The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-22
Shooting OF q Suspicious Character by
. Jersey City Detective.
SURRENDER OF THE DETECTIVE.
Investigation Before Coroner
Collin.
The Shooting Justified by the
Jury.

iWscruay morning, ABOUT nin0 O'CLOCK Tragic AZ
fair resulting in the shooting through the brain Of John
on tho of Washington and Cortlandt streets II
appears that various occasions detective Edward l.
Mcwlams Of the Jersey City police, has had occasion
to in Official contact with James and John Johnson
brothers, whose parents live 10 Thames street. this
city. Finding these board passenger and
about the railroad depot, officer McWiams, having
little confidence in their honest Intentions recommended
them TO leave the neighborhood otherwise he might
deem his duty take them before the magistrate
suspicious characters.
This action the part OF the detective enraged the
brothers, and they threatened the officers life whenever
they should meet him in New York. Accordingly, as
the detective passing up Corandt street stated
the young Johnsons commenced assault him. and
John renewed his threat to shoot him. At that time
John had his hands in his pockets, and McWilliams be-
leving he was about to draw pistol produced his
revolver and shot his assaant through the brain Hc
then surrendered himself to officer Daley, Of the
Twenty-seventh precinct. Tho wounded man was re.
moved to the hospital where he died soon afterward
Coroner Collin notified and held inquest
the remains. We append all the important testimony
elected and the verdict Of tho jury.
THE EVIDENCE.
James Johnson, being duly sworn, Opposes and says:
reside at Is Thames street; deceased is my brother;
was with my brother at the time Of the difficulty;
standing in Cortandt street. Washington, with my
BROTHER this morning. little after nine o'clock;
Mr.. McWilams and another man coming up the other
side Of the street; they talking together said to
my brother, "Johnny there's that detective that licked
me when he had in jersey" deceased said to
me- 'In go him and ask him what he did it for
and il no wants TO fight ri fight him on the spot:''
deceased went over TO McWiams; he walked along
with him, and had his hands in his pockets; don't
al In IaA
tol from behind pocket and shot him; there
other man with McWians at the time; my brother fell
when shot; my brother had his hands in his pockets
when McWiliams pulled out his pistol and shot him;
got hold OF Mcwllams by the coat, and said would
have nn hi, him AIRES, arrested he said Let me go;
brother TO the corner and then he brought
the New York Hospital; know Mcwilliams; no licked
in New Jersey, in New brunswick; was stand
ing on the platform when he licked me; was going to
attend the nrcmen's parade my brother the only
one with me this morning.
Edwin L. Granville, being duly sworn, deposes and
says:I reside ut the Philadelphia Hotel Montgomery
street. Jersey City; was present at the shooting of do
this morning, about half-past eight O'Clock; l saw
McWilams on the boat; after the boat landed
up cortlandt street with him. had got between West
and Washington streets nearly the corner, when the
deceased up; the outside the gutter;
McWiams was on the inside deceased passed around
to tho side OF Mcwliams and said, 'sYou damned
smart In hitting that fellow the other day" Mr..
McWliams replied that he had done nothing but
his duty, that no wanted the deceased to keep
away from him-he wanted nothing TO do with him !;
deceased replied, "You will get your damned head
blowed or before you get to Greenwich street, thcrc
were several persons walking behind US; recognized
the previous witness Of them; deceased had his
hands in his pocket at the time; he made motion pull
TO burst your God damned snout for you deceased
pulling his hands out Of his pocket when New illams
put his hands toward him TO push him back and then
drew pistol and shot deceased; my impression that
his pistol in his coat pocket; Mcwilliams turned
few steps down Cortandt street. when the previous wit
ness got hold OF McWilams ana said he wished him mr.
rcstod brother.
and turned when shot; walked with McWams far
West street, when no called policeman stationed
the ferry, and told him he wished 20 deliver himself
up; did not know deceased; when Mcwilams spoke to
deceased he did not stop but kept walking on.
I reside mt New 1.nlord Ohio am al present s,opping
at 1i2 Barrow street, jersey CITY, friend and myself
crossed the Jersey City ferry this morning. between eight
and nine O'Clock; saw two men walking behind my
friend and myself; recognize deceased and his brother
the parties remarked TO the other Thcres that
fellow the other OF the street. want you to go
and strike him right on the nose;' deceased re-
Piled, II will want you to come along with me-
turned around and remarked 10 my friend shat there
gong TO DO trouble there let Stop just
l made the remark heard pistol shot; they had
crossed in the meantime to the opposite side of the
street; tne oroher OF acceaseu hearu me make the
remark, turned around and stopped, while deceased
reached the other side OF The street. the report Of the
pistol my friend and myself crossed to the other
sdo OF the street. and the officer Ia charge Of Mr.
McWillams; deceased had fallen aud being con.
yeyed away.
Michael Nurent being duly sworn dcposes and saws
reside ut 2l6 Railroad avenue, Jersey Cry; de.
ceased and his brother al the Central Railroad depot
foot Of Liberty street. about ten days ago, aud had
conversation with them the brother OF decreased had
fishing limo with him. and wanted 10 20 across the ferry
previous this had tusslc with the brother of de-
ceased Mt tho Central railroad ferry the other side;
had good deal OF conversation the foot Of Liberty
street. and they spoke about Mr.. McWiams and wanted
TO know II McWams would take him In IL he got
tho other side: told him did not know exactly but
thought he would the brother OF deceased remark
about seeing mo and Mr. Mcwlliams passing down
Corandt street one night he told mo that no could get
lofn rhad
club the heads of OF usiha he could get gang around
there TO waylay US; Informed Dir. Mcwiuams
of this conversation afterwards nj the Jersey City de-
pot; Mcwilliams has told that he had them
OF the depot several times; one occasion the
brother OF deceased OF the train for robbng passengers
the brother Of deceased has been In the state Prison be-
stephen Callahan being duly sworn Opposes and says
reside IA Grand street. Jersey Guy las, sunday
night at station between here and Phiadclpha-New
RECONSIDERATION the New York nromcn going
TO tho Philadelphia parade, saw the deceased and
utcs; got out and getting the train when
wrange the train motion nc the time the brother
Of deceased or deceased himself sang out you son Of
aMr Mcwilliams did not hit you; he said was one OF
tho gang at that deceased or hts brother
drew a pistol; OF them said, 'Give me
tho pistol; II you are afraid to ore, I amt"
after Il was settled deceased said III catch you Nc
Williams IN New York III blow your head Oh; the
crowd kept getting upon the seats around and got
OUT this gang going through The cars Of the
members of the companies ot pockctbooks and
McwiIlams was with o company at tho time; told
McWams TO look out Tor himself that these fellows
would blow his head OF
Edward L. Mcwilams, being duly sworn, dcposcd IL
reside "a Monroe street. Jersey CITY am detective
of the Jersey City police about seven or eight days ago
was coming the fcrryboat; stopped outside
OF tho depot and stood few moments talking to MIR.
winfield before got board the boat the deceased and
he hgother came up 70 me ana asked me u
said would any thieves found around there;
then went aboard tho boat; did not see anything OF
them again until last Sunday evening, when them
hoard tho train when W. got TO New brunswick,
had understood that gesd many persona had been
robbed the train aud that there we're great many
thieves on board and wsct out the train to prevent
tho robbces II possible; tho platform saw deceased
aud his brother and about thirty more and every man
that would como there tkev would pick up and do Just
as they pleased with; there were two or three with
mo on the PLATFORM aud ~ thcm sAxuck OF tho
gang then went nte the and went M far ~ Trcn
Ton, when somebody came 10 me and told me that both
OF the Johnsons tia train nd had pistols and
were going 10 shoos mo, when got 70 Philadelphia
4 hut no AM Ing M