The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-01
THE BEAVER STREET TRAGEDY.


Al two O'Clock yesterday afternoon Coroner Collir
proceeded 10 the First precinct station house. NJ
stree, and commenced nqulsiton in the csse % Mr.
Joseph Van Doren who murdered at No. 20 'Beavo
street. last Saturday afternoon, az charged at tn
hands Of James y. Dram, as reported ~ Sunday
HERALD The police station was denscy crowded will
the friends OF both the deceased and tho prisoner; like
ise many business men, eager to watch the proceed
ipgs before the Coroner were IN attendance The &C
cuscd remarked to the Coroner thai he expected I'M
counsel To be present; but he that il made
but little difference hls rights would be protected
Mr. Dram exhibited several scratches his forehead
and damaged finger on has eft hand, which injuries
he said wer, received from the deceased. Below will be
testimony adduced before the Coroner and the
jury
duly sworn said was sitting in the STORE door, "a
Stone street. when saw the prisoner rnnning through
'M lane" with no hat on; he turned into Stone sire
and ran into 81 as he turned the door he looked
round ii any one Was after hin; at that two
three young came running down, crying out "Stop
himwher, is herr Knowing The staation oil the store
thought ne would run through the building and come
out on South William street, ran up the stairs, and
said .You are my prisoner" he replied, Every we'll
will 10 with you - when he got out the walk, said
'.wh oh way will you go9" he sa d. 'Ths is the way 70
the station house," policeman up and took
charge OF the prisoner; that is all that TRANSFERRED;
acquainted with the prisoner; ! was induced
arrest him from seeing nlm running; the prisoner
when arrested him.
Alfred Neged, sworn and examined through an inter-
NJ No. IL North Moore street.
bookkeeper at 40 Beaver street, the prisoner on
Saturday last, standing in the doorway of 20 Beaver
street. between the hours Of eleven and twelve o'clock
he not conversation with any at the time but
against OF the iron bars; came down stairs and
saw the prisoner, and then went up again; saw him
afterwards when the pol ccman had charge Of him;
saw him from the window Of THAI time was acquainted
with the deceased he occupied the first floor Of 40 Bea
yer street; ] did not hear any alteration. as
my place Is on the other end Of the building:
! heard two reports, but at the moment could
not tell whether Il was pistol or not it
son am not certain Of the time; suppose about half
past one O'clock heard the explosion and to see
what it was; came down, and the deceased lying
on the floor; his head was lying the steps OF the
stairs, with his feet to the street, he then gaspng
for breath; the policeman there; / asked him II
deceased wanted any brandy he said No that he was
dead then went up stairs; did not observe pistol
there.
Ferdinand H. Crcssous being duly sworn deposes and
says-I reside at Yonkers N Y my place Of business
Is ct No. 43 Beaver street; recognize the prisoner
not acquainted with him; sitting in my Off %
noon, July 20; ! heard two reports of pis-
toll ! Immediately turned and looked out and
saw the prisoner and deceased on the steps in the
doorway; the deceased was In the doorway and the
prisoner facing him from the street, my place is exactly
opposite the Office Of deceased the only thing that
called my attention to it the reports; saw the de-
ceased put his hands 70 his stomach though he was in
intense pain and stagger back saw the prisoner run
towards Delmonicos tho corner Of South William and
Beaver Streets did not deceased have ANYTHING in
his hands at the time; Immediately grabbed my coat
and ran after the prisoners when got at the little lane
chasing the man who running; said "yes;" they
told me that he had up TO q store few doors be-
down stairs with two three persons; when he
came down several persons had him in charge; they
went towards Broad street, when they met
the policeman that he had shot him; then went down
70 deceaseds ofce he was lying inside the door, with
the took e pIsoner na s necs y
deceased was shot, the way to the station house;
somebody told the officer that the pistol there he
eotit
Duncan R. Norvell, being daily sworn deposss and
saysI reside at Staten Island my pla OF business
o'clock Saturday afternoon standing In the door
way Of my Office and saw great crowd coming through
Beaver street from Broad; followed the crowd down
tho stairs in william street; came towards
that same place; the crowd rushed after him;
prisoner, and almost instantly policeman came up
and said, 'T'n take charge Of this man." somebody
made the remark that there man shot in Beaver
just al the entrance Of No 20 Beaver street met Dr.
Gum; told him that had been shot, and for him
and the Doctor then sd up With
was his breast that was wounded he died few minutes
after there little blood on the outside Of the shirt
he lay with his head the first second STEP and his
feet out towards tho street.
John A. Riley, being duly sworn deposes and says:-
am roundsman Of the First precinct left the station
house to visit the at about seventeen minutes past
one O'clock got TO within about hundred yards Of
Broad street, when saw the prisoner running, and
crowd gathered in front of 20 Beaver street. and
and towards 40 Beaver street; when got in
front Of the store asked what the matter, and
man said. "A man has shot himself" another man
said "No he was shot by that man running here the
prisoner then around the end Of Dclmonicos
Hotel; saw that the man was shot; another had
him under the II trying to set him the stairs
the revolver also about thro, feet from him. TO-
wards the inside Of the store; continued the chase
to William street, and ! turned around and went
down South William street, and when ! got
there I think ! saw the previous witness there
was him with the except on that Sovea had hat on
struck him he said "Don't hit me- am not the pris
ne nsn s sso "a sos WE ana saw the
OF Mckilby crowd was collecting; rushed through the
crowd, caught him by the and said; ~ want you
~ shot him In self defense" that che called a son
o. bitch and scratched face no said 'there's the
thing to justify in killing anohcr;' he replied, n
hope he N not dead" ! replied, ''You have done
bad days work for YOURSELF during this time
he tried 10 get his hand In his breast pocket
and told him ! would strike him n no attempted
TO put his hand into his pocket he said he would not
4'My hat s there wish you would get IL for me when
came in front Of the door told somebody bring
the pistol; repeated the demand and the pistol
was bis pistol he said Eyes" asked him il was the
pistol he shot him with he said was the pistol now
Sergeant that barrels had been discharged but there
were three loaded when we got 70 the station house
handed the pistol TO the sergant the Sergeant asked IL
were three barrels loaded; no then said 70 the
Sergeant, "win You search meS" went to search
him and he said, 'Hod on, III give you
what I've got;" he pulled out 81 bill and
some stamps aud bunch Of keys, and then from the
other pocket Of his coat he pulled out another pistol 1t
was small single barrelled Derringer; the Sergeant
asked him II that pistol loaded he said that was
and that IL was capped after which he locked up;
went back 10 10 Beaver street and ordered the who
were there 10 fetch the body TO the station house
came past 10 Beaver street with the prisoner
policeman there; when returned TO get the body
Toned two men there to keep the crowd out; when
ook the prisoner from MT Kirbys charge he appeared
10 be excited and stated that he had done In sefde
ence.
Augustus T. Fairbanks, being duly sworn deposes and
sys:-I reside at ~ Gregory street, Jersey City; ! was
Employed clerk for deceased at 10 Beaver street,
saturday, at about o'clock left the Office at 20 Bea
street, and down 70 New street 70 gauge
packages Of wine; was gone about fifteen minutes be-
ore I got back; when I got back deceased and
he prisoner were inside the once; deceased was
hitting at his desk and the prisoner had his back
o me- soon a. he heard me coming he turned
Q look at me; deceased said 70 me- 100 around 70
Aarkened street 70 weigh two tierces;" he said he
would be around there In few minutes afterwards
when got there the tierces were not ready TO be
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