New-York daily tribune., 1859-06-30


The FOURTH WARD HosIcIDE.-Corouer Schir
mer yesterday held an inquest at the NeS.York Hos
pts upon the body OF James Boston, the oolored man
who died from tsb received on Tuesday afternoon
while in fight with Richard A. Eddy, also cOlored
at the corner Of Front street aud Peck slip, ss pre-
viOusy reported That deceased gave the first cause
Of oense which resulted in the fatal encounter there
remains but very little doubt. Eddy alleges that he
was first assaulted by Boston, who struck him several
powerful blows before he retaliaed used the knife
The Jury believed the statement Of the prisoner and
if corroborative testimony to that effect had been pre-
sented, doubtless a verdict Of ustifable homicide
would have been rendered; but in the absence Of such
testimony, the Jury had no alternative bat to render
verdict gainst the prisoner Below will be found
the most material portions Of the testimony adduced
WIN. b. Marshall being sworn, deposes and says-I
am ccik at No. 259 Front street; yesterday about
O'Clock as / was returning from the bank saw prs
oner and deceased crossing Peck slip at Front street.
they appeared TO be suarreing, calling each other
ars SITTER they got the ,de@ ak pdsOler stopped,
and saw deceased take hold Of prisoners coat aud
endeavor to lead him on then that the pr soner
had knife IN his hand, which had not observed
before spd that he struck deceaseds hand while he
had hold of his coat with the knife; the deceased then
said, Do you that y AMI he then rolled up the
sleeve of ore and struck at the prisoner could
not say that be bit him; Immediately atterward de-
ceased inmped back aud exclaimed, "Im stabbed" "
he reeed around for moment and then fell to the
ground.
John Deany, an officer of the Fourth Precinct,
sworr,-About3 3 O'Clock Tuesday afternoon, / was at
Peck-slip Ferry when Mr.. Smith came aud told me
that one man had stabbed another up the street;
went to the corner Of Front street and Peck aud
deceased lying IN the street, and asked who had
stabbed him; the prisoner immediately answered, ~
am the man. did not give him as much as Intended;
he has shanghaed me once, and told me that he in-
tended to do il again; Immediately arrested the man
who had the knife in his hand and in the act OF
putting il in his pocket, but as grabbed bis hand he
willingly gave it to me- the knife then closed:
deceased and prisoner then taken to the Station
House and from thence the deceased to the
| Hospital and the prisoner to the tOmbs.
VIM. Smith of Nilliamsburgh near when the
quarrel took place bet ween deceased and Eddy, and
Boston strike at the prisoner but cannot say that
| he hit him.
Hospital testified that deceased was admitted to that
institution with penetrating wound Of the abdomen
the wound being inches in length; the patient
| continued to suk, aud died soon after admission.
This closed the testimony, and the was given to
| the jury who rendered verdict as follows:
"That James Boston came to his death by stab in
Il G abdomen from knife in the hands OF Richard
Allen Eddy, June %, 1852.
The accused was then examined according to law.
He is barber or cook 80 years Of age and was born
| in Columbia Lancaster County, Pa When asked
what he had to say relative to the charge he replied;
was aggravated aud assaulted and did 1t in self
defense; did not know that did it until deceased
said it himself" The accused was then committed tc
the Tombs to awai the action of the Grand jury
| He was barber on board the United States steam
ship Niagara at the time Of laying the telegraph ca
bic, and, for an excellent character refers to Capt
Hudson, and other officers Of the Niagara Deceased
was 46 years of age, aud a native of New-JerSey.
| The frank and apparently honest manner in which
| Eddy answered all questions promulgated, excited
sympathy for hiw, not only by the Jury. but also
many others in attendance on the examination.