The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-17
TUE GasH0usE HOMICIDE.

Investigation Before Coroner Jones, Brook.
| iyn-fnterestinG Testimony Elicited-The
Prisoner, Hand.
! The inquest into the circumstances touching the
cause OF the death Of James 0'DonneI, who was
stabbed at the Citizens Gas Works. South Brooklyn,
on wednesday afternoon, by owen Hand, fellow
workman, was held before Coroner Jones and jury
at the county Court House yesterday. The principal
witness examined was John Greene, foreman at the
works, who testified that he saw the disturbance
tween owen Hand and the deceased about two r. NJ
on Wednesday. August II; that all hands went to
work In the morning peaceably; there was no dis.
turbauce whatever; about halr-past twelve or one
O'Clock there was draw; little before two O'Clock
James O'Donnel went to the on side OF the house,
that Is, O'Donnell was employed on one side and
Hand on the other, when 0'Donnel met
his WORK to 20 where Hand then was; a. soon as
they met high words ensued between them; ewtness
S e ys e he ~ to nav lone
witness again told hun that he did not 90 he wit
nessl should send him home; he then went few
Inn to 20 home, that ne would put man IN hi5
places O'Dounell went over on his side OF the house
and sat down on bench and colnmenced 10 change
his clothes; about ten minutes afterwards Hand
proceeded along the same passage way IN the dlrcc
ton OF where O'ponnell sat; witness saw hun going
there, but did not know whether he meant TO nave
drink OF water or to renew the quarrel; when he
In front OF oDoDnei the latter arose from his
pass' at Owen Hands face or head; Hand threw his
head back at the same time, but whether he was HIT
or not T ons SoSa Se not 1s p9os Hand then re-
In klnd Of staggering manner; while In this posi-
ton saw Owen 1and make TWO passes at JaIaes
0'Dobnelrs body; the rst pass was IN the direction
OF his breast; the second QUO was made lower down,
IN the direction OF his bowels, aud apparently with
ali lis might; IN On instant ODonneIl fell to tho
noor Hand turning on ms heel, at the same time
throwing knife against the wall; q he dia so he
so MIN nave G h % a w xas
transaction on the second meeting did not occupy
more than three seconds when iney eneoantsred at
tention OF pushing them back. but had not gone
more than ten feet when the whole thing was done;
il against the wall; the prisoner had no
use for knife IN his bdsneSS;, thel wea.
| work OF Inc gas house DID not require Hand TO
90 TO ihe side were 0'ponne was einpoyeii Hand
has worked o. the place nearly ssys e nc
Wan the deceased had worked there about the same
length Of TIME, and was quiet man, though not
liquor at the time OF the occurrence; witness
heard tue other men complain Of Hand as Q danger.
Michael Conner, owen Callahan, James Burns,
Philip Lynch James Karwin, John Sheridan Russell
| Scott and other woykmen testified In eorroboration
One Of these witnesses testified that week before last
owen Hand said TO him "that II Jim tmeanlng
im 0Donusil5 struck e., hin he had something seou.
before this saying Hand had turned away from
| the water pan by O'Donnel the former having no
| right there.
| Dr. A. w Shepard who made the post mortem,
testified as to the nature OF the wounds and Ia con.
cusl0n said--ln my opinion death resulted from
gangrene Of the bowels and the injury to the Urea
| caused by the two incised wounds indicted with q
| nnaip instrument; I'm my opinion the instrument
now shown me In butchers knifej could cause or
produce the wounds in James 0'Donneli's body.
The Coroner then reviewed the testimony and I'm
eructed the jury as to their duty In the case the
latter after brief absence, returned The following
verdct:-"ThaJ tue said James O'Donncll came ~
his death on the 18th day OF August, 1869, from
several stsbs OF knife at the hands VI owen Hand
on the nth day OF August 1862 st the Gas House, Ia
smith street, BrooKlyn.r