The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-28
WHOM DID HEFFERNAN NAME?
TWO MEN TALKED OF Nv THE
ARDSLEY MURDER CASE.
Stories That the COachman at First Took
His Assailant for COttager, but
Anerward Realized His Mistake
Will II Come Out at the Inquest:

Ills Assailant for a COttager, but
Afterward Realized His Mistake
Will II Come Out at the Inqueste
ARDsLEY-oN-HUpsoN,M May 27.-The muir
der OF John Heffernan, the coachman for
Max E. Sand, who was shot on Sunday
night while sitting with his sweetheart
near the station walk and not far from the
Ardsley Casino, has become a matter OF
absorbing interest on account Of the in
lection into the case OF the names Of two
| men, both well known here. 1t appears
from the stories told Of Heffernan's dying
statements that he at first mistook his
assailant for one Of these men.
From everything that hes been said 80
far by those from whom these stories have
come. it does not appear as though this
first impression Of Heirernan's was any
thing more than mistake. 1t seems that
Helfernan, believing for moment that
his assailant was one of these two persons.
both Of whom he knew. found out later.
when graphing with the murderer, that
the man was an entire stranger to him.
If that is the case, absolutely no i'm
portance can be attached to the circum-
stances as clearing up the identity of the
murderer. AS might be expected, how
ever, 1t has led to no end Of gossip.
According 20 Robert Abercrombie, who
is chief of police here as well as pres dent
of the village, Hefiernan mentioned his
first impression Of his assailant to several
Of those who were with him after the shoot
ing. Among these, according TO Mr.. Aber-
crombe. were Healy, the night Waterman,
who was the first to 60 to the wounded
man; Supt. Hale OF the Ardsley Club,
DIR. Denniston, who attended Hetfernan,
and one OF the nurses at the hospital:
Hefernan did not mention the name Of
the man. but distinguished him by his
relationship to wealthy resident here.
DR.. Denniston posi- lively denies that any
such thing occurred in his conversation
day to say the same thing about the nurses
at the hospital. DR.. Denniston said that
neither to the nurses nor TO himself had
Hefernan made such a statement.
For Healy and Hale the same cannot be
said for the reason that they have refused
to make any public statement concerning
their conversation with Heffernan and will
not do so until they appear at the Coroner's
| inquest tomorrow.
Chief Abercrombie and M. S. Beltz-
hoover one Of the trustees of the village
who is taking deeper interest in the case
than some others here, went this aft ernoon
TO the home of Robert Hewitt, where they
spent two hours,
Inc HEWITT place ID az tUb cru VI VIC
cement walk leading north from the station
and running in front Of the Philip Schuyler
place The walk is not over three hundred
feet long aud is lighted byaro row Of electric
lights, the current for which, is supplied
by Mr.. Hewitt. The place where Heffer-
nan was shot was near the end of this walk,
and, while in front Of the Schuyler place,
is only few feet from the Hewitt property
For some reason the lights along the walk
were not lighted on Sunday night.
When Trustee Beltzhoover came away
from Mr. Hewitt's he said
Mr.. Hewitt is very much 90 ncerned
over the shooting, and especially over the
dinner party at his house and that all
the members Of his household were at the
dinner table when the shooting occurred
He told us that the first intimation those
there came a telephone message from
the station, asking that the lights along
the walk be Lit in order to aid in the in
vestigation.
-That was Immediately after the shoot
ing and then, of course, several Of those
at the house, including Mr.. b. .. Jafiray
and Mr.. Alfred Sewall, who were among
the party, went out and helped carry Hef-
fernan to the station, They will be at
the inquest tomorrow
Edward Somervie Jaffray is Mr.. Hewitt's
son-in-law and has home next to the
Hewitt place. He. is member of the
ATNiSey Club and Is prominent IN society
here as well as in New York
Alfred Sewall is a son OF Arthur Sewall
of Bath, Me, who ran for Vice President on
the ticket with Bryan in 1896, Young Sewall
is engaged to marry Miss Juanita Hewitt
He went on Monday to Boston. but it is
understood that he was reached in Boston
by long distance telephone to-day and
that he said he would bs back here for the
inquest. Thesa men. Mrs Jaffray and Miss
Juanita Hewitt, were members of the dinner
W. .yr,ttt
The Inquest into Hefiernans death, which
was adjourned on Tuesday night until
tomorrow, will be resumed at clock in
the afternoon In the station here. in order
that it may he as near as possible to the
Some Of tn. murder
Chief Abercrombe announced to-day
that among those who had been subpH naed
to appear tomorrow were Edwin Gould.
who was at the clubhouse and took part
in the search; F. L, Eldridge, Gen. Philip
Schuyler and Healy and Hale DR.. Dennis
ton and the Campbell girl. Hefrernan's
sweetheart, have already testified. The
statement attributed to DR.. Denniston.
bv which he was made to say that Hefiernan
Incnlio toned some ones name to him, he
denied in most positive fashion to-day.
-Heffernan, as testified" he said to-day.
said to me that he thought the man was a
gentleman until he spoke and then he saw
he wasn't He said he was tall, clean cut
and smooth shaven and that's all he did say
to me-"
DR.. Denniston said, however, that he
did not arrive until some time after heIer-
nan had been taken to the station. 1t
was Healy and Hale who got TO him first
and it was to them that he spoke OF his
believing at first that his assailant was
relative of another man here.
Coroner Russell said to-day that what
Heifernan said TO some Of those who assisted
him, and whose names the Coroner would
not make public, was that he thought
the stranger was the sweetheart OF GER
tain young woman. but he knew the minute
the man spoke that it wasn't the person he
had supposed.
There is every reason to believe that
some one will tell HeGernan's exact words
at the inquest tomorrow. Chief Aber-
crombie would only say to-day that the
man mentioned by Hefternan did not live
either here or in New York.
A man named Dunn was found to-day
who came down on the same train with
Heffernan from Tarrytown and went up
the same walk. Dunn says that he passed
Heffernan and the girl and that near the
Hewitt property man passed him
going in the other direction. He didn't
see the man closely enough TO give de-
scription of him. The next minute he
heard the shots.
In the minds Of good many persons
the belief is maintained that Hefernan's