The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-28
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE
Reid Shot Henry Because Of
a Grass Widow Named
Anderson.
HAD OFTEN QUARRELED OYER HER
She Received Attention From
Both---Hoboken Police Dis
cover an Important
Witness.

the coWardly murdef OF Andy HeHlfy,
the Hoboken politician, by William Reid.
Sensational developments at Hoboken Po-,
lice Headquarters last night and this
morning prove that beyond a shadow OF q
doubt he woman who eanle bsfsxsen
the two nen Is a prepossessing Swedish
girl, about IS years old She is Mrs. A1a-.
derson, a grass widow, and al last ac-
counts was living on East 116th street,
between First and Second avenue, New
York Detective Sergeant Nelson and
several of his men are diligently search
ing for her, but up to noon had not locat-
ed her
The arrest by Detective Daniel Fenton
last night of Mrs. Marie Seamount of No.
IS Grand street, Hoboken, brought to
light the full story of the motive of the
murder. Her arrest was guarded with
great secrecy. For long time Chief
Donovan refused to state how Mrs. Sea-
mount figured in the case. Finally,
however, the whole story came out.
Mrs. Seamount had been employed as
servant in the house where Reid board
ed She often heard Reid threaten to
shoot Henry on account of the Anderson
woman, who was in delicate condition,
and blamed Reid. Reid said that Henry
was responsible for the woman's condi-
ton, and that he would shoot Henry. Mrs.
Seamount said that since the murder she
had been approached by Reid's relatives,
and that she had been offered bribe of
$40 If she would see Reids lawyer and
made a statement.
Negotiations were in progress for the
woman to make a statement to Reid S
lawyer when the Hoboken Justice Inter
fered. Mrs. Seamount's arrest has Gre
ated a sensation in Hoboken, as her state
ment gives the first authentic motive for
the shooting of Henry This morning
Mrs. Seamount was arraigned before Re-
crowded. The woman appeared greatly
excited, and made her statement in hes
itating voice. The woman's statement in
full as taken by Court Clerk Laverty. is
as follows.-''My husband died December
%, 1894. I came to live as a servant to
Peter Mohr in the rear house of No. 35S
Newark street, Hoboken, about December
25 1884, and left about March /, 1893. While
L lived there woman who said her name
was Mrs. Anderson visited the house
twice and inquired for William Reid. I
told her he was working at the Hamburg
dock, and to come the next day. That
was the first time she came. She said she
did not like to go there, but told me to
tell Reid that she would be over tomor-
row at eleven o'clock. When Reid came
home that evening / told him what she
said, and he said he knew her; that she
was no good She was in a delicate condi-
ton, he said and blamed Reid. | told
Reid what she said, and he said that he
was not to blame; that Andy Henry
was responsible While we were talking
he took from the second drawer of the
bureau revolver which was concealed
under his clothes. He told me that he
was going to shoot that Henry. He
said:-
"I am not to blame for this; Henry is
to blame
THAT night he went out with the re-
volver. He came home about three
o'clock in the morning. He told me that
he had given the revolver to his brother.
1.-THE next time that he spoke to me
was the evening that he killed Henry. I
was standing in front of Woltmann's
salon after Henry was shot Reid said
to me, Maria yous eyes are open now.
and if you don't keep your mouth shut
will give you one too I got away and
went to Mrs Henry's. the mother of
Andrew. and told her that he was shot
and killed. Yesterday was walking down
Newark street when man tapped me on
the left shoulder and said: Mrs. Maria,
you know all about the murder trial; if
you keep your mouth shut will give you
$40. Billy Reid wants to see you at the
County JAIL l said that I did not know
where the Jail was, and he said he would
take me there. afterwards learned that
this man is Mr. Maxwell. We went to
the County Jail and saw Reid. Reid
told me to see his sister Jennie and that
she would take me to Lawyer St. Law
renee and that | was to tell Mr.. st. Law
renee everything and that he would pay
me we'll / went to see Reid's sister
Jennie at her home, No. 10 First street.
While I was talking to her Tom Reid
came in and told me to keep my mouth
shut about the murder, that if / didn t
I would be arrested and sent to Snake
Hill. told him that that could not be
DONE He offered me $5 if 1 would not
bother Billy any more. Mrs. Anderson,
the woman referred to. lives at East 1l6th
street, between First and Second avenues.
| She has light hair dark eyes and Is about
thirty years old. Reid and Henry often
cuarreled about her."
After Mrs. Seamount's statement had
been taken she was committed to the
County Jail.