AARON B. STOOKEY, in a fight on April 17, 1851, stabbed and killed Edward Moore. The murderer was placed on trial in the Court of Oyer and Terminer on May 1, 1851. The trial came up before Judge John W. Edmonds and Aldermen Edmund Griffen and Daniel Dodge. The prisoner was found guilty of murder in the first degree. Stookey was executed at the Tombs prison on September 19, 1851.
OTTO GRUNSIG administered to his wife Victorine, who was lying sick on August 8, 1851, at No. 105 Eldridge Street, a quantity of arsenic mixed with sugar. The woman died from the effects of the poison. Grunsig was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, November 28, 1851. Judge Edmonds, asociated with Aldermen Jedediah Miller and Jonas T. Conklin, presided during the trial. Grunsig was executed February 27, 1852.
WILLIAM SAUL and NICHOLAS HOWLETT shot and killed Charley Baxter, a night watchman, on a ship lying at the foot of Oliver Street, on August 24, 1852. Saul and Howlett, when they committed the crime, were in the act of robbing the vessel. They were convicted in the Court of Oyer and Terminer of murder in the first degree, November 18 and November 25, 1852, respectively. Judge Henry P. Edwards and two Aldermen presided at the trials. They were executed January 28, 1853.
JOSEPH CLARK, a sailor, was arrested on July 10, 1851, for the murder of George T. Gillespie, by striking him in the head with a cart-rung. He was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, September 16, 1851, before Judge Edmonds and Aldermen Warren Chapman and Patrick Kelly. Clark was executed February 11, 1853.
JOHN D. BROWN, who was jointly indicted with Clark, pleaded guilty to assault and battery, September 16, 1851, and was sentenced to the penitentiary.
PATRICK FITZGERALD, on January 17, 1853, shot and killed Margaret Fitzgerald, his wife. He was convicted of the murder in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, April 19, 1853, before Judge Henry P. Edwards and Aldermen Wm. J. Peck and Oscar W. Sturtevant. Fitzgerald was executed November 15, 1853.
JAMES L. HOARE, on October 5, 1853, stabbed Susan McAnnany in the neck with a dirk, from the effects of which she died three days later. Hoare was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, November 19, 1853, before Judge Henry P. Edwards. He was executed January 27, 1854.
JOHN DORSEY (negro), a sailor, was executed in the Tombs prison for the murder of Ann McGirr, alias Ann Hopkins. The crime was committed at No. 3 Worth Street on March 10, 1857. The scene of the crime was a five-story tenement inhabited by colored prostitutes. Dorsey and the woman lived together, and on the night of March 10, 1857, he returned home under the influence of liquor. He met his mistress, Ann McGirr, in the alleyway. They had some words, and Dorsey becoming angry drew a razor from his pocket and cut the woman’s throat from ear to ear. Dorsey was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of General Sessions, May 21, 1857, before Judge Abraham D. Russell. He was hanged on July 17, 1857.
JAMES ROGERS was hanged November 12, 1858, for the murder of John Swanson. On the night of October 17, 1857, the deceased with his wife was passing along Tenth Avenue in the neighborhood of Twenty-seventh Street. They met the accused with two others passing down the Avenue. One of the three men jostled against Mrs. Swanson in passing. Rogers, when remonstrated with, remarked to Swanson, “What are you talking about?” To which deceased replied, “What is that to you?” A moment intervened when Rogers rushed up and stabbed Swanson with a knife in the heart. Rogers was arrested in Jersey City a few days after. He was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of General Sessions, November 13, 1857, before Judge Abraham D. Russell.
JAMES STEPHENS poisoned his wife, Sophie Stephens, at No. 166 East Twenty-seventh Street. Stephens lived at the above address with his wife and two nieces, Fanny and Sophia Bell. He had manifested a great affection for Sophia Bell. He was in the habit of beating his wife, who was sickly. He administered to her laudanum mixed with lager beer and brandy, on September 22, 1857. She died the next day. Stephens was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, March 26, 1859, before Judge James J. Roosevelt, and was executed February 3, i860.
JOHN CRUMMINS stabbed and killed Dennis McHenry with a sword. Crummins and McHenry had some troubles over money matters, and Crummins also charged McHenry with insulting his wife. On the night of October 10, 1857, McHenry and two others went into Crummins’s liquor store, at No. 23 Pell Street, to get a drink. When they entered the place they asked for Crummins. They were told he was out. While they were drinking, Crummins entered, and seeing McHenry, ordered him to leave. McHenry in return said, “Eli go, but you dare not follow me.” Crummins went into the back room and returned with a sword and pursued McHenry to the street and around some carts in front of the door, and wounded him four times. Crummins was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, February i, i860, before Judge Daniel P. Ingraham, and was executed March 30, i860.
BERNARD FRIERY, in company with four or five others, entered the saloon kept by Henry Lazarus, at No. 12 East Houston Street, on the morning of January 3, 1865. Lazarus was standing against the bar when they entered. One of the party, called “California Jack,” remarked as he entered: “I’ll bet a hundred dollars I’ve got a man here that can lick any man in the house,” and again offered to bet ten dollars that there was a man there who could take Lazarus's pistol away from him. Lazarus declined to bet, saying he had no pistol. Friery then advanced to Lazarus and wanted to shake hands with him. Lazarus shook his head and said, “No, I don’t want to shake hands with you.” Friery then said, “You are a loafer,” and at the same time stabbed Lazarus in the neck with a dirk. Lazarus died instantly. Friery was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of General Sessions, February 17, 1865, before Judge Abraham D. Russell, and was executed August 17, 1866.
FRANK FERRIS killed his wife, Mary Ferris, September 9, 1864, with a blow from an axe, at No. 31 James Street. He was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of General Sessions, on March 1, 1865, before Recorder John T. Hoffman. He was executed October 19, 1866.
GEORGE WAGNER was convicted in the Court of General Sessions, October 20, 1865, before Recorder John T. Hoffman, of the murder of his wife, Mary Wagner. The crime was committed on July 21, 1865, at No. 516 Broome Street. Wagner beat his wife’s skull in with a hatchet. He was executed March 1, 1867.
JEREMIAH O’BRIEN was convicted in the Court of General Sessions, November 16, 1866, before Judge Abraham D. Russell, of the murder of his mistress, Lucy A. McLoughlin, alias Kate Smith. He stabbed her to death with a knife, at No. 139 Prince Street, on June 20, 1866. He was executed August 9, 1867.
JOHN REYNOLDS killed William Townsend, a shoemaker, with a knife, at No. 192 Hudson Street, on January 29, 1870. Reynolds was under the influence of liquor at the time of the murder. He was convicted in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, February 22, 1870, before Judge Daniel P. Ingraham, and was executed April 8, 1870. When Reynolds was arrested, he made the remark that “hanging was played out in New York.”
JOHN REAL, a car-driver, on July 23, 1868, shot and killed Patrolman John Smedick, of the East Thirty-fifth Street Station, at the corner of Thirty-second Street and First Avenue. Real and Smedick had previously had some difficulty. Real had made an attempt to assassinate Smedick on July 1st, in the same year. He was convicted of murder, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, February 10, 1869, before Judge George G. Barnard. Real was executed August 5, 1870.
JOHN THOMAS, a negro, had a discussion with Walter Johnson on the night of September 30, 1870, opposite No. 511 Broome Street, concerning their respective fighting abilities. The altercation developed into an affray, during which Thomas shot and killed Johnson. Thomas was convicted of the murder, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, December 28, 1870, before Judge Albert Cardozo. The murderer was executed March 10, 1871.
WILLIAM FOSTER killed Avery D. Putnam with an iron car-hook, on the night of April 27, 1871, on a Broadway car, on Seventh Avenue, between Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Streets. Foster was riding on the front platform of the car, and kept the door open. Putnam got up from his seat and closed the door. Foster opened it again. This was repeated five or six times. Finally Putnam went out on the platform and asked Foster “what was the matter with him.” Foster made no reply, but followed Putnam inside the car and asked Putnam “what was the matter with him.” Foster, who was under the influence of liquor, struck Putnam with the carhook as he was leaving the car at Forty-sixth Street. Foster was convicted before Judge Albert Cardozo of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, May 25, 1871, and was executed March 21, 1873.
MICHAEL NIXON shot and killed Charles H. Phifer on the night of January 25, 1873, on the corner of Catherine Street and Bowery. Nixon was convicted, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, of murder in the first degree, April 2, 1873, before Judge John R. Brady. He was executed May 16, 1873.
WILLIAM THOMPSON, WILLIAM ELLIS and CHARLES WERND, alias CHARLES WESTON (negroes), on September 17, 1875, while tramping through the country, attempted to rob Abraham Weisberg, a peddler, at Lydig’s Woods, Westchester County, N. Y. They beat Weisberg to death with a club. The three colored men were convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, October 29, 1875, before Judge George C. Barrett. They were executed December 17, 1875.
JOHN DOLAN, on Sunday, August 22, 1875, while committing a burglary at Noe’s factory, at No. 275 Greenwich Street, was discovered by the proprietor, James H. Noe. A struggle ensued, during which Dolan beat Noe on the head with a “jimmy,” from the effects of which injuries the brush manufacturer died. Dolan was arrested by Detective Joseph M. Dorcey, of the Sixth Precinct, at the corner of Franklin and Centre Streets, October 7, 1875. He was convicted of the murder before Judge George C. Barrett, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, October 27, 1875. Dolan was executed April 21, 1876.
CHASTINE COX (colored) on the night of June 11, 1879, committed a burglary at the residence of Mrs. Jane L. DeForest Hull, at No. 140 West Forty-second Street. On being discovered in one of the rooms by Mrs. Hull, he gagged and strangled her to death. Cox was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of General Sessions, on July 17, 1879, before Judge Rufus B. Cowing. He was executed July 16, 1880.
PIETRO BALBO, an Italian, stabbed his wife, Maria Dichaco Balbo, to death on September 13, 1879. Balbo was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, on December 11, 1879, before Judge Daniels. He was executed August 6, 1880.
WILLIAM SINDRAM, a printer, shot Catharine Craves, at her residence, No. 4 Charlton Street. Sindram had a furnished room at Mrs. Craves’s house. He was a troublesome lodger, and Mrs. Craves told him to move. He left the house on the night of January 25, 1881, and came back the following day for his clothes. Mrs. Craves heard him in the hall and asked him what he wanted, and told him he had no business in her house. Sindram replied, “Come down stairs and I’ll show you what I want,” and at the same time drew a pistol from his pocket and shot Mrs. Craves, who was standing at the head of the stairs. Sindram was convicted of the murder before Judge Brady, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, December 10, 1881. Sindram was absolutely indifferent as to his fate. He was executed April 21, 1882.
AUGUSTUS D. LEIGHTON (colored) killed his mistress Mary Dean. The crime was committed on June 13, 1880, in front of her residence, No. 138 West Twenty-sixth Street. Leighton had been living with Mary Dean for nearly a year. During a quarrel, Mary ordered him to leave the house. He did so, but returned some time afterwards to get a coat which he had left behind. Mary told him that he could not have it. Leighton said, “By God, I will have it,” and rushing toward her, cut her throat from ear to ear with a razor. Leighton was convicted before Judge Brady, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, December 3, 1880. He was executed May 19, 1882.
PASQUALE MAJONE murdered his mother-in-law, Maria Velindino Selta. The crime was committed on December 9, 1881, at No. 56 Thompson Street. In a fit of jealousy, Majone accused his wife of being intimate with other men. During the quarrel that followed, he drew a pistol from his pocket and shot his wife in the head. His mother-in-law hearing the shot, rushed into the room to ascertain its cause. Majone also shot her. He then shot himself, making a slight wound. On April 25, 1882, he was convicted of the murder, in the Court of General Sessions, before Recorder Frederick Smyth. He was executed on March 9, 1883.
MICHAEL E. MCGLOIN and four others, on the night of December 29, 1881, started out on a burglarious expedition, and forcibly broke into the residence of Louis Hanier, a saloon keeper, at No. 144 West Twenty-sixth Street. While ransacking the saloon for money, they aroused Hanier and his family, who slept up-stairs. Hanier hearing the noise, rushed to the head of the stairs and was about to descend when McGloin, who was at the foot of the stairs, shot and killed him. The day following the shooting McGloin remarked to a companion, “A man ain’t tough until he has knocked his man out.” McGloin was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of General Sessions, March 3, 1882, before Recorder Frederick Smyth. He was executed March 9, 1883.
EDWARD HOVEY was executed October 19, 1883, in the Tombs prison, New York City, for the murder of his sister-in-law, Fannie Vermilyea, whom he shot and killed on April 26, 1882, at No. 273 West Thirty-eighth Street. He was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the Court of General Sessions, September 25, 1882, before Judge Rufus B. Cowing.
MIGUEL CHACON, a Cuban negro, on June 20, 1884, at No. 126 West Twenty-seventh Street, shot and killed his mistress, Maria Williams. The woman had formerly been the mistress of another Cuban negro, but when the latter abandoned her she took up with Chacon. Chacon was infatuated with the woman, and became furious with rage when she ordered him to leave, so that her old lover could return. In the wrangle that ensued, Chacon drew a revolver and shot her dead. He also attempted to assassinate his rival. Then he fled, but was captured several hours afterwards on the roof of a house in Spring Street. One of the leading spirits in the Cuban Revolutionary Society, known as the “Niazza,” revealed the hiding-place of the murderer. Chacon was found guilty of the murder of his mistress, in the Court of General Sessions, on October 29, 1884. He was executed on July 9, 1886.