New-York daily tribune., 1857-08-24
TWO U0NIClDEs IN BROADWAY.
r,,r SHOOTING Oh wAGsTAFF.
Observation-Disclosures DISCHARGED.


Theodore s. Minis, the homicide, was formerly the
Ciy Librarian. bu. having bees convicted by Com
mittco Of Investigation eppcinted BY the Common
Courcil of completely in soIce black mail operations in
regard to the opening Of Reade street he was obliged
TO resign bis Office.
1t appears that Of his friends shortly afer 'Is
event set him up In the rumscing business, in sa.
loon called "The Library" q. No. 45o Broadway.
His management no. proving satisfactory to his mou-
eyed partner, De Forrest, that ndividua! employed
Ton.bs shystcr named Heary j. Wags.ai to wind up
the business. Wagst0 caused the ccncetn to be sold
out at auction for ncnina! price, TO Brockhurat Il
Shaw. Ihese parties retained possession und Tues.
day last, when Dir. MJ ers bought them out
Nims after oeirg thrust out Of the business used to
visit the old saloon, TOW known as 1.-THE Shaw
House. He was there or Friday night from abous
81 O'clock until after midnight About ten minutes
past u WagstaG came in evidently the worse for
liquor. Seeing Nms there, he invited him to take
Drink. The later refused, when WaSstsf endeavored
to pull him up to The bar.
Minis, who, as may be imagined, did not entertain
the moot lively friendship for WGgsta still refused to
dirk, when Wagstsff truck him a bow under the
chm, ard called him ca Id sucking, lOafng, scoun-
drel adding that he in the habit of loa.ing there
all day lCrg. Minis made reply, bat moved his
chair to distant part Of the room. Wagsiaii
followed him. ard again struck him under the chin.
Myers tie proprietor Of the place, then interfercd
and endeavored 10 push Wagstsf away.
Wagstef, however, pushed him aside, and again
struck Minis this time with the Fat OF his hand, se-
we're blew in the face. Eims then behind table
ard drawing double.barreled pistol leveed il at
Wags.aff and fired. The first shot did not take effect
but as Wsgsta lodged he fred again. with fatal re-
! srlts. The ball entered the left armpit and passed
tbro ugh the lungs. Wossaf dropped down and never
spoke again.
In few seconds he was dead. Minis walked out
unmolested saying that he was going to tie Four
eenh Ward Station to give himself up, but meetiug
with some friends he took their advice and went homo
to his residence in Houston street. 10 short time he
was arrested there by Sergeant Williamson and Officer
Williams and lodged in the Fourteenth Ward Police
Station.
The body of the deceased was removed TO the Four
teentl Ward Station where Coroner Perry on Satur-
day mornir proceeded to investigate the circun-
stances of the afray.
The following gentlemen were inlpanneed Jurors in
the case, viz: John d. Newman, VIM. S. Gae, John
G. Brooks, Richard Corkadcl, Major Thompson aud
Francis Llacklin
Mr. Minis and his wife took seats behind the Coro-
ner the latter rnaufesng considerable anxiety in the
result Of The proceedings.
The first witness called was youth by the of
Ezra Brockburst of Of the late proprietor5,
who, being duly sworn, testified as follows;
live st No. $50 Broadway where am barkeeper
fer Mr.. Myers who is proprietor of the place; saw
the occurrence at which Mr.. Wagstafr Lost his life;
o+to l;cy k,rr nj fha tip,af fafM Mr r
MINIS came there about or O'Clock, and remained
during the evening; be was about going home whsn
Mr. Wagstan came; 1t was .len about lO or 10 min
Utes after IL o'clock; WagstGH a. he came in looked
right at Nina and in few minutes af.erward asked
Nln:s TO drink with him. Nins refused; Wagstad
then drank twise with some others who were n the
room; when Wagstaff had done drinking he tarned
round to Minis pointed at hm and then said to those
present There IL the Iun this house" Minis made
10 reply WGgstah then resumed aud said tnat N.ms
Sas III habit Of coming there carly in The inorncS
and staying there rntl Ie at The same time looking
az the clock which then indicated that hour OF the
,igh) with only % cents in hs pocket; Nuns ssll
made reply to the remsrks made about hun; Nag.
staff then went toward Minis and called him Cd
ID sucking, loaiing scoundrel; walked up to him
| and struck him urder the chin Iniddliog hard
| hard blow; Nms then ead TO Wsgstaii, " Go away,
| Harry. You say nothing, and III Say nothing then
| we slsl have quarrel. don't wish TO have aay-
thing TO Go with you" ct the time Nuns got up
end went toward the back door, some distance from
| Wagstsfl, and sat down he arm of chair Was-
star tuOWeO uNl, anu blTLCk dSbiu UnuCi tuc
chin about az .bsrd he did before Minis aga told
Wagstaff to 90 sway-ths. he did not wsnt TO have
| anything to do with him. Mr.. Myers here stepped
| between them, and tried to separate them; but
Waestaif pushed MT. Myers aside, and, without
| sayi1g word, struck Minis very hard blow
on one side o: his face. The blow seeoed TO stagger
Nims who then stepped back few steps, p1ilsd out
double baIrel.ed pistol, poiuted at Wasstah AMI
fred twice; ! did not hear Mir. Mus Say anything
after firing the frt shot Wagttai staggered little
ard turped patty aiourd after the second report,
which wac in quick succession alter the hrst, WsG'
staff fell; MIN, locked at NGgs'at lying on tne
gIounG heD turned round and vert cut; as he went
out lie said no was going 10 the Saton-ilo 3e and
that is the last of him; DO Others were present
out Mr.. Myers ind myself when the occurrence took
| place; hardly kLeg what 10 do; however went t.
Tho door and policeman soon ctne along; did
| not hear Nhns any offensive or tareatening
| expressions toward Wsgstaif; heord Wagstaf say
| something about shooting Sims, but did not dis
iinctly undeIstard whet be said; Minis tried 10 get
| our Of the way of Wagstatf, but WAgstlG followed
him wherever he went; both appeared To have been
drinking pretty freely; know that an II feeling has
| existed between Mr.. Mus ard Dir. Wasstaii, and
| once WagstGn leared over the couatcr aud SAID
to me- shall have to xii! one of you yet" sup
pete l., meant ME my father at another tiiae saw
| Wagsteff draw u six barreled revolver in
| he boufe, aud hold it 10 the face Of a
| per.on with whom he was having a dispute
| never knew Minis to have any quarrel before with
| any body while have been there, which think Is
| moTe Than year; head Minis say to Wasstif,
| 1Ou arc pjeeef tuth al, anu eau Hoh uiei ""5
! seif said in reply that he would not lay finger =
| weight upon him (Nmsl, bu. in few minutes after
warc Wagstaff struck Nin.s uuder the chm; thiak
that bad feeling has existed between Wassts4 and
NiIas for about sir seven months; the last time
| Wegstsh struck Nins he appeared to be 10 rage
f. I. Myers having affirmed deposed as follows:
I.siGe at No. $50 Broadway; keep the bar at that
place; saw the occurrence that happened there last
night; Minis came in about O'Clock last evening and
remained there uLtl the afiray occaned think he
took two glasses Of liquor in the early part of the