The New York herald., 1866-05-18
the LATE PRESTON KING.

COroncr's Inquest-Ieso"S ."
Case-Adjournment Vnsii sssorosS' -
Ten O'Clock A. M.
The iuouest as the cause OF tho death OF Presor
wms late Collector Of the Port OF New York, was com
,.enoed yesterday afternoon at one O'Clock, befor'
Coroner Lynch and jury at the Coroner's ofnce new
sourt House. Brooklyn There were few spectator
present
The testimony as follows
william Monahan sworn, testified that he resides q
No 2l2 East Thirty street. New York; is employed
NJ the Astor House hall porter; have been there thr
teen wears; was acquainted with Preston King, h
boarded at the House and occupied room No. IL
sated near the private entrance to the hotel vesey
street saw him alive the morning Of the 18th OF No
vember 1866; Mr. King left his at about half pas
eight o'clock A. NJ on the day mentioned; there was
gentleman who occupied the same room who was taking
care of him. Mr. King had his overcoat on at the time
left the hoe on his way down stairs he stopped and
stairs and then went into the street; Mr. Kings
mate came out Of his apartment and inquired for him
co. did net notice anything peculiar in his manner Q,
appearances; one OF the night watchmen told witness
that Mr. King had left his room about five O'Clock that
morning and came back and went to bed again witness
saw the hat that brought to the hotel after Mr. King
Disappeared it looked like the Mr. King in the
habit OF wearing there nothing peculiar about the
appearance Of III have not seen the since the
morning he left the hotel; at his Office the day be-
fore he was reported missing the S gentleman ro %no sots
him; it witness business to look after people
Who out Of the house, has charge OF the private
Theodore Parker, sworn-said he resides at Hoboken
Now Jersey his place of business is at No. !5o West
street. New York; on Monday morning. about halfpast
eight o'clock sometime in the month OF November was
taking the books out Of his SAFE large
,ne purchase Of some shot; thought he was Country
merchant; sold him bag Of shot when he mr. King)
left the store. The next day, while reading the NEw
Of the H0boken ferry boatA and from accuracy
the article thought 1t was the same who had been
man who was in his store was very large in stature and
In weight about two hundred and fifty pounds, and
about sixty years OF age; ne had smooth face
dollar bill to pay for the shot, did not observe anything
unusual about his appearance deceased came back
after and got something from his twncss porter; wit
ness partner went to the Custom House and gave Mr.
Ode the naval officer the information in regard the
man buying shot this is all witness knows OF the AFFAIR."
change; cannot recollect where the took the
money from; do not know whether he spectacles
had a cane umbrella with him; he appeared per-
fecuy calm and coected the rope shown witness
responds with the the porter told him he gave the
man who purchased the shot.
York: Is porter for Moreau Parker $50 West street.
Monday morning large come into the store
and he asked witness II he had any lead; referred him
90 Mr. Parker, who sold him some shot; the then
turned and went out, gone about ten minutes and
returned when he asked witness for tarrcd rope
70 tie the shot gave him some rope yarns like these
exhibiting some rope yarns witness tied the shot to
thc yarn, and fixed as the man wanted It, he put 1t
under his overcast; witness tied the knots shown the
man offered him fifty cent stamp, which he refused;
after the man fixed the shot he went OUT his clothes
were Of navy blue color; the rope yarn was passed
around his neck and the bag Of shot hung his breast
did not pass around his waist neither did he in the
store; was positive as TO thia
Howard Macy mime years Of age) said he recollected
seeing man jump Of Of the ferry boat Chancellor Iy
ingston on the trip TO Hoboken; the out Of
The cabin when the boat left the New York side aud
leaned over the railing then walked TO the chan let
down, threw on his hat Ia high hat, blew his nose, and
then Jumped overheard there only witness and his
sister there at the time; the was very large man
and dressed in blue clothes the passengers came out
She boat was stopped but nothing Of him
when the man Jumped over witness only him for
Instant II was the nine O'Clock bost the affair occurred
when halt way across the rver the did not speak
10 any ono he was leaning over the rail until ne walked
see anything tied around the mans neck; does moi
know the day or the month when this occurred it wa
Abraham Ferguson sworn-said he resides At Hobo
hen, N. j. Is q deck hand the Hoboken ferry; VA
% the Chancellor Livingston one morning about min,
O'Clock; does not recoect the month"; went to put tn
amall chain up when he noticed = large standin
near him; went forward TO do work; whom abou
way Cyet y ,so some n. one ss nS ~ w ma
after remaining about I'VE minutes, and seeing nobody
The boat went on took the hat and gave 70 the pilot
man subsequently and took II away went throug
shs cabin and could not see the large he had
Onicer James Kenny sworn--Is member of the A,
lantic Dock police; resides In Columbia street; sbou
four O'Clock last Monday morning, when the soutl
pier, noticed something floating which looked like
body; got boat and secured 1t by tying a pee
sf rope around the legs notified the Sergeant
House watchman with witness At the time; the bod,
floating outside when witness lrst saw Il; the It'd
- howing nj the body was In the gap when Il wa
o8eurod = Was about two hundred yards distant whef
he saw III there Was strong west wind think the bod
from out IN the bay; passed the rope around tn
boots and they on from the effects Of towing tn
body; had TO make Il fast again took hour
the body TO the pier where IL secured made a re
mark that II was Preston King; this a common
aying Of late among the police whom was foun'
drowned
The inquest then adjourned until TO- morrow
Saturday morning, at ten O'Clock. The Coroner nov
Wishes 70 prove tho identity OF Mr. King and also tn,
condition OF his mind At about the time he commtea
suicide