The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-29


cep that they were drained of blood The wound on the
arm, the surgeons named say enthusiastically made
during 1ey and probably with dull cutting instrument
The bracha artery having been severed the hemorrhagc
ron must necessarily have proved fatal within very
short space q tine. The jury returned the following
verdict - 34&N
We, the under,igned Jurors convened at the once OF
Coroner Keue sonquire the Of che death
man named Francis Murray, alias JAMES Sullivan
who was found dead in room in the building known n
on the Slst ult 10 find that he to his death from
the effects Of wound with knife, inflicted by t1mseK
upon the len ann which severed the brachial artery
The jury accompanied by the Coroner, visited tbs.
rooms Of the Committee, and upon examinatoa OF
tho apartment atey occupied by the deceased, found
everything to correspond with the evidence given before
tyem. We asofnd that he is a native of Ireland agsd
81 years, and leaves wife and child in this city.
The following portion Of the testimony taken befors
JRonE RICE sxorn,-I reside in this city and am q.
broker known tho deceased James Sullivan by sight;
the iast time saw him alive the night of the 30th
instant; be was then in room in building formerly
cupisd as the United setss Appsaisers store sacra
per taken into his room; he asked send him
priess; told him would persons connected
With the building and if they would allow him to bave
QUE saw Mr. Dempster and told him; he replied that
Sullivan did not require one did not 60 back to tell
Sullivan whether he could have priest or nos nor do
know whether any else did did not hs after that
until about nine O'Clock on the following morning; went
into his to take out the empty dishes when found
the deceased lying on his back on the bcd wh leg
hanging the side of the bed his shirt and bed
bloody came Immediately ouI Of the and remark
ed to one of the guards outside that Sullivan had killed
himself; never knew any person connected with the
Committee to any language calculated to intimidate
him since his confinement there lady visited the
Thursday Friday who represented herself
his wife; had child which he said his he intmated
TO her that he to be hung, and seemed frightened;
she tried to cy him. never saw her but once in the
ing once before since Suivan's confinement have told
Sullivan he need not fears Of being hung ron being
asked whether the witness duty that night in the
into which the cell opened witness declined answer
ngl
the widow of Francis Murray, alias James Sullivan
now deceased have been married to him for the last
fourteen months was married by German clergyman
in this city We have lived together in this city and in
the Sandwich Islands he native of Ireland, and
aged 81 years the last time that saw him alive was
about IL O'Clock, NJ, Friday last he then
fined in cell in the Vigilance Committee building on
Sacramento street he told mo then the Committee
going to hang him on the following day he looked at
my wedding ring on my finger, and stated that 1t was
the first present he had given me- and then took dia
mond ring out of his pocket and handed me- saying that
the day he had heard the guard outside the cell
say told him not to be afraid that they were not
going to hang him he did not seem to be much de-
pressed in spirits he appeared as usual the last time
him he always was afraid of committing suicide ;
day was reading something in newspaper about
some person having committed suicide and he remarked
that he would never do So as il he did he would not OBJ
tain the rites of his church, hey being Catholic Mr.
Sullivan intended to go away from the country a the
day of his arrest he gave directions to pack up all
his clothes, also my own, he was going to leave the
country Tor good nave one lema0 cinu, aXcd ABOUT
five months, BY Mr. Sullivan the body now shown me
Is that Of my husband.
Dr. BEVERLY Cole testified that he was awoke yester-
day morning about nine o'clock by rushing into
his bedroom who stated that he wanted at the vgi
lance Committee rooms Immediately, as James Sullivan
had stabbed himself went down the building and into
his CELL and found him with large wound his left
arm having the appearance of being made with some
dull instrument believe from the appearance of the body
when first that he inflicted the wound himself;
found knife his bed, which Irecogaise as the
one now shown.
ceased alive about twelve one O'Clock the night
Of the 30th in room known the Vigilance Committee
room asked him how he felt; he told he wanted to
minister, as he had understood he going to be
hung told him 10 give himself trouble about having
clergyman, no had nothing to fear he not 60
ing TO be hung; assured him Of this fact Of my
knowledge he seemed very excited first but after my
talking him for abolt fifteen minutes he got quiet aud
seemed to be relieved; yesterday morning, about nine
O'Clock, a gentle named Rice and myself entered
his room and found him lying dead on his bed the
clothes OF his bed being saturated with his blood; the
OF his confinement about twelve feet by six
and ventilated from the roof Is rather dark never
knew him TO be handcuncd during the time he on
the premises the door 10 his room not locked yes
terday morning.
a. A. Russell testified that he the deceased about
O'Clock in his cel he lying his bed; asked
him how he fe he got up and sat the foot OF his bed
he said had slept very badly that he had dreamed the
night previous that he was hung and cut down. queted
HIM much as could; told him not to be troubled re-
maed for about four minutes and left; the building he
confined In formerly occupied the Appraisers
warehouse but decline to for what purpose II
is now used; don't want to say anything to crimnate
myself
THE POST MoRTEM EXAMINATION.
SAN Francisco, May 81, 1855.
AT post morem examination held at halfpa O'Clock
this evening the body Of James Sullivan, there
found to be well marked muscular rigdity the jaws
being firmly locked the lips and gums as well as the
face Of the body presenting pale and bloodess appear
ance little above the left elbow joint there was a
large ragged ncised wound extending transversey from
near the outer condye of the humer to the inner
fetal through the skin in its outer FORM but seriously
voving the deeper textures towards its inner ermina-
ton On further inspection of the wound il found
that the brachal artery, with its accompanying VEINS
had been divided. The cut extrcmties somewhat
retracted and not closed by coagulum. The
artery severed in its connection with the tendon Of
the biccps muscle about inch and quarter from its
division into the radia and ulmer arteries
The vscera Of the chest abdomen and head
fully examined and, with the exception Of these being
drained Of blood, presented perfect healthy and natural
appearance. No further traces of injury violence
found on the body The wound was unmistakably made
during le and probably with dull cutting instrument
The bracha artery having been severed the hemorrhage
from must necessarily have proved fatal within very
short period Of time. A. J. BOWIE, NJ. D.
Al SAWYER, NJ. D.
REMOVAL OF THE BODY.
Information Of the death given the Coroner and
he removed me body and the knife his Office where
was exposed to the view Of the public line was
formed, and passed in and out of tho continually
from IL O'Clock until s. when the door closed. 1t
estimated that at least ten thousand persons in
to see the remains OF this widely known individual.
INCIDENTS OF HIS LIFE.
James Sullivan is native of England, and carly
New York while quite young and at recognized
distinguished English prize fighter. Upon his arrival
there ho opened what called the 'Sawdnst House,
and gave out that he reposing upon his aures and
could not be successfully disturbed,
He made his escape from Sydney the ship Citizen
Capt lansing, to New Zealand From thence he went to
sag Harbor, in the ship Hamilton, Capt. Hearn. This
in the year 1889. lie received the appellaon Of
Yankee from wearing handkerchief with the Ameri-
can flag painted on il in one of his great prize fights in
England before he was transported to Sydney.
HIS FAMILY.
The deceased leaves wife and small child TO mourn
his loss He was married in this city about fourteen
months since, and was living with her at the time Of his
arrest Greenwich street She visited the cell on Fri
day and he gave her his ring, and told her that he
pected to be hung on Saturday.
HIS FIGHTS.
The first prize fight in which he engaged In this
country was with Vincent Hammond on the 10th OF Sep
ember, 1s4l near Philadelphia, for 500 side, and
which ho won in ten minutes. He next fought Tom Hyor
eight days afterwards and beaten after contest
two hours and fifty five minutes. His third fight was
with by the name OF secor, the 22d January
1892 for $500 sidc and in which he the victor ter