The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-12
THE RECENT HOMICIDE IN BROOKLYN.

COrOner's Inquest-Testimony of Witnesses.
An inquest was held yesterday afternoon upon the
body of Francis Kerrigan by Coroner Slattery II
will be remembered THAT this was killed on the
afternoon OF the Fourth OF July at his residence Ia
Underhill avenue, near Warren street, in a drunken
fight. II that Kerrgan, Joseph Lynch, the
murderer, and Martin Dennis0n, who was also ar
rested suspicion of being implicated in the sad
affair, became involved in a quarrel during which
Lynch drew pair OF scissors and stabbed Kerrigau
in the left side.
The first witness called by the Coroner for the ia
vestigation was Mrs. Elizabeth Kerrigan, widow OF
the deceased She testified that the murder occurred
between the hours OF two and three O'Clock on the
Fourth of July; that she heard the noise OF parties
quarreing, which was quickly followed by shouts OF
cont Ohr' from her husband, two or three times re-
peated she went out into the yard 10 see what was
the matter and saw the prisoner standing over the
deceased with pair of scissors in his hand; she
asked him what he had done; Lynch replied that
he had nurt him (kerrigan much; she then asked
for the scissors, and Us he handed them TO her she
blood on the shirt of her husband; she tben
TO the landlord to tell him; she did not know that
DennisOn had anything to do with the deed, except
that he was drunk and she asked the policeman TO
lock HIM up; she also testified That her husband was
perfectly sober at the time he was stabbed.
Andrew Gregory testified that he resided in Under
hill avenue, near Warren street. opposite Kerrigana
house; he was painting in front OF his house When
he heard shouts OF "Oh oh ~ he looked around ana
saw Lynch making passes at Kerrlgan; also that he
saw Lynch mad something in his hand, but what it
making these passes at the deceased that he heard
the cries of ooh p he did not see Dennison in the
Lynch, Kerrlgan. Mrs kerrigan and the servant gl.
John Grumpy testified that about the time spoken
of, he heard noises IN the direction OF Kerrigan's
house; on going TO kGirlgan's house he found the
deceased lying dead upon the sofa; that he came out
then and followed Lynch up the street he arrested
hun, and Lynch at once said that he had done The
deed and satisfied to suler for II he also testi-
fled that Lynch said that he and kerriGan were on
good terms and that he had no reason to commit
he rpim w wal pu a
where, meeting onlcer Donneliy, he gave Lynch an
charge.
testified that she saw nothing oil the transaction, but
early in the day she had seen Kerrigan put Lynch
out OF the house after the deed was done she saw
deceased in the yard with blood on his left side and
was sure he had been stabbed by Lynch.
Martin Dennison, who was arrested on the sus
piclOn that he implicated in the AFFAIR testified
that in the forenoon Of that day Lynch and Kerri
gan had fight in the kitchen, and witness endoav.
Ored to seperane them Lynch seemed to be badly cut
about the face after being put out OF the Kitchen by
Kerrgan, Lynch went up stairs to bed and what hap
pened subsequently he could not tell
A. W. Shepard, M. D., sworn, says-I am ply
sician and surgeon; reside at No. 126 Wilioughby
street; made post norton examination Of the body
OF Francis kerrigan July 8, at house or deceased,
corner OF Cnderhil avenue and Warren street, found
the body in the usual state of vgor mortis muscular
development goOd-unusuay SO for one so al
vanced in years; observed two incised wounds, one
on either side OF the chest, about a half inch in
ment; the wound on the right side ex-
tended through the integument and muscular
tissue and terminated against the seventh rib, about
five inches from the medlan line of the sternuIn; that
upon the left side penetrated between the sixth aud
seventh ribs, chipping or piece OF the latter bone
IN It's course passed through the peura and percar-
dunn and entered the left ventricle OF the heart
leaving an opening which in the post-mortem dts
tended heart measured about two inches the left
pleura cavity was filed with clotted blood and its
serum; valves and parenchyma OF heart healthy; all
the other organs normal in appearance. This Is one
Of those rare but characteristic cases wherein
possibility exists of death having been caused other
than by the wound OF the heart.
The doctors testimony concluded the evidence.
which was then given to the jury, who retired and
IN short time brought in the following verdict
That Francis Kerrgan came to his death from stab
wound inflicted by Joseph Lynch with pair of scis-
sors on the 4th OF July, 1868.
When Lynch was asked what he had to sag, il any
thing, he said he had often beaten and bruised him
and other boarders when drunk, and that Kerrgan
had treated him the 4th of July; that IRON nine
O'Clock on that day until after the deed had been
committed they were all beastly drunk; he (4ynchI
had pair OF scissors in his room that forenoon, cut
ting the hair of fellow boarder, and he supposed
that was the way he came to have them.
Lynch Is native OF Ireland, aged thirty-six years.
and Is a lab0rer by occupation.
After discharging Martin Dennson from custody
the Coroner committed Lynch To the county Jail TO
await the action of the Grand Jury.