New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-07
INQUEST UPON THE BODY OF POLICE
NAN CCRLEX

MAN CCKLEH
Coroner Hilton proceeded, at p. NJ. yesterday, to
hold On inquest upon the body Of Policeman Gurley
The first witness sworn was Mrs. Collins.
Ellen Collins, being sworn, ssid-I reside at No. SO
Greenwich A.; sm acquainted with John b. Holmes,
the prsOEer; was not acquainted with Gurloy Holmes
resides In the same house with me; beard noise on
Friday night in the street and went 10 the front
window, when saw several persons standing oppo-
site the hail door of No. SO Greenwch-st, opposite
nv house; saw the prisoner come out Of the crowd
and cross over Dward our house he was followed
over by Others; | don't know who they were when
Holmes got his stoop beard him say II Think
that he was now on his own premises; don recollect
whether Holmes ran w0ked across the streets
did not notice whether he seemed excited or not when
he crossed the street. he was talking as he walked;
the men following him; j ran into the hallway where
I met Mrs Holmes, and asked her to get her husband
in M there would be row, or something to that Of
feet had just got into my room when heard per-
rushing IN at the front ooor saw person run
up Stair but don know that il was Holiness this man
ives followed up by several asked them not to make
40 much noise, they said man had been stabbed IN
the street and asked for light was frightened and
Femsined In my room.
Holnes-I saw Mr. Holmes afterward, IN his own
APARTMENT; he was then lying his back, wi n blood
flowing from his head physician came and at
tenc 60 10 his ures; there was an ofeer there at
TIE time; saw Holmes taken out OF the house.
y.
that night until some time after this occurrence.
Michael sheehan, being sworn, said: am police
man of the First Ward; about ~ o'clock on Friday
night lait was duty the north west corner OF
Morris and Greenwich sts when me deceased came
up 10 ne from toward Rector-st, and asked me what
time il was we stood talking few minutes, when we
heard disu bance up Greenwchst', on the OPP
po,i,e side; Gurley said; Nike III go up and he
vent, about a minute aftorward, officer Gurey whis-
tied for me and hurried to HIM found him in front OF
No SO Gre enwich.st, talking with another man. ne
vas advising him to 90 home the man said ne wouid
not and that be would do az be pleased; he was
grossly intoxicated at the time; was excited and quar-
relsome; don know this man, but was informed
be lived at No. SO Greenwich.st | wanted him to go
in and while try ing to prevail upon Nun, iauy
whom took TO be his wife, came TO the door anu
said that Holmes had not drank any tefore IN SIX
month"; and asked me TO excuse him. told her
would and then advised him az in TO 20 in, upon TINS
De turned 10 and said he would let me see wuat
be could OF would do Holmes then LETT and went into
his residence in a great hurry and Immediately re-
turned acifh cHb ! a-ked him what he intended to
do and he answered he wanted to protect h,msen
from such " whelps a. we werei upon TINS O"cs.
Gurley grasped Holmes by the cravat with MS leit
hand: they tussled and got Into the doorway IN
moment heard the voice of the prisoner erossing
tbe street there were FIVE or SIX persons around AZ
she time and one of them knocked of my hat and
jumped upon IT. had my cluo IN my rgae Iahui I,9 10
prisoner came up to me from behind and took hoio OF
h kept hold Of the prisoner with my eit hana ana
turned 10 him saying Mr.. Holmes, don you know
Hbetter than to do this ar educated man IKE you
have prisoner and mean to take MN III az .ns
tins l;urley was in the hallway struggling with two
~ three man and one or two women; hoimes tooA
hold of my club and had to let go ihe Prsone, ~
order 10 secure IL; then went TO tne assslanoo ~,
800. h. said that some person had CUT the ores ae
vt III. n,,soner and reecued HIM Othcer Gurey
thsn aa;d 10 Holmes You have rescueu my ne
g. and IN see YOU for il 10 morrow uuIiue .u''
time Holmes was using abusive language 10 'ne pooe
81 me son of b-h, and said he had gou me on
ar nol;oe and would have me brokeni iSloweu,
"a aa,sstsd A dsordery man who was Win MN auu
took him TO the Station House, where nc wa H ue
famed; Officer Gurley went 70 inc Ssa. I a., he
- ma, ON nv way back the deceased SAID tnat no
was bound 10 have his rescued prisoner ana Una. ne
.opld call bis eide partner to his assistance ior s'
purpose he called the partner wneh ne gos ~
No So Greenwch.st; some OF ,no Pai'y p;,h ,xsa
we're there still; Holmes stood IN the street win wv"
men, he was noisy and called the police prg,y sc.
of suckers;" Officer Gurley went up 70 no hi
and told him as he had wrested prisoner iroh nun,
he must BOW 20 to the Station House ON SIaT on
hsck and A scuffe ensueo; did not see oio" W
either side; followed the deceased ana h9lmoe o1
approaching the latter he jumped suddenly AROUND
re deceased Gurey fell saying: MIKE, ne nss
stabbed me- am a dead m,SI. ..~ din Knife il
the hand OF Holmes, while my attention was ca,s s
10 CURLY; Holmes as took hold OF nun, use" ~ 'as
Knife through my hand and cut me severeiyi ne ~
ran like A deer across the street TO his mousse io
loued and fell in the hallway; we waited some uuie
N, n Uebt and finally obtained lantern belonging
10 A private Waterman; Officers Marshall co,lins'
Ryan and myself went up stairs 70 hHl% as v sror
we found him lying on the hoor. bleeding Hou a,
wounds OF his head; we searched for the knile %,
eonld NOT End H. doctor ives sent for to dress Ine
sounds; the doctor said Holiness wounds were MOI
dangerous and that he could be removed to the Sss
lion House; never knew of previous difficulty be-
tween the parties decessed was Of mild disposition
and did not seem excited
(,ross- xsmiped by counsel for defense-The de-
eesed and myseM bad not been 10 any hose togethe!
hafora saw Holmes the evening In question; !
Ssd no had feelings toward the prisoner nor had the
deceased any to my kno~edgei the deceased wa
rsyssctly sober at the time; the house No Sc Green
vieh-st. l. public house kept by Mr.. Maoney; the
Grst time saw Holmes on that evening was when b
csusht bold cfmy club; think prisoner hsd cap on
Jacob l. Smith being sworn ssys-i reside ct No
broadway; on the evening Of the Sd inst, eetweet
fbs hours Of III or 10 O'Clock, AID. Brown and myself
were going home through GIeenwich-sti when w
rot TO Is Green wioh-sL al. ave or six men; Tour o.
ave were standisg in the hallway Of No. 20, AND
Holmes ana asother stood on the curb opposite NO
%. and on tbs came side Of the gay; ~ we ps.seS
tA:m heard fast walking behind u.s. ! turned AMI
saw olacsr Sheshsn and deceased; ! SAID toere va
n trouble here; he replied, " fes' there W@i Una