New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-27
AUCTION SALES THIS DAY.
Local Intelligence.

Jxorrpsr ON THE BASE BALI. HOMICIDE
After considerable search Coroner Roche
found a few important witnesses who fur
nished him with direct testimony in the kill
ing of young James Wilson last Sunday:
John Thomas sworn: was sitting down
after the game was over, putting on my
shoes. and little Jerry Duggan came up to
me saving, "You have been picking at me
all this game;n took out a knife and called
out witness, boys, if this boy strikes me
with the bat, am going to kill him" Then
Some of the Morning Star boys said to me,
"You had better go home;" while ! was i'll
the act of going, saw big Duggan knock
Wilson down; some of the boys said, Not
..Yes, him. Wilson gave no provocation
whatever; he was waiting until l tied my
shoes, TO 90 home with me; young Duggan
allowed he'd kill me with a bat: after Will
son was knocked down ran and was pur-
sued a square and half by the two Dug
gans; when Jerry Duggan spoke to me he
made a threatening motion with the bat;
ran before Wilson was struck with the bat
Thomas Ford, sworn-Last Sunday, at
about seven o'clock in the morning, on the
Fort Canal, Second District, was playing
base ball with the Morning Star Club; we
were the Natchez Base Ball Club; Young
Duggan was umpire for us; James Wilson
belonged to the Natchez club; Jerry Dug
gan was the umpire; Young Duggan, when
the game was over, said the money belonged
to the Morning Stars; we were playing tor
two and half side; after he gave the
money up he said to Thomas, you have been
picking at me during the whole game; this
was Jack Thomas; witness heard Jerry
Duggan call for his big brother,
Jack Duggan; Jack Duggan came up
and struck James Wilson in the
mouth, knocking him down; Will
son never opened his lips; he gave no
provocation; he was quiet boy; while
he was recovering from the other blow
he was down on his knees-Jerry Duggan
picked up q bat and struck him over the
head, knocking him senseless; the blood
came out of his nose, mouth and ears; ne
could not speak; and two other boys took
him to a house and bathed his head; he stag
gered like drunken man; we then took
him in the cars, and at the corner OF
Canal and st. Charles streets, got hack
and took him to his residence on lchoupl
Joulas street; Jack Thomas was the man
who was quarreling with jerry Duggan; i
am positive Wilson did speak word, OF
exhibit any threatening manner 10 any
one; l was quite near him, and would nave
seen it if he had; the two Duggans the1
ranIafter Jack Thomas, saying If they caught
him they would kill him.
Charles " brlcn,
originated about some one getting out OF
the third base; some one accused Jerry
Duggan of cheating; l did not see Wilson
having ANYTHING to do with the fuss; saw
big Duggan knock Wilson down, but die
not see Jerry Duggan strike the blow
although l heard it; hearing the sound.
turned around, and saw Jerry Duggan rals
ing his bat as if to strike again, when /
bow caught it; / saw Jack Thomas draw {
TN,,O whole
game Thomas wanted to fight; the blow
heard sounded as if some one had struck
ball with a bat; when l looked arount
James Wilson was down, and Jerry Dug
gan was standing over him with bat RAISED
as if to strike him again: after Jack Du9ga1
had struck Wilson, he slapped his brothe
Jerry for making him hit the wrong boy
when turned around and saw Jerry Dug
gan standing over Wilson, Jack Duggal
was running after John Thomas; Jerr,
Dugran was prevented from striking vii
son a second time by Joe Miller and Jane
Claffy: when the fuss first commenced |
boy named "Puddin" pulled Oft his coat an'
said he could whip any fellow ON tn
ground; he was the one who SAID to Jerr.
Duggan: 'You cheated IN that game"
10 Miller sworn-I saw Jerry Duggal
hit Wilson over the head, and when l trie'
to take his bat away he wanted to hit me
Jack Duggan, when the fuss commenced
showed Wilson down; when he was holdin!
his head down, Jerry Duggan struck hin
with the bat; didn't see Wilson do any
thing at all.
John O'Donnen sworn-Wilson wa
the catcher; he said something t
jerry Duggan, but ! did no
hear what it was; Duggan wa
then quarrelling with Thomas; | heard tn
lick, but did not see Duggan strike Wilson
had my shirt over my head, putting 1t
at the time.
Jim Driscoll-Heard Jerry Duggan, whe
his brother ran up, say of the deceased
mot him. and afterward say yes, tia
- too;" / did not see Wilson hit wit
the bat.
Samuel Comstock-Heard the blow, an
turning around, heard a boy cry out, "Oi
don't strike him again, Jerry Duggan.
Several other witnesses were examined
their testimony was entirely corroborativ'
A certificate was read from DIR. ): l.. FIJI
ney, that the deceased came to his deal
from from fracture of the skull, inflicted /
some heavy blunt instrument.
The jury returned a verdict that JAM
Wilson came to his death from blow G
the head, inflicted by jeremiah Duggan, G
Sunday evening, August 81, 1870. Coron'
Roche made an affidavit against the q
cused, charging him with murder