Daily national Democrat., 1860-12-25
Coronsr,s Inauest.
On the body Of Chris. Grover, alias
Christopher Shipley. alias Chris. DUR,
Held at Office of Coroner Hamilton
on Monday. 2Ath inst.
O. w. Holmes testified SIS follows.


on Monday, 24th inst.
O. ". Holmes testified SIS follows:
On the 23d between the hours Of > and
o'clock. deceased came irto the bar of John
Brophy, adjoining pistol gallery, called Cor
something to drink drank California wine,
then went into gallery; in n short time went
ont; came back again in half an hour; said
it was "middling warm here said he want
ed something more to drink called for bran
dy toddy; said lac would mix it himself, as
he knew best how to mix it; drank it and paid
for it, and said he would like to shoot a
round ; asked if had FIVE shooter; | told
him | had, and asked him if he wouldn't
rather have a six shooter; he said "no, for il
was too heavy" | went to the safe and
handed him a five inch FIVE shooter. lie
took it and walked down the gallery and
said he would have to 90 pretty close. |
saw him bring up the pistol to him pretty
close, as if to cock it; then heard report OF
pistol and he fell backward. ! ran up to
him and said "he has shot himself | ran
out to the door and saw Mr.. steele, and call
ed him in; he said, "Chris, Chris, you're a
foolish boy" Steele told me to run down to
Police office. they would know what to do.
went down and two of the police came
with me to the gallery.
John w. Parsons, who was present at the
time swears:
reside in Marysyille, having recently ar
rived from Iowa. corroborate Mr.. Holmes
testimony.
JAS Walsh, sworn:
Knew deceased, and produced a note from
deceased in the share of bill against anoth-
er party, to which his name was signed as
Chris. f. Shipley.
j. B. Leaman was sworn:
Knew deceased in 1854 at old U. S. Hotel.
His name was then Christopher Durr, from
New York city or Brooklyn
Geo. C. Stanels sworn:
Known deceased for some time by the
name of Chris. Saw a bill he made out and
signed c. f. Shipley. Yesterday (day he
shot himsel0 deceased said to me that if he
could get what was owing to him, he would
90 to San Francisco and jump off the dock
| told him not to talk that way, and he went
oil mad Deceased gave me his name some
time ago. do not recollect what it was it
was not Shipley.
A b, Metcaf was sworn:
Has known deceased for eight years His
name was c. f. Shipley, in New York city,
as he has been informed came from the
same city with John Humphrey, who kept
the old L. 5 Hotel II would not be likely
that he would attempt to go by a false name
in the employ Of an acquaintance like Hum
phrcy
The jury consisted of John n. Selby, T. P.
Otis, N. Mcclure, j. b. Whitcomb, s South
worth, VIM. L. Williams, E. S Miller, A. J.
Long, and John L. Eaton Their verdict was
as follows:
Deceased Christopher Shipley, went into
the pistol gallery of John Brophy on Satur-
day, the 23d inst. between the hours of .
and o'clock =. NJ, took drink of wine and
paid for the same, went out, came in in about
half an hour, took a drink of brandy, called
for pistol to shoot, walked down the gal
lery. remarking he would have to 60 close up
to it to shoot, then instantly put the muzzle
of the pistol to his mouth and fired The
ball penetrated his head and caused instant
death. And we the jury declare It to be su-
icide"
The following writing was found on the
day the suicide, on the slate of Mr.. Ham
ilton at the Sections Office. The slate is
overwritten by the Sexton:
leave orders for City Sexton"
Under this was written in hand, recog-
nized to be that of deceased-(we copy uer-
Jatim ct Htcratm:)
"Mr. Hamilton Call at Mr. John Brophv's
have left my measure for coffin and you
will find me there and 0 Blige Yours truly"
Then follows a mere flourish Of the pencil
without any name
There was testimony not sworn to, that
deceased had been badly afflicted for some
time with venereal disease, and that it had
eaten into his throat as well as into other
portions Of his body
lie was buried yesterday, a small process
sion following him to the grave