The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-23
TIE FIREMEN's RIOTS.
Inquest on the BODY OF Matthias BGtt-
mln--Vere1rc4 ,c The yuxx ~.

miih--Nersict OF the Jury, Ne.
The inquest on the body Of Matthias Bittman, who
died at Bellevue Hospital on Sunday last. from wounds
received during the riot OF the Grenea Of the same
morning. was held yesterday tho Thirteenth precincs
station house jury was empanneod at one O'Clock
r. NJ by Coroner Cover whom large of evidence
was adduced, most if all OF it, very foreign ce
subject There was immense amount Of 'hard
ing" TO Judge from the evidence Of the members Of
Engine Co No the whole parties blame In the
tor were members Of No A. while tho evidence Of No
I'll placed themselves in position immaculate that all
the saints in the calendar nothing in pety when
compared with them No. contends that it did not fire
one single shot, while No Al says tina, its foreman posi-
lively fired four shots from revolver Tho officers
in and prove that both parties fired at each other.
IL appears there has old feud between the
companies, dating far back twenty years. and that
this only one OF many proofs they have given of their
animosty TO each other The evidence to prove that
the deceased shot during the melee imperfect in
the extreme. Nothing known of him by any OF the
witnesses except one who saw him run past him at
some distance from tho place OF the fire on Sunday
morning. No one saw him shot; no evidence on that
point was adduced whatever; the nearest evidence
that point was that OF of the officers who dcposed
ndng deceased IN the outr of the station house
in perfectly helpless condition He was brought in by
two citizens the only persons who could tell where and
now the affair took place; but their evidence
where to be found. It was stated be had been
which he received the fatal wound There but few
saloons only two near the Of the ARRAY and yet
neither OF the propreors Of these places brought
upon the stand; in fact the evidence OF the
most incomplete things We have seen. From
hours without one atom Of evidence the subject
which caused the jury to be convened The parents
friends OF the deceased, Is probable would have been
abe TO throw some Light on the question OF who the un
fortunate victim was, but OF them either
present. But II the evidence did not fix the crime
particular person. encug was produced to justify
holding members
both companies. Two witnesses positively to the
fact OF The foreman of No Engine dschargng three
-FOUR barrels OF revolver IL Is possible those
shots may have taken effect the dcceas-d whatever
the probability be- it is within the range of possibility that
one or more OF the parties wounded have received
those wounds from Burke's pistol Yet he is not men
TONED IN the verdict of the jury The evidence adduced
points to different persons as having had their
weapons by which the fatal wound may have been in
nicted; yet they are similarly exonerated
The ccnsure in the verdict Of the Fire Commissioners
is but just Sufficient time has long since elapsed for
tho proper organization Of department. which ii is
hoped will not be dsgraced by acts similar to those
which have occurred under the old RHYME 1t is to he
hoped 1t will spur them into activity and that
before long the object for which they were organized
may be accomplished
THE EVIDENCE.
The first witness examined was Anthony Burke, who
testified as folows-I live at 3S SCANNED street; am
foreman Of Eneine Company No. G; was with my com
pany nj the fire Sunday night; went up Montgomery
TO Ridge street; found the lamps out between Delaney
and Broome, in Ridge street.. and, when near
Delaney, a young man showed me where
the fire was; No 8 Hose was there at the time;
stopped my company at the corner; Engine Com
pany Al coming down Ridge street following us, and
heard some OF the members say "Give II to them kill
the Irish OF bitch; the persons who made of
those expressions had no fire caps on Al Engine Com
pany drew up the side OF the street aud my assistant
foreman, standing beside me- was struck by trumpet
cannot say who did il; pistol shots then came from
the party opposite our engine officer Grey. Mt my re
quest offered his assistance attempting the OF
OF tho parties could not recognize the who fired up
TO this time nearly fifty shots had been fired, all from the
opposite party an attempt made to upset our en-
Elnc while mt the shots continued be fired
among US; party defended themselves but did not
fire back at any time noticed clubs in the hands of the
the opposite side OF the street, had only twelve
men on my rope going into the fire; had no IDEA
OF there being any danger When leaving; bad baen
previously threatened by ~ Engine but did mind II
was wounded in three places myself that night with pis
toll sugs. over ear IN the jaw and the right eye
the police came assistance and the company took
the engine back 10 house by orders Of the Chief
Charles Dram, one Of our m mbcrs, was shot in The
neck, and several other Of our members were
less injured ny msscs did not know the dcccased,
did hear at the time he wounded; did not hear
his death III, Sunday from tho darkness Of the streets
was unable 10 identify any Of tho party who assaulted
u.s. the assault on Us commenced 80 soon IL Engine
stopped
doposed-Am a member OF No Engine; went out to
the fire; stopped at the of Ridge and Delancey in
about five MINUTES Al Engine came along and stopped
little ahead OF ut the other side OF the street
as they stopped the foreman OF u Engine. Hnncssey
sad''shoot the Of bitches, ana rep atcd IL with
struck out with clubs and Immediately after frty or
moro pistol shots were fred by the men l went
then to Mr. Burke. and while beside him received pistol
shot In the neck say who fred the shot the
best ofmy belief came from the engine company oppo
SITE then went TO the Seventh ward station house and
had my wound dressed remaining thec until sent for by
the assistant foreman did not know he deceased heard or
his death through the papers when left the fighting
going unable to recognize any who fired
any Shots there were but ten or twelve
gire while on that OF Al there twenty; the
street was too dark Tor me to recognze hem al Engine
men had no caps on; none OF our fred In return
icpaed no disturbance, thouch heard frequently
threats from the members OF II Engine at the fire in
Wder street ON the l4th inst, heard them threaten 10
''cet square on Ms, and Saturday night was the only
nisht since that that We came together.
Thomas Clerkcn, No. IL scaimel street, dcposed-Am
member OF No Ensinc; was at the fire on Sunday
morning last remarked on nv way up how dark the
street engine stopped in Ridge street few feet
from Delaney; had been Their about live minutes when
Al Engine up and stopped about the length Of the
engine ahead OF us heard some say, now let
give IL 10 the sons Of bstches" and l In
stantly knocked down; soon / got up
walked little way towards the engine, when was
struck aain by fire horn; could not recognize any or
the parties who struck me; when agan got up went
10 the side Of the engine, when an attempt was made TO
upset the engine; was again knocked down and struck
twice on Getting mp the second time walked towards