New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-17


Tho trial of James Keenan, for shooting Mi.
pa,rick 7 Meehan editor of The Irish American, in
Eourtb-st near Broadway, February 49, took place
Yesterday the Court Of General Sessions, Recorder
Uackett presiding The prisoner objected to his counse
asked for copy of the Indictment and postponemeh'
OF the trial for few days. he wished to defend NM
self The Recorder declined to postpone assigned Mr.
Knitting defense and then ordered the cause 10
be placed last on the days calendar When called sub
sequently Mr. Knitting asked for pOsponement as the
prisoner informed him hs witnesses we're out OF the
city, but the Recorder thought the trial had been de
fcrred already long enough ana ordered inc case W
Assistant DisrictAttorney Fellows opened the case
for the prosecution explained the circumstances OF inc
shooting and then examined Mr. Meehan, who testned
as follows: -. I'll. r.;s1
Aneric0n about ii at night on that date had just
come out Of the building No 10 West FOurthst ana was
proceeding toward Broadway with other gehtemeh' o
prisoner followed at short distance, and passed two
gentlemen who Just behind us; was aDout W @
of an arm near my right shoulder; after that re,
membered nothing for about 80 seconds, tl let NY
WITNESS showed the mark of the wound, when was u,
der the left earl was walking %n M was nnder
medical treatment for about month; the pah lbs
CTosXamined Inv Mr. Kintzng-I knew the prisoner
since November 1863 lie wrote some Correspondence ur
my paper; what called Senator OF the Eehl
organization: acting Secretary OF war; 90 iioV
know that the prisoner had official position re{
but he was acting as secretary many attacks MoIe had
always befriended me against such at@cks; nener ~
my kOwledge, had any conversation WIN oo nfyid
relative conspiracy against my me; never WI tt
of the prisoner; communicated 70 MN lhV Io III
somebody had idea Of taking my life; had Deeh tou
thai my life was threatened by great many persons
was told so, think, in conversation DetWeel
were mentioned hut persons opposed to me IN geeI
way told not one but many persons had mace tos
the door of the house in Fourth-st; had attended
business meeting, not secret meeting tnaI evening" az
o'clock left Fourh-s and TO my Office, attended
of private business, ana Ntub pdN tno
evening pretty dark; the occurrence TOOK place III
West Fourth half way between No 10 and Broadway
No TO- believe, is the only private house III the Dock
the others are all stores; did not see pistol IN tine
hands of any person; think was inside myself, but
some of my friends back Of me- Mr. McCoud was in
front of me- did not see the Hash OF the pistol saw as IL
were the shadowy outline of arm toward the side ;
think Mr. Gallagher of Buffalo and Col. Quinn were back
Of me personally never had any difficulty with the
,is0ner believed that he was and ought TO be friend
nm 10 that time never had any difficulty with him.
James Z. Downey testified that ne saw NJ heenuh
place his hand OH the right shoulder OF Mr. Meehan and
fre turned around and ran after him; he staggered
away childlke have never talked to MI Meehan OF TO
Nh. Cary think about the case.
Richard McCloud, sworn-Met prisoner in November,
1858, and frequently SINCE al No 10 west tOuIths;
was in Europe; was going along with Mr.. Meehan, and
Mr.. Keenan, coming out following us; saw the nasll
and heard the report and the powder flashed in my face;
Thooed murder, and Keenan, ran away; there were in
the company Mr.. OBrien, Mr. Hynes, and others; MT
OBren pckedM Mr.. Meehan UP and carried MN 10 dlug-
Crcssexamined-Iwas Senator of the Fenan Brother
hood i'm November 1865 am friendly toward him; only
once few days before the shooting, there was slight
! difference between me aud the prisoner. 49,
Dr. Edward 0. COwes of No. 10 East FouIthst testhcd
| TO the nature Of the wound.
Joseph Strauss officer attached to Police lleadquar
ters testified to the circumstances attending the arrest
which he effected Mercer-st. fireman named Christ
tan Rensselaer, with him at the time MI strauss
the pistol produced on MIN two barrels were discharged
piece OF the cap remained the nipple and one OF the
minutes before; prisoner stated to Mr.. Strauss wheI
searching him. You mistake me; am not the man !
why are You rlnningi" the officer asked he replied
81 felt cold and taking little run round the cor
ncr" Mr. strauss took him to the drugstore, and con
frOuted him with Mr.. Meehan, who SAID Yes, that Ii
| the man. pointing 10 prisoner.
Assistant Distict-Attoney Fellows here closed the
! case for the people. .
James Keenan,, the prisoner was then called to the
stand and, reply to Mr.. KNITTING, testified: am 10y
profession physician ana surgeon am ron Duo u.
atterly, but was born in Londonderry Ireland the
of October last having come from Havre in France;
wrote correspondence for Mr. Meehan, and Dcver re-
ceved ANYTHING for doing did not fire the pistols We
were preparing for the invasion of Canada and we were
testing the pistols among OursevesI mean the clerks in
pistol two are three days before from member Of the
69th Volunteers and we were plactelng against a
for two Of the barrels being unlOadedl saw MI Nee
han at p No. and again al III noticed aGout eisht OF Yen
with him. and all along considered him as friend; he
lost some document, was ,lSa p Soeo o o for @
here at the request OF Daniel OSulliyan OF me
Irish People; frequently heard men say Mr.. Meehan
should be shot the first time talked of it going
TO Trenton n. j.. he told me men were waiting Ill tue
swamps OF New-Jcrsey TO catch him at night.
Mr. Kntzng then addressed the jury for the prisoner,
and was followed by the Assistant DisuicAtt0rney for
the prosecution.
The Recorder afterward charged the jury saying:
This is simple case in my mind, and only presents one
feature for your consideration, whether the prisoner
fired the shot He then recaptulaed the evidence and
gave the to the jury who, after very brief consul
tation. and without leaving their seats, returned vcr-
dict of guilty.
The prisoner then stood mp and said: Your Honor, I
beg to make motion for trial on these grounds.
There was "a gentleman in my company when the shot
was fred That evening had been i'll, suffering from
excited action OF the heart About 10t went In TO
get the key Of the safe and left the gentleman outside
When returned he was gone think lac was one OF the
gentlemen Mr.. MeCham swcars he pass me.
Another point is this That pistol L had
not in my possession till one or two
hours before the shooting occurred. The man who
had it can swear tue it n and If he could be
examined would be discovered that the barrels
discharged. In what saying do not wish to attri
butte any fault to my solicitor. Another points My
swer "No not the man. to the officer who arrested
mel think that together with the other circumstances
and the fact that always led quiet peaceabe life, ell
title me TO q new trial.
Recorder Hackett-If should believe your story, /
should dsbeleve the Jury. There is nothing in what you
have said to entitle you trial Should there lie
evidence at any time, will consider the application
Ii is my duty 10 mfct upon you the extreme penalty
known to the law which 10 years in the State Prison.
with hard labor. The prisoner was then removed.