The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-06-28
THE FIRST WARD TRAGEDY.
Lawrence Sullivan, Accused of Ono MUIR
der, Attempts TO Commit Another In the
Coroner's Onice-uow TO Get Rid Of n

Lawrence Sullivan, Accused Of Ono MUIR
der, Attempts TO Commit Another In the
Coroner's Onice-How TO Get Rid Of n
Witness.
The inquest concerning the death OF John
oBrien, who was stabbed on the 18th instant by
Lawrence Sullivan, at / Whitehall street. was begun
yesterday before Coroner schirmer 10 the City Hall
The examination room was crowded. The prisoner
was very demonsrative requiring guard OF police.
men 10 restrain him.
Catharine Sullivan, the prisoners wife, was the
FIRST witness She said that she did not reside with
the prisoner, and had not done 80 for ten months,
account OF his drunkenness and brutality. On
the night OF the murder her husband weat to her
and asked her TO 20 out with him, but she 70.
fused. lie then struck her, and dragged her by the
hair OF the head. just then Mr.. John O'Conuor of
10 Pearl street, came in, and she asked him 10 re.
main awhile to take her husband away. Her mother.
Mrs. sweeny, then went in and struck her husband
on the head and they then went out on the stairs
when her mother struck him few times on tAo
head again then he struck her She saw O'lirien
tie stairs, but did not see the sabbinE her bus
band appeared to fail down tue stairs IL was dark
and she could moro.
Julia Buckley, OF Whitehall street, testified that
Mrs. sullivan was at her house on the evening OF
the 18Th inst The prisoner called 10 see her. aud
asked her 20 90 out with him. but she refused do
lie said that II sic did not go he would run her
through. Sue asked him not 10 XIII her, but he said
NJ
have 10 answer for It. lie then took his child from
an inner room and she went away.
The principal witness was John O'CCnnor. OF 10
Pearl street, who said that he had been ac1uuulcd
with O'Brien. At about o'eiocb on the evening
of the 10Th inst While walking along outsiee The
door u Whitehall street, lac heard mat sullivan
was quarrellinx with bis wife lie went up stairs
to .etarate them, and saw sullivan sitting on
chair with an umbrella In his hand. MIS-. Sullivan
was .anding with q child IN her arms. She called
mia numbering thief who hRi murdered her
brother. Mrs sweeny, the mother OF Mrs. Sul-
and asked what the numbering Villain was doing
there, VI the same time struck him on the head
with piece Of wood. sullivan then went
our on the landing, and Mrs. sweeny struck
him again. Sullivan. then struck her three
times on the head with an umbrella. lie
To aouH dangerous, caught Mrs. sweely
around the WAIST, and she gTOwlod at him
ior interfering, lie tried 10 get suliyal out OF the
I~ce, but he would DOT 80 with him. Witness then
vent up stairs and saw OBrien In sitting posture.
In less Than minute SulliVen ran up with knife
heard him ask.
ARE rou o'BRIENI"
O'Brien answered that he was, and Sulven then
sAld, ~ VII take your life, you son Of 4 b." At
that moment sullivan stabbed him three times, and
thr asst STAB took effect. OBrlen groaned little
ouMN1h men rah down stairs and got away, The
witness could not Identity the knife
Ann Kcnucy hoyinp given her testimony. which
cohhlhed the Olhers, the prisoner who had been for
some llne unluly 'priug from his seat and SELLING
clair, rushed ,OHurd Julia buckley and attempted
to brain her, Bat H,eT Smith sprang upon him
ana forged IN buck into lis seat. Coroner Schir
uer then ordered tho prisoner 10 be handcufed and
closely guarded
the jury rendered verdict against Sullivan who
was commlited TO the Tombs for Trial