The New York herald., 1869-05-26
THE ELEVENTH WARD MURDER.

Coroner keenan, Holds an Inqucst-Excite.
ment In the Neighborhood.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner keenan, proceeded to
the Houston street police station to hold an inquest
over the remains OF william Kiernan, the man who
was shot in the street, opposite 1os Sheriff street. by
John Purcell, the particulars of which have already
been printed in the HERALD On reaching the sta
ton house the building was surrounded with many
thousand men, women and children In the most In
tense state OF excitement and the house where the
corpse lay also the Of great confusion, and
It required the presence Of several omcers to pre-
serve order. BY the aid of Captain Walsh Jury
was empanelIed, before whom the following testi
mony was elicited:-
TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH DENER.
Joseph Dener. being duly sworn, deposes and
says:I live at No. 1873 Pitt street and am licensed
vender; knew the deceased and also the prisoner;
last evening about half.past nine O'Clock went TO
No. 100 Sheriff street and deceased strike william
Purcen the prisoner John Purcell, then said, "Stand
back or win hurt some CT you;" at this time saw
q pistol discharged In his hand; the pistol wes
pointed towards deceased; the deceased fell and the
prisoner started to run away and came to this sta
ton house, where l followed him In up stairs;
there were several other persons opposite
No. 100 Sheriff street ar the time; saw no
snSSn U the to
he mad been taken up stairs; don't know tnat
sps xe s sSoa RRes H
q prize fights this was early in the evening, and
told them they had better not fight.
John Tracy, sworn, says-I reside at No. 100 Sheriff
street. and am vehder by occupations; about half.
about having fight; about nine O'Clock was sitting
in front OF my house with William Purcell; crowd
sn
about about the prize fight that was to nave taken place
swS SoS sa
passed between the two w6en deceased struck pris
starting blood; deceased then jumped at VIM. Pur-
CELL the prisoners brother, during which the pris
deceased dropped; the prisoner did not run away;
saw otner quarreling except what have stated.
Fritz Feiler beng duly sworn, says:-l live at lle
Sheriff street and am tn am
ter to 'Gsn nine O'Clock last eyeninS as was going
through Snerin street. saw deceased and the prison
er quarreillng when deceased said It was oil right
several men and boys were there; during the quar-
rel between the TWO, william Purcell pulled or his
coat and ofered to fight any one In the crowd when
saw the prisoner draw q pistol and lre Il at de-
| ceased who fell to the pavement
TESTIMONY OF ROBERT CURTIS.
Robert Curtis, Of isS Delaney street, deposed-I
ceased and also the eatered % Sheriff sree Sa
few words with him; he said he would light me, and
we were going into the yard 70 night when Tracy In
and afterwards deceased sent for me and took me in
the rear yard OF 105 Sheriff street aud said he would
| get John Purcell to fight me; he then went away,
and about I'VE minutes afterwards heard the re-
port OF pistol and gong ont saw deceased lying at
loo Sheriff street against scale; he was then car
ried into his own house; don't think he was dead
| when first saw him.
TESTIMONY OF SERGEANT THOMPSON.
Andrew J. Thompson, sergeant OF the Eleventh
precinct, says last evening the prisoner came rum
ming into the station house. followed BY some other
man, and said he had shot man, at the same time
having pistol in his hand; asked him II ne mad
shot man; he said Eyes; II have not intended
tor asked who ne had shot, he replied, "Billy
Riernan, the hog thief;n asked II he was crazy;
| he said "No,n deceased had licked him and his
| brother, and he intended to Kill him when
| informed that Kiernan was dead the prisoner
replied, "I am id glad OF IT," that he was hog
thief 'that he could catch rope and swing as well
as any young fellow ever saw the prisoner was
| sober; nave seen him both drunk and sober.
| MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
wooster Beach, NJ. D., deposed to making post
mortem examination on the body OF deceased and
| found pistol shot wound on the left side OF the
other organs Of the body which showed that he was
| q man Of incorporate habits; In my opinion the
wound was the cause OF death.
| the Jury, TO whom the case was then submitted,
rendered the following verdict:-''That William
Herman, the deceased came to his death by pistol
shot wound at the hands OF John Purcell, on the gath
day Of May 1869, in Sheriff street. between stanton
| and Houston Streets"
| Purcell, VINO is twenty-five years OF age, native
OF this city and poultry vender BY occupation says
he lives at No. 100 Sheri6 street. He had nothing 10
| soy In regard TO taking the life OF deceased,
Coroner Keenan, then committed him TO the Tombs
F! 10 await the action OF the Grand Jury.