The New York herald., 1869-04-27
THE FOURTH WARD MURDER CASE.

COroner,s Inquest-verdict Against the Pris.
Oner.
An inquest was held by Coroner Flynn and Jury
yesterday at noon, in the station house OF the Fourth
precinct. over the remains Of Thomas Hughes, who
was killed by Emil Butts on Saturday afternoon
at the lodging house No. 10 New Chambers street,
full account appearing IN Sundays HERALD.
Mary Hill was the first witness called, and testified
that she was an inmate Of the house Is New Cham.
bers street and lived there with the prisoner Emil
Butts, at the time OF the ARRAY; ON Friday morn.
ing preceding the shooting Hughes came to
the room OF tue witness, which she occu-
pied in common with the prisoner and
accused Butts Of telling lies about him and said that
he (Hughes) would take it out Of him; Hughes came
into the room in a violent manner and was deter
mined upon disputes on Friday evening Hughes
was in the baIroom this was about half-past eight
O'Clock and he approached her and struck her with
q chair, and called her names and otherwise abused
her; he little intoxicated; at that time Butts
did not interfere; after this Hughes then took hold
OF Butts and spat in his face this was all that oc
Cured then; the next morning they met
again at two O'Clock that afternoon
Saturday Hughes came to her room
and called Butts out Butts declined to go
out; Hughes then came into the room and threat
ened to throw Butts out of the window, and made
move to do so; the prisoner told him TO go out and
he shortly after went, saying as he was going to
the prisoner, ~ Will cut you up' about four O'Clock
later the afternoon Hughes came into the bar
room with plate OF fish; Hughes wife called him
up stairs to their roOm whither he went: in fifteen
minutes he returned. having changed his shirt from
q white one TO n red one; ne began to talk angriy
to Butts, seeking quarrel; but the prisoner said
he wanted nothing to do with him, and would
not fight; Hughes got up and went after
the prisoner'who stood In the door, and Butts said
For Gods sake, 90 away:i but Hughes did not
as he was asked, and while the prisoner was still In
the door he (Ilughes told him to move or he would
shoot him; Hughes then grabbed the prisoner who
turned and shot him; both were the sidewalk
when the shot was fired; Hughes did not fall but
returned TO the barroom and soon afterwards ex-
claimed. 'rm shot' Butts didn't follow HIM: and
he did not haDitually carry pistol, but had bought
the one ne usea that morning. The witness gave
loud appearance, though, perhaps, she Is a fair
specimen Of her class
New Chambers street, and young German OF rather
prepossessing appearance testified that he kept fur
shooting occurred; the prisoner had lived In that
house for about eight months with Mary Hill whine
Hughes had lived there only two or three weeks;
Hughes had dispute with hls wife on Friday even
ing while intoxicated, and at the same time he
struck the last Witness Mary Hills with chair he
then said, 'rm sorry hit Mary and addressing
Butts, exclaimed 'Get up and fight for her ~ Butts
would not light, and he soon rose and went out: tn
girs living In the house were prostitutes, but he
he saw Hughes spit in the prisoners face,
and Butts sad, account OF the disparity In their
return that nights before going he told him, the wit
ness that II he did not keep Hughes out OF his
that he would leave the house; on Friday Hughes
declared that he would ''put q hole through Butts
before long," Butts was afraid to 20 out, and then
went Saturday morning and bought pistol, which
he showed TO witness; prisoner said that he was
going to make sure OF Hughes; on Saturday after
noon Hughes again tried TO engage Butts in quar-.
rel, bat the latter declined: then he saw them 20
into the street and heard the shot red the prisoner
was about to run up stairs when he was arrested;
In the morning when he showed him, the Witness
the pistol, he said IL loaded. (1he witness here
one he had seen In the possession OF the prisoner
John Fay, OF 81 Madison street, dealer In second
hand furniture. being duly sworn, testified that on
coming down from Nassau street he heard a shot
and went to IS New Chambers street; he recognized
the prisoner the person he had seen with pistol
In his hand at that time
Corneia Hughes, q witness Of the same character
az the witness Hill and equally unsghty In appear
ance. testified that she was the wife OF the deceased
on Friday he had quarrel with her about
stories which he said Butts had circu-
lated regarding him; Saturday morning Hughes
was drunk and while In this state he went to Butts
room and wanted to quarrel but witness stopped It;
he went down stairs about half.past three O'Clock
and said TO Butts "How do you feel Y" Butts was In
the door; Hughes sad 'Get out OF the door or III
make you;, :hen the prisoner went out a few steps
and fired; Hughes was very drunk at the time.
Anna Grcuenwald, being sworn, said that she
lived at No. is New Chambers street N q n