The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-25
City Intelligence.

CHARGE OF HOMICIDE BY sTABBING-FATAL
EFFECTS OF sKYLARKING--AFFRAY BETwEEN
TWO sAILORs-CORONERS INQUEST AND VERDICT
OF THE JURY.
Yesterday morning Coroner Ives WAS called to hold
inquest on the body Of sailor, named Samuel Hoskins
aged 20 years native Of Halifax Nova Scotia who came
to his death Thursday last by stab with knife in
the abdomen inflicted by another sailor named Richard
Hays in the forecastle Of the English brig Mary of Hail.
fax It by the evidence that the prisoner and de-
ceased were bosom friends natives Of the place.
and sailed in tho vessel The prisoner is not more
than eighteen years Of and although tall was not
near so powerful the diseased These two young
continually skylarking together. During tho
voyage the had frequently rebuked them for playing
and skylarkng remarkng that good would result in
such rough fun and that trouble would ultimately
be the consequence However neither needed the ad-
vice. they still continued until the fatal result of the
death of has terminated the ocking The body Of
the deceased removed by order Of the Coroner from
the vessel to the Third ward police station where the
Coroner accommodated by the gcntlemanly Captain
Of police with to hold the investigation The fol-
lowing is the evidence
james Davis being sworn says-I am native of Es-
sex England am a sailor on board the English brig
Mary. Of Halifax: she arrived at New York Thursday
mornings we lay in the stream We made the lock this
morning the cath inst Samuel Hoskins the deceased
and the prisoner Richard Hays skylarking in the
forecastle Thursday the 2Sd inst between II and
o'clock, with knives Hays had a sheath knife aud Hos
in length Hoskns said We had better put these knives
down there will be mischief done;' oskins put his
knife away: The prisoner said will not put my knife
away for any one the prisoner kept kylarkng with the
deceased with the knife. and deceased tried to keep him
off, Hoskns said. am bound to take the knife away
from you the prisoner replied No I'll not let it 90
from me-" Hoskns then threw him the prisoner)
down; the deceased then jumped up and struck the pri
soner with piece of rope: the rope was about three
inches in circumference: then the prisoner made pass
at the deceased with the knife and struck him in the
bowels the deceased called out. am stabbed" and
jumped on deck; ran aft and called the mate they
have dhe prisoner AID deceaed) been in the habit of
playing with their knives; the prisoner had cut the de-
ceaseds finger before he told him he must put away the
knife and before the deceased struck him with the rope;
they were both in when the wound was Inflicted;
the prisoner seemed to be in earnest at the time after
prisoner stabbed the deceased he laid the knife
chest and afterwards the prisoner told that he threw
the knife overheard while they gone for doctor
Patrick Kelly. being sworn says-i am sailor on
board the brig Mary: a native of Nova Scotia the
occurrence took place between the deceased and the
prisoner described by the previous witness James
Davis: saw the prisoner strike the deceased with
about three inches in circumference there was scarcely
for the deceased TO strike with the rope; the fore
castle j. not than eight feet fore and aft am sure
the blow did not knock the prisoner down. the rope
unrayeed at the end FIVE six inches he struck the
prisoner three times with it. and then the prison
stabbed the deceased in the bowels. in the left side
the prisoner did speak when the wound inflicted
the deceased cried out. = oh my God. am stabbed
and ran upon deck James Davis went for the mate
ceased returned to the forecale, and the mate came
down the prisoner told tho mate that he did not do 1T
Intentionally; witness applied some fax and balsam
u
knew the deceased and the prisoner to have
quarrel before deceased nearly arms length at
the time The prisoner stabbed him. the deceased had the
rope in his hand when he stabbed he did not have
raised he had time to raise II before he was tabbed
the rrisoner is not passionate as oskins; the
prise up all night with the deceased the deceased
died this morning about o'clock; the deceased has
wife residing in Halifax and also his parents; the de-
ceased and Others had been shore for the captain
the day he had not drank anything while ashore
Robert Dayey. being sworn. says-I am the mate Of
the brig Mary Of Halifax lying in the stream
at the time the occurrence took place James Davis
10 me in the cnbn and said to make haste Hays had
struck SAM went to the forccastlc he bleeding at
the time / got something to stop the blood; then
went ashore and obtained Dr. Ne Forest WHO came on
board and dressed the wound the prisoner and deceased
in thehabit OF sylarkng have frequently rebukcd
them for doing and cautioned them that serious
consequence would result from such frequent skylarng
have only known deceased since the st of March, the
told short time before his DEATH that he
fully believed it the intention of the prisoner to take
his life; with him when he brcohed his last: he
spoke the Of his parents and wife and said he
forgavc the prisoner for what he had done he died
Saturday morning about one o'clock
DR. John A. Lidell being sworn says II have made
post morton examination Of the body Of deceased found
an incised wound the left eide OF the abdomen 1t
penetrated the cavity Of the abdomen passed through
the small intestnes. wounded the side of the small
nestnes at another place passed through the left mus
Gle close TO the left side Of the spine; in the cavity
ri the abdomen there gallon Of fluid and
roaguatcd blood the tissue Of the lungs heart, liver
kdneys &c, was natural in the opinion Of dcponent the
mmt date Of death hemorrhsge from ncised
wound penetrating the abdomen
elling him that tue threw the knife overheard.
All the witnesses however agreed and testified to the
rood character OF the prisoner The jury rendered the
GLOWING verdict That the deceased TO his death
rom an iDcistd wound penetrating the abdomen. and
hat said wound was inflicted with knife in the hands
f the prisoner. Richard Hays
The pris committed 10 the Tombs by the Coro
ler 10 await trial and the two sailors James Davis and
Patrick Kelly were committed a. witnesses.
rHE MURDER or CHILD ny IIoCOR-EyIDESCE re
FORE TIE CORONER-vRRDICT or TIM JURY
FLIGHT on TIE PARTY ACCUSED.
We puhlihed. in yotorduys lrnsLp. tho outrageous
conduct q man named Thomas Kennedy who caused
he death Of child only 6ia years " age named Joseph
White residing With bis parents ia Twenty 6fh street by
inducing tic Innocent aud unsWpcctng hoy to drink
uantiiy of poi On dcipnated ia that pnrt II the city
bardy We give tho evidence taSenLy Coroner Ives
ord,r hat our readers may Judge for thense c. from
II facif IN the the wicked conduct Of Kennedy
10 doubt Z an mt mpcratc himself and posi-
~ Wilde urtir tie Influence ~ liquor tho1pht il a
Ei3 i-lc ~ nir, Ne chli liquor FIR the purpose Of
,inl lin laSifc pirtts In ilis in.tancn. he mt
r W. ptodo.e and ~ prisoners .tnii unused 1suth
1tsms. White The har liz u. dlcea.ai ts lired -
.sa - rtmc home ti.f u,ghi ara flomae Kennedy
y - E.lst. d.-.rge tl lltI.'lu M anO.; ora