The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-01
A PLANNED
MURDER.
William Nicely Killed His
Wife Because He Be-
lieved Her IN
faithful.
SHOT HER TWICE IN THE BREAST
The Man in the Case Was
Allowed to Escape
Unharmed.
SHOT HER TWICE IN THE BREAST

shot and Killed his wife, Mary, about four
o'clock this morning on Jordan avenue,
near their home. Jealousy was the cause
of the deed. For several weeks Nicely
went about threatening the life of CANA
liel Brewster, another colored man, with
whom tNeely's wife was frequently seen.
Brewster and Neelys wife attended a
ball at Phoenix Hall, near the Junction,
last evening Nicely learned of it, waited
the arrival of the couple, and then coolly
ernptied revolver into his wife when she
made her appearance on Jordan avenue
with the man who, Neely claims, is re-
sponsible for everything.
Neely's intention was to kill both his
wife and Brewster. but he shot at her
alone. The first shot apparently took no
effect and he fired again. His wife wheeled
about rushed toward her husband and
fell dead in his arms shot through the
heart Brewster and companion made
their escape.
The neighborhood was aroused by the
shooting. Patrolman Murray appeared on
the scene in jiffy. He placed Nicely un-
der arrest for murder and had the body
removed to the house.
Brewster was arrested later and he
subsequently learned that Norris, a por-
ter, was with Brewster when the shoot
| ing occurred Amanda Smith, a friend
| of Mrs. Neely, saw the shooting, and she
too is in custody as a witness
Neely was told by the Chief that what
he said would be used against him at
the trial. He. however, freely answered
| the Chiefs questions and said
Iii, T1,-a-rx ctk,5s
after catching them asleep together in
my house last Sunday morning about $50
| o'clock She was lying in his arms on
a sofa in the parlor. I tried to awaken
| them but / could not, so I shot of my
revolver. / did not shoot at them. Al
| the sound of the pistol Brewster got up
and left the house. He returned later
He asked me If I thought he had wronged
me. I told him he had when ne invited
me down to the yard to fight 1t out
| refused to go. He then left my mouse
| and / saw no more of him until caught
1 him with my wife when got home az
| 70 o'clock this morning. / stood around
| the corner until my wife and Brewster
4 came along When l saw them Went
mn to the pair Brewster left my WiIe
| r n,,llad ont my revolver to shoot both
| of them. / shot my wife, and she sala,
| .Cxo away. Louis I did not think the
| 6rst shot struck her so / shot again,
| After the second shot she turned around
aod walked toward me. She grabbed me
| a,,5 fol, To the ground. Amanda Smith
! was present at the time Of the snootihg,
- was Rrewster and another man whom
~ rot know Amanda Smith was In
Nv ho,,se Sunday morning when found
prawster and my wife together. I have
/ two ockethandkerchiefs that 1ouno IN
~ house. My wife told me Brewster
| gave them to her. 49,
patrolman Peter Murray OF the Mont
zomerv street station, who arrested ene
murderer. made the following statement !.
! ~ tbe shooting this morning TO cnlel VI
| Police Murphy.
"st 49o o'clock this morning was
-. ndtnp At the corner of Vroom street
| and Tuers avenue heard pistol shot.
T ran to Mercer street, near JORDAN ave
nne where found woman lying on me
| sidewalk. At her side was rol2rea
| woman named Amanda Smith ana VII
! tam Z. Neely, who. Subsequently
learned. was the husband Of the woman
who was shot Before arriving al the
| scane Of the crime I met colored man
whom I learned was Gamaliel Brewster.
! nc told me that fellow, pointing 70
Nealv shot his Wife then went up
| u Neelv and asked him, Who shot that
woman?, He answered, i did,
Where is the revolver?' next asked.
/ .sr5ere 1t Is. he said, taking 1t from
his pocket.
..I then took Neely to the station house.
I'm route he informed me that he hao
found Brewster in his house with ms
| wife last sunday morning and had 70
break the window to get in. :
The following statement was MADE 20
/ Chief Murphy by Gamaliel Brewster
II was at Neelys house Sunday hight
last. I remember being asleep on the
| sofa. I had been drinking and do not re-
member whether his wife was there or
| not. What he says about Sunday night
| is correct. / was at Phoenix Hall last
night at a bail. accompanied Mrs.
NeeIy there from her home and went
within block of her home after the ball.
I bade Mrs. Nicely good night and turned
| to go away when 1 heard the snof. l
/ turned around again and saw Nicely plug
her again In the breast. By plug mean
that [ saw him shoot her in the breast
Amanda Smith made this statement
i What Neely says about Sunday night
Is correct / went to the ball at Phoenix
Hall alone and came home with Henry
Norris, Jr., porter on the cars. saw
the SHOOTING. Il occurred just as described
When Nicely was arraigned In the Sec
ond Criminal Court this morning he APP
peared bewildered and dazed. Police JUS
tice Nevin, not being inclined to take ad-
vantage of him in that condition, laid the
! examination over until tomorrow morn
ing He held Amanda Smith, Who Wit
messed the tragedy, In 500 bail as a wit