New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-12-08
THE DAILY CRESCENT.


reported to u.s. It seems that Mr. Lee deposited in the
Canal Bank four checks signed by himself one on the
Southern Bank for seos5; one the Union Bank for
$3.50 co. one the Southern Bank for $12,500, and
one on the Union Bank for 81 ,900 amounting Ia the
aggregate to $3s415 60 Ali Of these deposited by
bis with the receiving teller cash credits
although 1t charged that he knew he had no funds In
those banks We understand Furthermore that Mr. Lees
friends forward and went his securities to the
amount of $4,000.
Mr., lice is wel-known In this community, and very
generally respected He formerly grocer and failed
about two years and half SINCE but honorably dis
charged by his creditors Lattory he has getting as
agent Of Tennessee firm 1t Ia stated by his friends
that he has been very sick for month past and they
feel confident that the present difficulty will be satisfac
torly adjusted
The DEATH OF Mr.. ToLL.-The Coroner held
inquest upon the body of this gcntlemsn Tuesday
evening and the verdict rendered that he committed
suicide while In liquor The deceased to have been
buried on Wednesday evening; but his relations being
dissatisfied with the Coroner's verdict and believing
further that they could show good for believing
that the deceased had met his death by homicide and
by suicide they asked for another inquest and post
poned the funeral till yesterday 1t bore the appearance
Of mysterious affair, and concluded not to mention
1T until final decision had for this there
ausion to it in paper Of yesterday Coroner
Forshee, with his deputies, Drs Sabater and Mathew
and the previous jury of inquest went to hold second
inquest yesterday morning at the residence Of the de-
ceased Laurel street, Josephine 1t seems that
the peculiar of the wound the absence of powder
stains on the face the hair not being singed the fact
Of the pistol belonging to Mr. Willis the different stories
that in circulation of previous difficulties between
Willis and the deceased and the Circumstance of his
being the only witness Of the alleged suicide had tended
off MS No
attended the inquest and give the substance Of the in
vestigaton.
James Willis Is partner with Mr. Gordon In the lumber
business, Annuncation street; Toll employed
bookeeper of the firm Various witnesses testified that
Willis and Toll had been friendly terms in the
habit Of drinking together and amusing their leisure by
firing with pistols at target in the lumber yard every
body considered them friends to each other One witness
Willis slap Toll in the face while they
ia liquor as he supposed in Jest though Toll took oense
at it but they appeared to be friendly afterwards.
man named McGin who reported to have said that
he saw Willis shoot the deceased, examined On
being sworn. he denied having said any such thing.
Officer Parr then testified that man named Lahey told
him in mcGins presence, that Mctin had said such
thing, and that McGin that occasion did not deny
having said it, Lahey subsequently examined, and
he testified that McGin stated that he the parties
leave the Market Coffeehouse together for their office
4
said he saw him do It. Judge Elliott father-in-law
the deceased that he knew Toll to be personally
afraid OF Willis The widow of the deceased testified that
her husband had frequently spoken to her Of difficulties
with Willis and of his that he would shoot him in
drunken fit some day.
John Commasky the first Of the witnesses who saw
Toll after his death lie found him lying his right
side with the pistol under his feet Willis with him
and would allow him to disturb the position of the
body .-a.......sz-
Willis himself was then examined. He stated that he
aud the deceased had been drinking the day of the
occurrence but more than usual Witness had been
helping put up stove in the back of the office
on Tuesday afternoon and asked deceased to write
cept for Dutchmau of whom he had bought the stove
Deceased sat down at the desk to write it finding him
salt unable to do it, he jumped up, exclaiming III blow
my brains out Z, he rushed into the back room, got
pistol somewhere about the bed aud holding it
far from him possible shot himself in the right temple
before witness could prevent him The pistol belonged t.
witness it Of pair he owned which himself
deceased had been in the habit Of using il firing at tar
gets in the yard at rats etc. and which they were in tn
habit of laying the desk on the bed any where
chance directed. They had charged the pistol
heavily on account the reports annoying the neghbor
He had always been friendly terms with the deceased
and had twice heard him. when in liquor threaten to xii
himself though he supposed him to be in earnest
The barkeeper of the Market Cofeehouse testified tina
the parties seemed to be the best terms when he
then, leave the for their office that they
both in liquor and that Toll intoxicated thar
Willis, ,. ~
The Gsrmsn of whom Willis bad purchased the stove
and the last person with the parties prior to TIL
tragedy, was brought in for examination. He mucl
surprised hear of what had happened being in ignor
ance of till summoned yesterday His testimony whic
he gave very clearly aud distinctly that he
Wiss Office putting up the stove he sold him He sal
the parties friendly far he could TELL but bot
were intoxicated Toll much the worst. On finishing hi
| job which at about quarter past four O'CLOCK
Willis asked Toll to write out receipt for witness To
sat down the desk to do but witness seeing he
too drunk to succeed told him to get up and let hir
write it. Toll got up and left the ROOM staggering wit
took his seat to write the receipt Toll back
the ROOM and witness left without seeing any thing
heg than that the parties in liquor and hearu
any report of pistol after he had left Upon bens
pressed to whether Toll drunk SICK he woul
not positively that he drunk but trongl
| Of opinion that that was his condition.
The witnesses closely and severely questioned
the Goroners and by Dr. sabater This latter gentema
had made experiments the preceding day, to scove
whether might shoot himself without powder stain
ing his face singing his hair and found that such
| thing was possible. He could not therefore, give a
unless he permitted to make post mortem examine
ton of the body The family consented and the
nation was had The ball found to have taken
straight direction from the right temple where it eutere
to the opposite temple shattering the skull that sid
and elancng round inside the SKULL had lodged in th
brain in the back part of the left lobe The plea havn
been urged that the deceased might have been sick il
stead of intoxicated when he met his DEATH the stoac
was examined and found to contain evidence of ntox
cation only. The physicians were unable to obtain an
evidence Of homicide from the examination, and it
left for the jury to decide the from the evidence
| the witnesses.
There great discrepancy in the testimony Of Will
and the stove dealer; but the testimony of the oth
witnesses showed that Willis was considerably in liquor
the time of Tolls death. The jury after short sittin
gave in verdict that the deceased met his death by
wound in the head caused by the accidental discharge
| pistol in his own hand u
We have been thus particular In reporting this affa
becauseit is very serious thing to endeavor to conve
suicide or an accident into murder and where the Cor
ner is called upon to hold second inquest, the publ
have right to know something of the testimony VIZ
as the verdict in the matter.
Willis was Immediately liberated upon the return of Il
verdict.
FIRE.-A fire broke out in the stern of IL
steamer James Robb, at O'Clock last evening, which
e1tinguished before much damage was done.
| Nor So.-We are glad to be able to state tn,
we msinformed as to Henry Albrecht being in Il
employ of the German Immigrant Society. Our stat
to this effect in yesterdays Crescent based
| what we supposed to be good authority. and while ,