The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-02

executed In less than three weeks The operations or the
continental merchants limited French buyers
are In the market, but only inquripg,
Marine Insurance ON Vessels Bound
South.
from the Londos Herald May II
At Iloyd's yeeterdsy Northern American vesse from
Bordeaux To New Orleans was underwrten At five per
ceIt.
Inquest upon the Body OF Swain.
TESTIMONY OF EDWARD q. IMMBNS, THE BARTEN-
DER-CORNELIUs SALMON, AND OFFICERS SULLIVAN
AND sERJEANT WADE BEFoRE CORONER SCaIRMER-
VERDICT OF THE JURY-MERRITT COMMITTED TO
THE TONBs.
Early yesterday morning Coroner TO
hold inquest upon tha BODY of Mr. SWAIN the alleged
eeceesionist who shot by young Merritt last evening
Long before tho inquest Was proceeded with. crowd
gathered about tho building where the sad affair took
place Quito number were admitted to view the remaus,
which were laid out In the tho Of the store
Jury having been empannele, they adjourned to the
Eighth ward station house, where the inquest was pro
ceeded With.
Tho prisoner brought up from his cell "a soon
the Jury had been seated and appeared greatly affected
He Ia q very intelligent looking young man. rather Of
prepoBeessng appearance and would hardly suppose
that he could be tempted under any circumstance, to
take the life Of another His eyes showed that he had
passed restless night During the inquest tear could
now and then running down his cheeks and he
doubtedly fully realized the position he Is placed In.
The following La the testimony TO before the
Coroner
4. G Immens, being duly sworn, says-Am twenty
three years Of age employed by my father to at
tend the saloon 100 Prince street, reside at tbs
place; II was about O'Clock when this afay
red the saloon there In the place at the time Mr.
Salmon Mr.. Merritt (the prisoner) Mr.. Swain and my
fs the three BEG
about the condition Of the country Mr. Swain sail that
he secessonst and that he would luxe to SEQ two
ha kaot
the people, afer little time they became much excited,
and high words ensued Mr.. Merritt wanted Swain to
United states only and would not Complete the whole
Of the sentence that Mr.. Merritt wanted him 70;
he was saying il Mr.. Merritt had a pistol IN
his hand; do not know where he took 1t from;
think he must have had the pistol about his this
moment tho pistol went of; saw the pistol pointed at
Swain; think they not two feet apart; Mr..
Swain shirt took fire from the waddng; could not state
the whole Of the conversation did not hear Mr. Merritt
say he would Shoot did not believe Mr. Merritt intended
TO ehoot deceased; soon as Mr.. Swain shot he
for O moment and then fell upon the floor and
pred both men seemed very much excited, and spoke
very loud offensive language was used; never cav
the pistol before do not know who s the owner; the
pistol shown s the one that witness In the
hands Of Mr.. Merritt after the shot had been fred
Mr.. Merritt laid the pistol the table snd ran up
Sm lay doTS Se Se but but nS ousS
it there after he went OUT then sent out
In and gave him the pistol he took charge
Of the place.
BY the Jury-Do not remember that Mr. Salmon said any
thing the deceased backing towards tho door when
he shot; Mr. Merritt appeared - follow him up;
when the deceaed had got the door be (Merrit)
pistol on the table never saw Mr. Merritt with the pistol
BEFORE do not think either Of the parties In liquor
they only drank twice together
Cornelius Salmon being sworn, says-Am In the ice
business reside at No II Macdouga street was in tho
lager bier saloon OF Mr. Immens yesterday afternoon 1t
about five o'clock M Merits and myself pass
ing at the time when asked him to 90 down and take
glass Of lager BIER have known Mr. Merritt about ton
years he accompanied into the saoou aud met
Mr.. mneDB the young man tendiog the bar there
other person In the place when went in; Mr. Mer
rift and myself then sat down at table and Allied for
two glasses Of BIER while there Me Swain In, and
being acquainted with him. asked him TO drink with
mo- he did 50, and sat down at the table aud immedi
in favor OF tho dissolution of the Union and would il
souherner tyample the American flag under foot; he
sad he had lived South, and was going there e live
egainthat the Southerners had RICH. to have South
ern ccnfederscy they wanted It; after drinking his
bier he went out, ami was goae four or Ave minutes
time; deceased may possibly have had coat on when
he came back, but / could not say positively when
be came In again We were drinking, and think
this time he seemed greatly excited, and at once COM
menced talking upon the same subject all sit.
ting at the table; Mr. Merritt and deceased taki.g
very loud, and was In conversation with Mr. I'm nsne,
Mr. Merritt was sitting almost opposite at the time;
while they in conversation think heard some
thing said about the tUnted States nothing heard
Mr.. Swain say he sswoud like to shoot every Of
b-h of them" meaning Union men; saw nothing that
next thing heard was the report Of the pistol
preparation for shooting talking TO Mr. mmens when
toll the rst Of the pistol after the shot had
been fired; It was then lying upon the table;
both the ,Sa table a. the %
both men were seated at the table, but would not say
positively they In that position when the pistol
hred swain fell upon the floor when shot think they
were about three feet and half apart; Immediately
got up when Mr.. Merritt started TO out, aud called
him back; no was at The head Of tho steps at the
fin,n. ha tn
away; l was going to run out myself, but af-
terwards concluded It was best for me to renlain;
the place crowded with people, Merritt did not
leave until there was quite lsrge number around the
door and In the place. said TO Mr. Merritt that it would
be best for both Of to remain did not say anthng
the time the pin tol was fired; jumped up With surprise
when dred; the first ever of tho pistol was
the table, after the shot fred left the saloon
soon az the place became full Immediately up to the
station house, and after got here Mr. Merritt
and gave himself up TO the custody Of the police heard
very hard S Jag between them before the de-
they would shoot another Mr. Merritt used pretty
strong language against the South, and the deceased
By Jury-Did not see Mr. Merritt shoot Mr. Swain the
but Of the pistol was towards deceased when saw On
nOfncer Michael j. Sullivan, being sworn sayr-I am
connected with the Eighth precinct police about half
past four O'Clock about leaving the station house 70
100 Prince street when got In the place the deceased
was lying on the floor, with his feet towards the
inquired for the owner Of the place, and then
asked who had killed the deceased, when ]
told was young man named
Samuel Merritt; asked where he was, but could find
out the last witness there, and told that there
only three persons In the place at the Time then
went up the sidewalk and called for help; told
that Merritt had up Prince street towards Macdougal
saloon and found the pistol lying on the table
I also detained Mr.. Salmon, and he accompanied
10 the station house, Serieant Wade came
into the saloon when left felt OF the deceaseds pulse
and found that he dead then cloed his eyes, laid
him straight the floor after left Mr. Salmon at the
station house. then went in search Of Mr. Merritt but