The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-07
wHlTEwAsHING THE TRAIL OF DLoOD.
A "Crowner's Quest'' and o Growing
Disgrace-The Inquest in the Political
Murder Case-Six "GO0d Men and
True" Protecting the Rights
ard Interests Of the People.

and roughs gathered at the CITY Hall to witness the
proceedings before Coroner Flynn in the case OF
Special Deputy Sheriff Thomas Jackson, an officer OF
the Court % General Sessions, charged with the
murder by shooting Of Archibald Douglass at No.
washington street, on the Goth ult. On the day in
question the parties engaged IN political dispute,
and during collision that ensued between them
jackson drew pistol and shot Douglass In the back
OF the head The facts OF the case have already been
fully reported in the HERALD. The testimony elected
bore strongly against the prisoner Jackson showing
clearly that he was not usrined in shooting Douglass
THE PROCEEDINGS.
VIM. II. Abertsop, OF No. 81 Seventh avenue tes.
titled as follows:-On Friday, Goth ut about Twelve
O'Clock, as was coming out of the barber shop on
Battery place, near West street. crowd in the
street and apparently three or four men clinched;
walked up toward the crowd and when got among
them the men mad been separated; l could not tell
who the men were except Mr., jackson; he was very
much excited; saw man who was q stranger to
me get struck by Jackson, and supposed that he
was one OF the men who had been IN the row; after
striking the man Jackson put his hand behind him
as II in search OF something he then drew his hand
nom behind him with something IN It, but l could
not see whether it pistol not he then ran to
the corner door and saw man coming out OF the
front door; Jackson wheeled around and went
and came toward the side door, through which
Jackson passed after the man had retraced
his steps; Immediately afterwards heard the report
OF pistol; after this almost immediately Jackson
returned, slil under great state OF excitement;
did not notice, from his appearance, that he mad
been In any way bruised or cut, or any indication
that he had been thrown on the ground; as Jackson
came out / heard the oysterman ask him, "Why
don't you run awayY' ana Jackson reply, "What
should run away forYn l afterwards saw man
lying on his face In the saloon; could not identity
him.
SHOOTING MATCH.
Onlcer James b. Thompson OF the Twentyseventh
precinct. testified that he is special detective OF
the precinct; the day OF the killing OF Douglas she
was going down Greenwich street and had Just got
on the corner OF Battery place when he was accosed
by man who told him there hau been shooting
match" on Battery place; he proceeded to the place
Indicated and on reaching there Jackson on the
sidewalk; somebody in the crowd pointed him out
to him and said, 'Ihat's the man;' as he Jackson
saw him lie caught him By the arm and said he
wanted to give himself up; he then took hold OF
HIM by the and stepped upon the stoop Of Bran
nigans store, and looking into the saloon recog-
nized Douglass lying on the 1oor. [rhe officer and
tue prisoner then proceeded up Battery place toward
the station house, ana white going along the ofcer
asked him II he had pistol when Jackson said he
had and gave it APP. According TO tie officer the
prisoner had blood on his hands ana complained OF
to the oGicer's questions as TO how the row had hap
pened he had been attacked by two or three per-
sons ana he was not gong TO be licked, by any
about political matters with man named Cody,
and that Douglass had inIerferad, which he had no
Michael Drannlaaa, s d ". psatery place, bar
tender OF Thomas Brannigan. testified that on the
10th OF October, about twelve O'clock he saw a
sculle outside the saloon, No. Battery place, be-
tween three men; the next thing he saw was Doug
came In and remained short time and then made
an attempt 10 20 out By tue side door on Battery
get out OF the Washington street door when Jackson
rushed In through that doorway; Jackson entered
he noticed that ne carried pistol IN his hand; on
getting within few feet OF Douglass Jackson raised
the pistol, pointed II at the deceased and fired;
Douglass fell to the floor and lay there four or ve
minutes when policeman and another person came
along and raised him from the floor; Douglas had
not been in the barroom that day N company with
Jackson or Cody, nor did any dispute take place
the knowledge OF the witness; Leary, Douglass ana
Jackson were the parties vino were seen scufilng
LOOKING FOR CHANCE ~ FIGHT.
Peter REILLY, OF No Albany street, an express
Guilty he saw Douglass and Jackson standing the
corner OF washington street anu Battery place talk
so remarS mat d" he Would 30 down ia on SaGh e
ana a thief; and shortly afterwards he
Cody was the man referred TO, and as he came up
Jackson called him. ana said something TO him,
when they exchanged some words; Jackson called
Cody liar and thief; aud Cody replied ..lt's
shame Tom; IT'S shame; I'm an Old man; you
know Pm no thief" and then added III you
call me thief you're llar;" jackson
then replied with an epithet, "l'l break your
nose;" James Leary, who was standing be-
hts nose,n when the prisoner asked HIM what he
was interfering for, and struck LeaTy On the head
backed of the sidewalk and put his hand behind
him. II in search OF something, when Leary struck
him; Cody followed Jackson up, ana Douglas got
him around the waist to hold hum. and while he was
thus being held, Leary struck Jackson; after the
men had separated Jackson entered the Washington
street door with his pistol IN his right hand [rhe
witness then heard the report OF the pistol and
Douglass fall Jackson afterwards came out, and on
seeing the witness, called MIN by an opprobrlous
then passed around the corner, Were he was met by
officer Thompson, VINO took him into custody.
Douglas walked to the station house between two
MAKING REPUTATION.
Thomas Cody, of No. Battery place, said that on
Friday, the 29n ut about noon he had just crossed
Washington street on his way down Battery place,
and had got IN the vicinity OF Branngan's, when he
was called, he believes, by Douglass looking up
he saw the latter, Jackson and Leary together;
Douglass remarked, "rom, hear you're thief ana
Jackson spoke, saving Il say so and can prove
It." to which the witness replied that the man who
said SO was liar. TIhe witness here corroborated
the remarks that were made by Lcary and the blows
that folowcd.l Dr. Andrews police surgeon, was
called Wnen IL was uscertaineu that douglass nat
been wounded who probcd tho wound for the bullet.
In answer TO an inquiry OF Dr. Shine, the witness
stated that DR.. Andrews introduced the probe about
Two and half inches % into the wound the deceased
had in the head.
Thomas o'HaIloran ana James Leary testified to !
The same state of facts the previous witnesses,
when the case was gwen to the Jury who after an
absence Of quarter Of an hour, returned with tue
extraordinary and fortunately I'M /;
paraliecd
VERDICT.
Archibald Douglass came to his death by meningitis, |
The result OF pistol snot wound IN the head. re- |
ceived at the hands Of Thomas Jackson on the cath
day OF October 1860, at No. Battery place. and we
consider that jackson used said pistol partially In |
sell-defenco believing his life 10 be in danger.
A SCENE.
Mr. Charles Spencer who appeared for the prose- /
cutlon n tue absence OF District Attorney Garvn |
rose from his seat after the reading OF this verdict
and requested that the papers IN this case should |
be sent TO District Attorney Garvin He himself did
not want TO take any responsibility in the matter /
further than seeing that the people we're injured
and closed by saying