The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-07
THE NEGRO TRAGEDY.

The Investigation BEFORE tho Coroner
Strange Disclosures-Verdict Of Justinabic
Homicide.
The inquest on the body OF Peter Rooney, who was
shot dead by Robert Fry, colored man, IN Twenty
second street. Eighth avenue, Tuesday morning, was
held yesterday, at sixteenth precinct station,
before Coroner Rollins. The deceased who
twenty three OF age, came to this country
In 1852, from Ireland, and was lather by trade
The accused, man OF powerful frame, Is thrS-iour
years old and was employed as an boster There was
large attendance at the inquest yesterday and the
proceedings were watched with great interest The
following evidence relative 10 the occurrence was
addnoed-
Thomas Lynch, OF 24l Eighth avenue, proprietor
OF restaurant testified that he knew the deceased
ana prisoner; did not know Of any difficulty exist
ing between them prior to the occurrence; about
halfpast eleven O'Clock Tuesday morning, witness
was at his place lof business on Eighth avenue; he
In the OF taking out his wagon 10 get load
OF oyaters, when the prisoner came along
with his employers wagon; witness asked
the prisoner TO take him to the Twentythird street
ferry, where his other place situated; he did so;
they returned and one nterng the saloon witness
observed young man named Murphy, nephew OF
Frys employer, with Farrell and Meany; the col
ored man went TO the stable OF his employer ana
upon entering recognized by the nephew OF Mr..
| the colored man, whereupon "Bobr caught hold of
| t in playful manner at which the other two took
| umbrage; they commenced to abuse him, but he
said to them, GO away, III hurt YOU after which
he walked towards the rear OF the saoon they were
IN the act OF following him up when witness desired
them TO let hun alone, as he was peaceable man;
Farrell persisted In following him aud using abusive
language, and finally struck at him, wherenpon the
colored man hit him with his left hand and knocked
| him down; witness desired the coored man los
| stop; the boy Farrell said, "lou, black -, |
will XIII you;o witness then requested Farrell
| 10 leave the premises he wiluess subsequently left
the saloon and went TO TwentythIrd street for more
oysters, anu OF returning he recognized standing
| IN the door the deceased, his brother Farrell and
Meany this was about an hour after the arst occur
renee; he knew by their conduct that they were
excited and that there likely to be troubles no
i therefore remained outside as long as he could.
| TO the Coroner dld not know where The prisoner
| Was al this time; he was probably keeping out Of
ON entering his saloon witness heard the deceased
\ ask, "Where Is that nlggerr' witness said he aid
not know, lnasmuch as ii was none OF ms business:
/ the brother OF the deceased and man named
Farley then said II was shame for him (wtness) to
| stand by and see black man strike white
| man; witness SAID they only boys, and
they only got what they were look ny for; that he
had advised them TO leave the black man alone and
| they would not; ne (witness did not want to have
| anything to do with lighters, and II they chose TO
Jump into the hons mouth he did not; the deceased
| inquired what witness meant, ana he replied that
| the black man was powerful enough 10 throw the
whole of them into the street; the deceased asked
| whether he meant him, but witness replied IN the
negative and said be intended to include the boys aud
| himself; deceased said by Cd, no nfsger can't
hex me;i witness then told him that ne ought TO
have more sense than to allow those boys 10 draw
him into difficulty Of the kind; where is this mig
ger, or where can get hlmr' then inquired the de-
ceased; witness said he did not know ana told the
deceased be had better leave the colored man alone
ana let the boys suffer for themselves he also told
| deceased thai the col0red man was as determined
rs himself and might hurt him. deceased then SAID.
Lord look at that boys np; shame to stand BY aud
| let any BLACK man do that:' deceased showed nun
his iathing hammer and said he was lust going 10 his
work, and witness advised him to proceed to 1t and
i.uy ha n a. nv Uynf
| oody In the party said, "Come, let's CO." and they
all left the saloon proceeding IN the direction OF the
stable where the prisoner was empl0yed
few minutes afterwards The prisoner came
down Eighth avenue in the direction Of
Bob, don't 20 over there; those fellows
are LOOKING after y0u; they'll Kill you:' witness in
had better keep away; those boys are fixed, and
they'll hurt you;" witness bad not seen any weapons
with the parties except the hammer; the prisoner
/ then said II can't help II; I've got TO go over;'
| "Wel,n said witness, "you mad better not;
| The examination was frequently interrupted by
the father OF the deceased, who objected to the esi
/ mony.
the witness continued TO state that the prisoner
went over and, supposlng there would be trouble,
! second street, saw the prisoner on the
Iewa Sva wsn ,r peol behind ms b n p1 ood
| the deceased; the prisoner was about twelve or IT.
teen feet from the tree; saw the deceased holding
out something In his hand which looked like pistol;
his seemed TO be directed towards the prisoner;
heard the pistol swapping; finally heard report and
1
ward and caught him, raised his head up and asked
him II lie could speak; his shirt was torn open aud
the wound was discovered III his chest; witness SAID
10 Farrell, run and get doctor; you brought This
| man TO his grave; hell dle;, deceased gave
zion OF the corner after the shooting ARRAY wit
4 ness saw the prisoner endeavoring TO free
himself from Farley; finally the coored man knocked
him down and ran away; Philip Farsell threw him
self down on the body OF the deceased, with knife
IN his hand saying, "Pete, are you dead ~ witness
! said, Eyes, and you got him killed"
1 To the Coroner-I did not see the pistol until the
coored man pointed TO 1t on the ground, after being
arrested; the officer asked who shot the deceased;
the prisoner said II don't know but there is the
| pistol he meant to shoot me with.n
/ Examination was resumed-The pistol was lying
on the street; the prisoner was taken away aud the
deceased was conveyed on stretcher: there was
| immense crowd OF people present; the boy Meany
is about seventeen years OF age, Farrell about
| twenty and Murphy also twenty
1 To u juror was standing nearer prisoner
| when the occurrence took place; only heard one
L. D. sackett, OF 2s4 West Twenty-second street,
| deposed that between twelve and one O'clock four
/ gentlemen came into his livery stables to look for
| the prisoner or, as was told him, they asked Tor
"Bob;n very shortly after they lett witness heard
| the report of pistol; witness turned around and
saw the deceased with pistol In his hand pointing
| about fifteen eighteen feet from him; deceased
was almost in the act or falling when by wit.
ness he stumbled and fell upon the walk; the pistol
then dropped from the hand OF the deceased: the
| prisoner with pistol in his hand; he (prisoner)
! snapped 1t at one OF the parties who had been IN
| The stable, but the pistol did not 20 Off; the man.
however, first snapped his pistol at the prisoner,
and, finding that 1t did not go of, threw 1t INTO
carriage; the prisoner then ran away and was FOL.
| lowed by the same man, one OF the parties who
4 Stood near the corner had a Ratchet in his hand
two others had pistols and one had knife witness
now identified the weaponsl; when the prisoner had
reached the corner one of the parties attempted TO
| hold him, out tue prisoner Knocked him down,
turned back and passed the deceased; two or three
parties followed him up Twenty second street; after
| tue occurrence witness accompanied Mr. Lynch and
tore open the shirt of the deceased aud found that
| he had been shot; heard only one report Of a
| pistol.
| Joseph Stewart patrolman, testified that his at
tenton was attracted TO the occurrence by seeing
crowd on the avenue about hall-past twelve; lie
found deceased in sitting posture the sidewalk,
supported by Mr. Lyncn; heard that he had been
shot and went 10 the station house for srecher;
when he returned deceased was dead; conveyed the
| body TO the station house.
Patrick Rooney, brother OF the deceased OF 400
West Twenty stTyct testiied-BetWecn twelve