On the third floor of the tenement No. 58 North Second street, E.D., last night, a drunken ruffian named Samuel Chatterton, beat and kicked his wife to death in the presence of her children. The pair were married eighteen months ago, but Mrs. Chatterton had two children by a previous husband. Since the marriage Chatterton has done little work, but has drank the product of his wife's toll. Mrs. Chatterton was about to become a mother again.

Mrs. Chatterton left the rooms yesterday morning to do some washing and collect money from a Mrs. Woods, on First street, near North Sixth. Her husband left at the same time and did not return until noon, when he was partially intoxicated.

After drinking a pint of beer purchased by the little boy, he lay down on the lounge and slept until the arrival of his wife, in company with Mrs. Cocheu, wife of a prominent citizen of the Eastern District, Mr. Frederick Cocheu, at five o'clock. He inquired where she had been, and receiving a reply that she was working, coupled with the remark that he should have been doing the same instead of lounging around grogeries, he became enraged. He then asked her for money, and was refused.

He next called her vile names which reflected on her chastity, and seizing her by the hand struck her violently on the face and head. He next pushed her to the wall and struck her head against it several times. At this point the two children entered and were about UNITING THEIR SCREAMS with the unfortunate woman's when he threatened them if they did so. Mrs. Cocheu was also about interfering but another threat from the rum crazed man quieted her.

The children crouched in a corner while the brute continued to pound the mother. She raised her hands to protect her face, and, as a consequence, they were badly cut and bruised. Horribly beaten and bleeding from gashes on the head and face she sank tot he floor. He then desisted, and after the lapse of a few minutes she arose and sat in a chair. She several times attempted to reach the bed, but was unable. He AGAIN DRAGGED HER TO THE FLOOR and kicked her several times. She lay there bleeding and almost senseless. After a while, realizing to some extent what he had done, he placed her on the lounge.

Mrs. Cocheu then left. When she had gone he sent the boy for a pint of beer and offered the wife a glass, which the children think she drank. He next sent the boy to Ackey's restaurant, on Grand and First streets, to beg for fragments left on the plates by patrons.

The boy returned with some meat. He was next sent to drain the lager beer kegs standing outside saloons. When he returned at eight o'clock his mother was lying on the bed, where she had been placed after falling off the lounge. The boy next went up Grand street and did not get back until nine o'clock. Then a Miss McNamara, who resides on the next floor, told him that his mother was dead. His father prevented him from crying.

The children remained in the room sobbing in a corner while the father lay on a lounge until 10 o'clock when a Mrs. McCarron entered. She inquired after Mrs. Chatterton saying that she had got work for her to do next day. She was told that she was lying on the bed. Mrs. McCarron then procured a light after finding Mrs. Chatterton cold and motionless, and was horrified to find her dead.

She immediately started to inform the police of the Fifth Precinct and alarmed the other occupants of the house.

When Captain Weglom, accompanied by Detectives Short and Holland, arrived they found the woman lying on the bed dead and the children were crying bitterly. A few women stood around the bedside. Chatterton had fled. Captain Woglom went to a neighboring saloon and found him in the act of leaving in company with a man named "Jackson" McDevitt. He was arrested and locked up in the Fifth Precinct Station House.