, 1864-02-28
THE powAEY DROWNING CASE.
Conclusion Of tho 1n4ueAt-The Two
Watchmen Committed for Trial.

The INQUEST on the body Of Morris Downey, who
was iound aoating In the river at the foot Of La
Safe street last Thursday morning, was continued
at North Market Hall on Friday afternoon.
Nicholas crogan and Thomas Callahan, night
vateauea 1T the r. & Ft. ". Il. r. freight depot,
testified that man came into that enclosure at II
o'clock on the night Of the Sth Of December, and
that they ordered him away. He walked of, aud
returned three tImes-thc las. time he went to-
wards the Madison street bridge. and ttey heard
splash as II he had fallen Into the wafer. They
could not describe the man, nor tell anything Of
the clothing he wore It WIS very dark, ther batd,
and they had no light.
Mrs. H. Payne, cousin Of the deceased. testi6ed
that she went to tho depot with her brother some
time AFTER Downey WIS missed, and conyerscd
With Callahan nbout the man who had fallen into
tbs weser: He was at drst rough In MANNER and
would tell them nothing, pur gave them
70 complete = description Of the r1nn that they
knew hin to be Downey, and ceased to search FOR
him.! Mrs. Payne's brother corrnboEated her
statement
Callahan was recalled, and denied In toto all thst
Mrs. Payne had stated.
At this point the 1nqneat wns adjourned till
o'clock Saturday afternoon, when the Jury reas-
sembled.
The Coroner stated that Il post taorkens examl-
nation of the deceased had been held, bat that no
mnrka had been found On. the body to indicate
that Downey had been violently injured before
death.
onieer Simmons, who Is stationed at the P. i
F. II. depot, testified that Callahan called for him
one night In December, he could not tell tho day OF
tha month"; to 60 to the freight depot and arrest
man who was prowling about there.. He said he
! was AFRAID the man might have \ knife, or some
other weapon-that he had tried to push the man
sway and had been hit by him, sod that they had
had diaaculty, Callahan had lamp and stout
cane, 1nd remarked tlat thc11nan wss tail and
wiry. and had white ovcrcoat on. They went to
the depot, and were told that The man had fallen
into the water. They went to look, but found no
traces Of him.
Callahan IVES recalled. lie said he didat reco1-
1ect having either light or cane, but admitted that
| be had words and difficulty with the 1aau, and
o.herwlee betrayed he ta1sitJ OF his testimony.
The foreman Of the jury here said III = sharp
tone, "callahan, you had stick tn your hand that
ntght-I want rou to tell me how many times you
| struck Downey On the head with IT,"
Callahan started as II he had received sudden
blow, his esp dropped from his hand, he seemed to
1oeo his strength, and In stopping down "a pick up
the cap, he trcmbed from hesd to foot, aud with
difficulty kept from falling.
| Mrs. Dovney, who WAS present, faIuted away.
She WEs taken TO 4 window, and Was sooa bro lght
! to life. 1t was = thrilling seene. -.
| Two other Witnesses wcse called, who IN sub
stance ties tifed Tint they were ncar tho depot on
the u,cht In question, and heard a spiash in the
river. "a II man who had fallen in and Was struc-
Cling, Thsy agreed too in stating that Callahan
ran up to them and said that man had fallen into
i the .3ver.'
The Jusy then retired and siter sbout half an
hour, consultation, rtturncd with the verdict that
Norris Dowuey cane to hls doath about II O'Clock
| p. m,. On tho sth day Of December, 1868, In the
Cbtcaeo nye1. north Of Madison street bridge, By
drowning, af.cs having received blows II the
haods Of Thomas Callahan and Nlcbolas Croaan
and falling la consequence thereof into the sirs<