New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-19

The HoMIcIDE oS SHIPBoAED.--Coroner Gamble
held an inqueft yesterday at the Ne"-iork Hospital
upon the body Of the 1opg-horeman Peter Ward. who
was fatally injured on Saturday Last by being struck
on the head with handspike by Thomas r. Fisher
mate Of the schooner VIM Smith, OF Pier No . North
River Fisher was arrested OF the time, and admitted
TO bail by Justice Osborn. Yesterday, upon hearing
that Ward had died Of his ipjurie-, he surrendered
Limsclf nm md is now committed by the Coroner to
,,oi, ,be action of the Grand Jury. The following is
the evidence taken:
George OKeefe, q longshoreman, testified that he
was acquainted with deceased and had worked With
him. on Saturday afternoon last he standing in
West street near pier No. 5 where the schooner VIM
Smith was lying; saw deceased scufIing with Mr.
Fisher the frst mate Of the schooner; the mate
shove deceased and deceased showed him back again:
the mate fell and deceased fell on top of him. they
both rose together and the mate went aft little,
picked up handspike, raised it his head paused
little, if speaking to deceased and then struck
him on the head deceased fell the deck and the
mate went down into the cabin; deceased WAS
sober, inoffensive man, and / him in
quarrel previous to Saturday; at the time the mate
struck deceased he was in half STOPPING position, as
If looking for his coat
Michael Culligan, sworn-I am a longshoreman and
at work with deceased Saturday on the
schooner William Smith, at Pier No. s. North River;
] was in the hold and deceased deck; the fore
man called out TO him to throw down piece of wood
TO place under cask Of molasses; | heard deceased
cutting the wood deck, and at the same time l
beard Dir. Fisher, the mate Of the schooner, tell de-
ceased TO 60 ashore; came GU! Of the hold to the
" tween decks" when deceased replied, g Give me
time-if you don't | wont go;' the Captain OF the
schooner was standing behind the mate, and said.
" Give the time to go ashore" Mr.. Fisher showed
deceased and said You must CO." and then deceased
showed Mr. Fisher some dunnage; Mr.. Fisher fell
partially down, and in doing so kicked deceased in
the thigh he then went aft and picked up handSpike
and struck deceased the head; deceased had no
IL haf fall on tha 1eck and
remained there about three minutes, when man on
deck came and picked him up; / did not see any
weapon in the hands OF deceased at any time during
the afray.
George Smith, sworn-I captain of the schooner
William Smith; / board Saturday last
about O'Clock in the afternoon was standing oft,
near the cabin, and deceased splitting wood on
deck the hatchwsy; Mr.. Fisher take on ak
out of the hands of deceased and order him ashore;
Mr.. Fisher took hold Of deceased by the arm and
showed him; deceased then showed Mr.. Fisher over
on some lumber on deck; deceased pulled at Mr..
Fishers vest while he down and struck him in the
face; Mr. Fisher then got up and went aft about six
feet picked up handspke, returned, and struck de-
ceased on the head, knocking him down; went
across the dock to friend Of mine to assist ma in
keeping those who were collecting around away from
Day schooner; when | returned to the schooner de-
ceased had left Mr.. Fisher has been with me one
year his character for sobriety and peacefune.s was
David b. Cory sworn-I an second mate of the
schooner VIM. Smith, and on board about 5
O'Clock on saturday lasIi ucCedseu war "oou
on deck | went up to him and told him not to split
wood on deck, but to got a block; he answered, :"
will not injure the deck l again told him not to do
so; Dir. Fisher the mate, came up to deceased and
told him not to split the wood deck ne said again.
81 will not hurt the deck" the mate then snached
the ak from the hands of deceased and showed him,
saying "You must 60 ashore" deceased then showed
the mate and he fell and deceased held on to his vest
with one hand and struck the mate with the other;
the mate got his feet against deceased and showed hun
off: the mate then got up and walked aft took up the
handspike and struck deceased over the head; de-
ceased fell down and remained about three minutes
am not positive whether deceased was about to as
sault Mr. Fisher or not after they had got up from
the deck deceased was in STOPPING position, and
coming toward Mr. Fisher when Mr.. Fisher struck him.
Dr. &. +. S. Keator testified that the death of de-
ceased was caused by compression of the brain by a
rupture of the middle mcnngeal artery, from the blow
inflicted.
The Jury rendered a verdict that Peter Ward came
TO his death by fracture of the skull, caused by
blow with handspike in the hands of Thomas r.
Fisher on board the schooner VIM. Smith. The
mate accordingly committed to await the action
Of the Grand jury.