired little house In Kingsland and
it and then said she couldn't leave her
friends. She came afterwards, bringing
the children, but she only stayed eleven
| days. used TO visit her at Mrs. McCauPs s
after she left Tenth street. never drew a
| knife on her or raised my hand to her, nor
have ever drawn weapon on anybody.
She said one day at Mrs. McCauls that
she had heard that had found another
woman. denied 1t, but she said could
golf wanted to, for she had an other man
down the street. That was the first inn
preston had that she was false to me.
wrote to her from Kingsiand on
the Wednesday before I-before the Sun
day committed the deed,n and Halling-
er's voice faltered little, as II from fear
vf the effect of his words. II told her in
the letter wocld see her Sunday. but on
Sunday found she had moved. / got
her address from Mrs. McCaul. When |
heard my wife tell Mr.. Moore she didn't
want to see me / got wild, crazy sup
1 pose. had no idea of killing her until
she told Moore not to let me in. Then