The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-14
The Guerin-Hennessey Homicide.
Preliminary Examination of Arthur
Guerip Before Recorder Gastinel.

uoc oho ~uio1 A@dmDcit hpPee'AHb - S~e.o~~ - |
Guerin. The court ruled that the attorneys could
not practice at the bar of this until they had
complied with the law of the Legislature promul-
gated that same morning. Mr.. Castellanos retired,
and a few minutes afterwards returned with the
State license required BY the act of the Legisls-
ture.
Dep,ay Coroner Espinold sloorn-Establlshed
the cause of the death Of Hennessey and produced
the articles found on Bennessey: Two deringers,
one FIVE shooter and sword-cane. One deringer |
was found in each pocket; was not preset when |
the revolver was found. These articles were
found when the body Of Hennessey wss found |
lying on the floor Of the coheehouse in the Court
House building. known as the Eighth District |
Court" Saw no clasp knife on the body OF de
ceased.
Joseph Fernandez, sl10rn-He is karkeeper OF
the cofee-h house known as the Eighth District
Court. Witness says that he was attending to his
duties when HenDessey was killed. The pistol now
in court No. 9,037, is the pistol with which
Hepnessey was killed. Witness was conversing
with Mr.. Brooks, Mr.. Freeman and Mr.. VanAdorf
and deputy sheriff named Nixon. Witness waited
on them. Witness, Mr.. Brooks and others were
talking when Brooks and Randolph went out.
After ards Guerin and Hennessey, the deceased,
came In and all four had drink together. Guerin
and Brooks we're speaking at the lunch table.
Freeman and Hennessey were talking together at
the bar. Guerin said, ''let Us take drink" Wit
ness waited upon them. Witness took the whisky
| and brandy bottles, put them on the shelf, when
| hand of the accused, Guerin. Guerin fired two or
| three times. Deceased asked. why did you DO
| that for ~ wheeled around and fell. Alter &C.
| cused had fred, he threw the pistol behind the
| cafe. Witness heard no angry words between the
l. accused and deceased before the shooting. De-
ceased was looking very sharply in the face OF sc
cused and witness. There was no talk about
| shooting. That is all witness knows OF the AFFAIR."
| Cross Erdmined- Hennessey, when he entered
| the coffeehouse with Guerin, appeared 10 De ex
cited; does not know the cause OF his excite
ment nor what occurred previous TO their enter
ing. GueriD, when he entered with Hennessey,
| invited Freeman and Brooks to drink. After
| taking drinks Freeman and Hennessey remained
/ at the bar and Guerin went to the lunch table.
At times Hennessey's back was turned TO the
| bar, facing Guerln; at others he laced the par
| They remained at the bar about ten minutes.
| Does not know the distance from the center OF
| the bar where Hennessey was standing to the
| lunch table. Hennessey said to Freeman tnst
| every body should know him as being accused OF
| killing Fred. Gruber. Witness heard Hennessey
| ask Freeman IL he was a friend OF accused, aud
| saw him look at Freeman very hard in the face.
| Freeman answered that he was not. Hen
Messy asked Freeman whether he was
| an irishman or an Englishman. Freeman
| answered no that he was born across
the water Witness heard Hennes' ey say that he
was a good man as everybody knew good Irish.
| man and he was proud Of il. He had both hands
in bis pockets. HeDnessey's attitude was that OF
bully and ready for fight. Guerin was speak
ing with Brooks, and paid no attention to Hennes.
| Some PORTIONS OF inc COufcrshuOu miBus
have been heard by Guerin when Hennessey spoke
aloud as he was within 'hearng distance. saw
| Hennessey frequently fumbling In his pockets.
| Does not know what he was fumbling for. Whilst
they were drinking at the bar the second tune
| HeDuessey was looking very hard at Guerin, with
| both hands in his pockets and at one time APP
| preached him very closely, almost to touch MIN.
Whilst Hennessey was speaking at the bar did not
| hear him say between his teeth, I've got you
| nov where want youn Heard Hennessey NUT
teriDg something but does not know what II was.
The court took recess of fifteen minutes.
| James Brooks slrOfn-On the 18th OF last
| month was in the Eighth District Court coffee
| house met some friends TO take drink. stepped
| in company with Mr.. Freeman TO the lunch table.
| was taking lunch when Guerin and deceased
| came into the room. Guern asked witness, Free
/ man and Hsnnssssy to take q driak--Nitness and
| Guerin stood at the lunch table ccnversing, Hen
| nessey and Freeman stood at the courtyard enc
: | of the bar. Freeman remarked " Let Us all TAXI
, | q drink" Guerin said I" Let's take drink, III
nav for it.n Hennessey drank his liquor Will,
| witness was talking TO Guerin, standing at hi
side. While witness was in the act OF raising hl
glass 10 drink, Hennessey suddenly placed his lef
| hand in his pantaloon pocket. witness PAID M
> attention to II at the time Immediately follow
ing the motion of HeDnessey, witness heard tn
4 report and jumping back exclaimed, " Great God
| what's that" He then saw Hennessey fall on tn
| floor While Guerin and witness were standing a
the lunch table hennessey was talking to Freeman
/ Witness overheard Hennessey ask Freema
: if be was friend Of Guerin. Freeman, witnes
o thinks, answered that he was the friend of ever.
| man. Hennessey asked Freeman, Guerins o
the MUSCLE amt ~ Witness did not hear tn
J, answer of Freeman, but heard Hennessey say. .
- | EN- an Irishman, and don't care damn Tor an
!. man, Witness says that Guerin could nav
: | heard the remark, since he was standing besd
y witness. The court having questioned the witnes
relative to the shooting, the attorney for the d
tense here stated that 10 simplify the case the d
N Tense admitted that the shooting was done b
=, | Guerin.
10 Cross.eIdmined-At the time the motion ws
N | made by Hebnessey witness was standing with b
face towards Hennessey and his back TO Guer
m Hennessey excitedly placed bis hand IN his le
- paptaloons pocket II was just then that he heai
D. The report Of the pistol Hennesseys attitude ar
y department denoted that be was intent upon ha
a. ing difficulty with anybody.
II Peter Freeman sirOITl-On the 18th Februai
IN was in the Eighth District Court Coffee-houss
took a drink with some friends. Afterwar
Up | went to the lunch table 10 speak to Mr. Brook
no | with whom he held conversation. At that m
: nent Guerin and Hennessey-GIerin first
Ne came into the cohee.bouse. Guerin invited w
on ness and Brooks to take drink. After TAXI
,e. the drink, Guerin left the counter, went over
ed | Brooks at the lunch table, and held some eonve
- saton with him. Hennessey then took hold
70 witness in very rough way and said :" Yoo a
ng an Irishman.r Witness answered that he
Nv not, but that he was born across the water. He
ire nessey then asked: "a Are you friend
m. Guerin?u Witness answered that he did kn'
In whether be was or not. Hennessey then ask
Tas witness ." Do you know me Z" mo. SIR,
we mott answered witness. my name," he sa
of "is Dave Hennessey." Witness says he thin
Hennessey said You ought to know me,
I'D everybody in town here ought 10 know me, b.
up ing the name of killing Fred. Gruber;" q
err. then " If that man (pointng to Guerin) had dc
70. H. nothing much would be said about it," Cue
said " Let q take drink While witness q
the perry were taking q drink, ne heard The
ate | port of a fre.eTm. Jumping up he remarke
not '.what in the hell is up!p and saw Hennes'
bla fall down. saying. :" o, my God, what did you
-. that for ," looking at Guerin and Brooks. S
up no arms in possession of anybody. Does
Tily know who fred the shot No angry wo
passed between Guerin and Bennessey.
Cross examination knows Of no difficulty
on, tween accused and deceased having occur
pc previous TO the shooting. Speaking Of Guel
- Hennessey said, There IS man who tries to
our on the musce.i Witness answered that
the thought Guerin was on the trigger as well as
as the muscle Hennessey also said in the same C
versaton, that Guerin might be good man.
that be (Hennessey) was as good man as tn
on, was in New Orleans. Saw Hennessey putting
A.