New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-02
Academy of Music.

INQUEST ON THE BoDY OF JAMES FITz-
aERALD.--The following is portion of the
testimony taken by Coroner Bradford at
the inquest held on the body of James Fitz-
gerald, who died from wounds inflicted by
William Goey, in front of Leonard's stables,
BaroRne street. Deceased died yesterday
morning in Charity hospital, where he had
been taken for surgical treatment last Tues
day:
]. NJ. Wilson-Said: am acquainted with
James Fitzgerald, now deceased and have
known him for about fifteen years, as near
as / can reCOllect; about eleven o'clock on
! Tuesday morning Mrreh 81. | was sitting
with three or four other gentlemen, among
whom was William GOey, on the platform
before Leonards stable, on BarOnne street,
| next the corner of GraVier; William Goey
WAS reading paper; the deceased came up
and commenced Safeguarding and abusing
him; the deceased had the appearance of hav.
| ing been drunk all night but did not seem
intoxicated at the time. The deceased then
| occupied the chair which was Immediately
| adjoining that occupied by Goey. Fitz-
gerald accused Goey Of keeping house of
| prostitution. GOey replied, using strong
| epithet besides, You're liar. / work for
my living, and you know it.n Fitzgerald
then grabbed Goey and pulled him off his
chair. He caught at his head but tore his
coat sleeve off. They then clinched and
commenced scuthing. GOey at length drew
| a pocket-knife, with a nRrrsW blade about
three inches long, and struck the deceased
several times with it. There was blood on
the knife and also on the hand of Goey,
The deceased was carried into the office OF
the stable and laid on the sofa. / did NOT
go into the otlce to see him, but saw
through the door that the doctor was work.
ing on his chin, that is sewing up the
wound in his throat. have not seen the
deceased since.
G. W. Bouyier sworn-T was sitting in
front OF Mr.. Aeonard's stable, on Baronnt
street, about eleven O'Clock on Tuesday
morning, with Messrs. Dehaugue, Wilson
and Goey; Mr.. Goey was reading a New
York paper about q Chicago divorce case
the deceased came up and said he wanted
to rent room in his house of iii fame; sait
that he (Goey) kept one; Mr.. Goey remark
ed, ''If you want to rent room you can g
and rent one II you have the money; "Fitz
gerald said, You are a We house pimp
and | want to rent room from that big
nosed w-e;' Goey said, 'You can rea
one in the parish PRISON. Fitzgerald
said, You're 9 d-d lying son of
b-h;S Goey said, ''You're a loaanl
one" Fitzgerald then grabbed him by the
coat, and then went away; when turneC
to look at them they were in the middle o
the pavement, elinched and scufalng;
did net know. Fitzgerald was cut until
walked around the corner and came in q
the other entrance TO the stable; Fitzgerald
struck GOey when he caught him by tn
coat; when Returned Mr.. Goey was stand
ing at the corner OF Baronne and Uniol
streets, think looking for an officer to Civ
himself up; did not go into the ofic
where Fitzgerald was taken, nor did Sc
him after he was cut
After the difficulty had passed over, Goey
who is stable man. went to a friend by tn
National theatre and stated the circun
stances, saying that he had wounded d,
ceased in selfdefense, and voluntarily CAV
himself into The keeping of policeman.
Fitzgerald was from Limerick, Irelan,
and BY trade painter, and on one or mol
occasions has been engaged in prize fight
He was muscular man.
The verdict rendered by the coroner
jury was '1ustihable homicide.n