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.

WIZ VIM
had caused the arrest of Hallinger, who
was better known here as 'Big Ellenger."
a prize fighter, while in Connecticut he
was noted as a ferYent Baptist exhorter
aud a kalsominer and lather. The woman
complained to Justice Stilsing 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 I 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 sec ond
on the charge of threatening to kill Mary
Petersen. The woman left the court
room filed with great apprehension, and
Halllnger departed from the city. The
woman was at this time living in the
house of Thomas Mccall, No. 319 Sixth
street. On Friday, April 8. 1891, she and
her two children were tarned out OF this
house, and they went to the home of
SAA NANOAN ~ AN I'LL 1--WE
above, and there the tragedy took place.
The McCalls had said they would no
longer have Hallinger coming to the
house and creating disturbances. MIR.
and Mrs. Moore permitted Mary and her
two children, respectively two and one
years old. to occupy a room on the first
floor in the rear of their house. 1t was
poorly furnished but it was a refuge, and
the woman gladly accepted it.
OF A BRIGHT SUNDAY MORN.
Two days later, a bright Sunday morn
ing, Hallinger went to this house. IL 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 TO 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 a passion of terror.
"You don't van to see me. Ell? You've
got another mau? Well, l want to see
vou?" the rufian shouted.
Hallinger 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 Ratchet. which he had brought
with him that morning from Kingsland,
n small village near Rutherford.
Insane with rage Hallinger threw the
murderouS weapon at the N The
blade struck her on the forehead and bur-
ried itself in her skull. Mary Petersen
fell back on the bed beside her sleeping
ba bies.
Hallinger grasped the Ratchet and
twisted aud wrenched it until it was
loose enough to draw from the frontal
bone i'll which it had become wedge.
Then, like an infatuated demon. he rained
blow after blow upon the
He Inflicted twenty awful wounds.
Nine of them were on the face and head
and so deep were they that the braius
oozed out of each Anyone of the blows
was fatal. One CASH was three inches
long. This was behind the sar.
The arms and bosom of the mi
were also hacked in many places.
When tired of his fiendish work, Hal
linger e~ndeavored to kill himself with
the Ratchet. He struck himself on the
back of the head with it. but the weapon
was not heavy enough to permit him to
make a fatal blow. When assured of
this, Hsllinger seized the oldest child and
wrapping it up in a quilt took it to the
street. Here he saw Thomas Thompson
Of No. 319 Third street ana William q.
Taylor. Il Pennsylvania Railroad employee.
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. They did SO.
FREE ADMISSIONS.
At the Second Precinct Police
Station. on Grove street. Hallinger
said:--"I killed her with my la6h
Ratchet. and I would kill her again
if l had her. I hit her on the head every
time until she was dead, dead. deadl
Il killed her for my babies and I would
do it again for them. She had me ar
rested twice for Nothing and she made
me lots of trouble for Two years. l never
raised my hand to her before, but l told
her l would kill her some day aud then
give myself UP. did kill her and here l
am. l made sure she was dead and then
tried to kill myself. but The Ratchet
wasn't heavy enough or l wouldn't be
here now"
The murderer was indicted and the
Grand Jury presented the Indictment on
| April IA, nine days after the murder.
Hallinger was at once arrajgned before
Judge Knapp to plead, and, in response to
the usual question. he replied in an I'M
concerned Manner
"Guiltyp'
"What did you pIead3" 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 Il plea of murder withou
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
linger and advise him of the conse-
quences of = plea of guilty. Mr.. Collins
aid as requested, and on April II Hallin-
ger was again arraigued.
Mr.. Collins explained to the Court that
Hallinger had been fully advised of his
position aud of the nature and result of
a plea of guilty. Then Hallinger was
told to plead aud not a muscle moved as
he said calmly. Guilty"
Judge Knapp said that the Court
would take testimony. as directed by the
statute. to ascertain the degree of mur-
der that Haiiiuger was guilty OF. and he
appointed April IS as the day it would he
done. On that day, Hallinger was
brought into court. He acted as if he
had no fears of the result and no interest
in it. He smiled ana bowed to a number
of persons present and conversed in an
offhand manner with Counsellor Collins,