The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-19


the Fourth Degree.
COURT or OYER AND rBRMHER.
Before Hon Judge Mitchell
Oer John Corcorsn, good looking young mar, Of
powerful frame native Of Ireland, placed at the
bar charged wi the murder OF Michasl Coyns, with
cspstan bar board the stes Kennebec while lying
in North river the soth of July last The pri.
alleges that the act done in defending one
the hands belong ing to the vessel
The following jury empannelsd -
David C. sampson, Oscar Purdy,
John Cunningh Francis w Lasack
Edward Girraud, III, Ro5t n wilson,
Thos Lloyd, Walter L. Ohlds,
Peter Hart, Edward Dunn,
Jos W. Cloves, Erxstus Munen.
The District Attorney opened the for the prosecu
ton, and called Patrick Fsllon, who deposed to dia
Guilty which occurred board the steamer Kennebsc
Invent board 10 tske away coyne and keep him from
fighting with man named Damn; after taking him out
WANTED him to come home; Dunn out of the ut
and wanted Corcorsn fght lin; them ghti saw
Corccran the prisoner. out Ia his shirt, without
either stockings cap aid strike Coyne twice on The
head with cap bar ran to him and said "John
Corcoran do you want to XIII TIE mana' Yes you
OF b-h," ssid he, .and you too" ct the
same time he struck me across the side Of the
head: he made sesond blow at me- but caught
il my arm the blow made it powerless for
three hours after; the first blow he gave Coyce was
across the forehead; the his head;
the two eyes driven ont OF Coynes hes this size of
two by the blow the prisoner gave him. the rst
blow cid not knock him N; when he got the
tho too Of the bead he fe went up mi die way tue
wharf; then the wstchwsr tied u my arm remained
about hf cen minutes on board the stesmer KsDneoec
AMI thsn went home came back in tbs mornng be-
uncer the he'd on The rars boards; he ia the
place that he Was living In the night before hs
had be, brought ABB ut tsery yards from whore he
was beat brought him hoSce moraiog; doctor
was sent for snd he was tstcn 10 the City Hosotsl;
cav his after he oead II was In the dead room
nj he nj
C.oss, exs mined nv Mr. J. 3 PhIips-Heard murder
cried ont lut could s-y who IL was; did hear
thai beard the cry o. murder; that Duau
mot ,sn from tn s, to the s gang p,nf a and
and Mr. WILSON, saw Mr. Brown Tor the first tine that
night, after the all overs can't say that
Mr. Wilson there; do not kniw man named Oscs May
ON board the Kcnpebec; had not drinking that
night drank once or tEce; WAS neither sposr nor
half" Qaugnter.) Coyne and Dunn were both drunk;
they wore hardly abe 70 H,and up; did not see
boat Kernebso that night; sure OF that
am Of everything ese that occurred that night; came
country cannot either read write lahore;
witDe before 10 life except when at the
had known Corcorsn se'ore his from having been en-.
ployed tbs boat: Corcorau wheslsmsn board;
Lad come ou Of bed in biz never saw
under the influence Of liquor.
night there there but my brother sister
To Mr. philhps-James Cramsr Is the name OF the boat
Waterman who bound
Michael N0LAhaD, lad 10 years OF age deposed--
That hs knew Come slightly oIo not know Corcoran be
fore the night Of the accident do the wharf
to zee the watchman, whom knew; came up to the
Of Washingt street TO get drink Of water:
went back again heard say Coyne that he would
fight htw; they clnched; Dunn board the BOAT,
and Coy ne after him; two thsn took Coyne
the dock then saw . nsn in bis shirt running across
the dock with capstsn bar his hand then Of the
dock, and Afterwards te,rd that COME had
hurt saw Coyne in about hour after that lying his
back the shed; sgAin there in tho morn.
q n
in tho ehed with the satchnaD all night did not
Corcoran any more thai hight did not speak to COyne
Cross examined oy Mr. J. Philips-I not ! os.
thai ss the II S s vino ran across the desk
John Bell, examined by the District Attorney, de-
posedIhat he was ahoatman the s0th July last
pier No. a. n R that 'ght talking to the watch.
man: does not know Cornrsn, knew Coyne; talk.
ing to the Waterman when saw men coming down \
the dock, and they appeared 10 70 drunk; in
his shirt, with something in his hand; the wAchmn
and and anolher Young nan, brought Donn board;
with the stick went; ran, and did the watch.
man; old not 60 back Unit Patton came up aod ssid
back, and VIC removed him to shed; his eyes were
sweled the wstshman fei. hts head and found blood
The witness was not Cross ex .m,.,ed.
Thomas Adams, depossd--lhat he was Waterman at
with thing in his hand Use club; lie
the deck lie the midd'e Of the gang plank when
walked the DOCK did rot him strike the blow
rossexsmined by Mr.. fhifhps-Q What Is the
character of that neigh d. with regard to persons
1he District Attorney objected 10 the question IT.
relevant.
competent. Re intended 10 show that this neighbor
hood infested by parcel Of rowdes who in the
habit Of attacking the hspds on board the boats and
committing depredations, and that this act done by
the prisoner doLe in OF imminent dan
The District Attorney said if there was danger, the
prisoner into Ii by cjmirg ont Of bed in his shirt
Q. Repeated by Nj Phllips-go you not know whs-
Their have been frequent made at late hours
ut night hands employed board the boa.s and
other vessels in that neighboshoodS Collected to-
The Court allowed the que ton.
Witness answered. that there had.
The Iistrict Attorney took exception
Have you heard threats lie agaiust psrtiss hsre
particularly against those employed In the Keonebec
ana I'm Mr. sandfcId's line Of bostlf
Objected to by the District attorney. Admitted
Witness answered
o What vss the pature Of these threatsg
A. lcant tell, only that il man was to work, some OF
them would have grudge eesnft him, and would walk
up strife the have kno~n Corcorsn, think,
two years this winter know his character as sober
Ss was q quiet, civil man know Patrick Fslon; he
worked along shore he came up 10 me that night and
asked me- If l saw joining Lorsn and told him did
not did not Fallon again until heard the mus;
did not Coyne up when put him unjer the she'd
Francis Marco Wright, examined by the District At
1orney deposed-Ihas M media post mortem ersmina.
ton deceased discssed ciot Of coasuatsd blood
upon the skull, the right side, behind the temple;
there extensive fracture on the base OF the sku
Salf inches long !, ronls REQUIRE quite oonisrabe
degree of force effect thst there another frac
ture the side, bonding size; would require
hess force to effect that the side; heavy
weapon would cause those fnures cspsian bar would
be likely to them his death was caused by compres
sion OF the braia the shook produced by tne frac
fure he oed ut the Hospital the afternoon OF the
same day.
Gross examined--A fAl; from height might produce
the fracture the eide Of the head but doss not think
fan would produce the fracture on the base oil the
skull.
The case for the prosecution here closed and Mr. Phil
bps proceeded briefly he case for ths accused
fhe testimony for whom would show that lie was
3ourg Of remarksb quiet disposition, OF sober
habits and that the night question unu who was
en6tber hand boardthe toat had been ATTACKED by
parcel Of men, who asked him for money to drns hs
said he tad none; Coyne put his (Dunn9 hsnes into
his pocket and rushed him dock snd threatened
te throw him overhoArd Ccyne cried foe HIS knfe
Mr. Brown the mate OF the Kennebec cried out, and