The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-22
AN AWFUL BUTCHERY.
Story of Hallinger's Crime and of
Peshall's Long Fight to
Save Him.

Edward w. Hallinger,, negro. on
April 5. 1891. brutal!y chopped to death at
the house. No. BIZ Third street. his mis-
tress, Mary Peterse n, colored woman
The cause was jealousy. Two weeks be-
fore the tragedy happened. the woman
had caused the arrest of Hallinger, who
was better known here as "Big Eueuger."
prize fighter. while in Connecticut he
was noted as fervent Baptist exhorter
and kalsominer and Iather. The woman
complained to Justice Stilslng that Hal.
linger had threatened to kill her by cut
ting her throat. Hallinger was impris-
oned four days and was then discharged.
When Mary Petersen heard the decision
of the Justice, she exclaimed with great
excitement
''Then, for Gods sake. Judge, send me
to the County Jail where may be safe
from the jealous passions of that man
He'll kill me the first chance he gets"
This arrest of Hallinger was his second
on the charge of threatening to kill Mar y
Petersen. The woman left the court
room filed with great apprehension, and
Hallinger departed from the city. The
woman was at this time living in the
house of Thomas Mccall, No. 318 Sixth
street. On Friday, April 8. 1891, she and
her two children were turned out of this
house, and they went to the home of
Thomas Moore, at the number given
above, and there the tragedy took place.
The McCalls had said they would no
longer have Hallingsr ceming to the
house and creating disturbances. Mr..
and Mrs. Moore permitted Mary and her
TWO children, respectively two and one
years old. to occupy room on the first
floor in the rear of their house. It was
poorly furnished but it was refuge. and
the woman gladly accepted it.
ON A BRIGHT SUNDAY MORN.
Two days Later, bright Sunday morn
ing, Hallinger went to this house. 1t was
six o'clock, and Moore was the only per
son in the house who had arisen. Hal
linger knocked at the door, and, without
opening it, Moore asked who was there.
Hallinger replied that he wanted to enter
and see his wife. Mary Petersen heard
him and she called out Co Moore:-
"Don't let him in, I don't want to see
him. He will kill me-"
Hallinger heard this, and he burst open
the door and entered the hall. Brushing
past Moore, Hallinger walked toward the
room where Mary Petersen was scream
ing In passion OF terror. ..-a.a
"You don't want to see me. ehf You've
got another man? Wcll. want to see
You?' the ruffian shouted.
Halfiager continued his way to the
room of his mistress. She had partially
got up from her bed when Hallinger
reached the door. He had in his hand a
lather's hatchet, which he had brought
with him that morning from Kingsland,
a small village near Rutherford.
Insane with rage Hallinger threw the
murderous weapon at the woman. The
blade struck her on the forehead and bur-
ried itself in her skull. Mary Petersen
fell back on the bed beside her sleeping
babies.
Hallinger grasped the hatchet and
twisted and wrenched it until it was
loose enough to draw from the frontal
bone in which it had become wedge.
Then, like an infuriated demon, he rained
blow after blow upon the woman.
He inflicted twenty awful wounds
Nine of them were on the face and head
and SO deep were they that the brains
oozed out of each. Anyone of the blows
was fatal. One cash was three inches
long. This was behind the ear.
were also hacked In many places.
When tired of his fiendish3wor,., Hal
linger endeavored to kill himself with
the hatchet. He struck himself on the
back of the head with it. but the wea pom
was not heavy enough to permit him to
make fatal blow. When assured OF
this, Hallinger seized the oldest child and
| wrapping it uD In quilt took it to the
street. Here he saw Thomas Thompson
of No. 3l9 Third street aud William G.
Taylor, Pennsylvania Railroad employe.
He asked them the way to the police
station. They saw blood on his clothes
aud became alarmed. They said they
would take them to one Tney did SO.
FREE ADMISSIONS.
At the Second Precinct Police
| Station, on Grove street. Hallinger
said:--'I killed her with my latn
| hatchet and / would kill her again
| if had her hit her on the head every
| time until she was dead, dead. deadl
! Il killed her for my ba bies and l would
| do it again for them. She had me ar
rested twice for nothing and she made
me lots of trouble for Two years. I never
| raised my hand to her before, but told
her would kill her some day aud then
give myself up. did kill her and here l
am. / made sure she was dead and then
tried to kill myself. but che hatchet
wasn't heavy enough or l wouldn't be
here now"
The murderer was indicted aud the
| Grand Jury presented the Indictment on
April IA, nine days after the murder.
Hallinger was at once arraigned before
Judge Knapp to plead, and in response to
the usual question, he replied in an un-
concerned manner:-
"Guiltyp'
"What did you pleadP" asked Prose-
cutor Winfield in amazement.
Guilty" said Hallinger, again in a
| firm tone.
1t was the first time in the history Of
the county that plea of murder without
specification of the second degree had
been made, and Judge Knapp looked
serious when he heard it. He refused to
accept the plea then and asked Counsel
lor Gilbert Collins TO consult with Hal
| iinger and advise min of the conse-
quences OF a plea of guilty. Mr.. Collins
uid as requested, and on April IL Hallin-
ger was again arraigned.
Mr.. Collins explained to the Court that
oil l., f,,tt. t.s