The New York herald., 1870-09-11
A FATAL WALTZ.
The First Ward Murder-The Inquest on the
Body of christopher Higgins-valentine
Rickel Held to Await the Action
Of tho Coroner's Jury.

The inquest on the body of Christopher Higgins,
the young man who was shot dead In washington
street on Monday night by Valentine Ri,kei, was
held yesterday by Coroner Flynn. The proceedings
were had at the Twenty precinct station
house, and were attended by large crowd Of mon
and women the greater portion being relatives and
friends Of the deceased. There were rumors sonae
hours previous to the arrival OF the Coro-
ner that the Washington street "boys" IN.
tended to settle Rickels case In sum.
mary manner II they could by any possibility
get him out of the way Of the poce every precau
tIon was taken by Captain Speight to guard against
any violence that might be attempted. strong
squad OF policemen were kept under orders In the
main room Of the station house, and several In citt
zens' dress were distributed among the audience.
Happily no disturbance Of any kind took place.
although at the close Of the proceedings the prisoner
who was taken to the Tombs under strong squad.
was followed through the streets by an immense
crowd. The first witness was the girl with whom
DECEASED WAS wALrzING
on the sidewalk in front OF Babbitt's soap factory
when the watchman fired the fatal shot. She gave
her name as Mary Ann Marshall, and testified as fol-
reside at 70 Washington street, met Christopher
Higgins on Monday night, about nine O'Clock; when
Of the soap factory. he took hold OF me, and
began to waltz rowp6 with me on the sas"alx
knocked against the door Of the factory Just we
did so the prisoner was coming out OF the store with
exclaimed gruffy, "What are you doing here ~ the
deceased made no reply to the best OF my rec0lleo
drew his revolver, held it about foot from the de-
ceaseds head and discharged It; Higgins fell, aud
| Kickel ran Inside and shut the door behind him
TESTIMONY OF JOHN ELDER. y
John Elder sworn and examlnea-I reside at 81
Washington street; was passing Babbitts factory
about ten O'Clock on Monday night; there were se.
vQpQ nan n n /
pointing pistol at some one. and soon afterwards
heard some one cry out "Higgins Is shot," then
In half sitting position on the sidewalks ran az
once for doctor; the prisoner was about foot
TESTIMONY OF MARY HAYS.
Mary Hays sworn-I reside at 81 Washington
street; met the deceased and Tom Shields; walked
| with them for time; they went and had drink;
came out and went down Morris street; she after
deceased couple Of yards: while she was under the
awning heard noise, and Jane Shields told me that
deceased shot; was about fifteen yards from her
at the time.
TESTIMONY OF ANN SHIELDS.
Ann Shields swOrn@I was opposite the Babbitt
factory at the time OF the occurrences saw deceased
and the girl waltzing; saw the prisoner come out
and saw deceased fall; when he fired he was about
| one or two feet from deceased.
TESTIMONY OF ANN CRONN
Ann Cronin sworn-I was playing under Babbftts
shed at the time OF the occurrences heard the report
of the pistol and was told deceased was shot; saw
| him lying on the sidewalk with his arm under bis
hand after the shooting the prisoner renamed abou
| two minutes, and then went into the factory.
| TESTIMONY OF JOHN CROGAN.
John CrOgan swOrn-Saw the prisoner place the
pistol at the throat Of deceased and fire. heard some
| words between them before the firing; heard de-
ceased fall did not see him fall told boy that Hig
| gins mad been shot.
TESTIMONY OF OFFICER RAMSAY.
Of1cer Ramsay sworn-l arrested the prisoner; he
| asked him If he knew that he had shot man, and
he said he could not help 1t; he In the factory
and opened the door; ne said also that .he knew
that something was going to happen, for he had had
| dream; and he dreamt that he was o Prussian
| soldier, and that 10: OF Frenchmen were after
him. He produced the pistol and gave 1t up; asked
| him again what he shot him for; he said deceased
| had always been troubling him; raped very hard
the door before he opened it; there were three
| four others inside with him.
DR.. Shine testified the cause of death to be tho
Injuries inflicted by the pistol shot.
The jury then after short deliberation, brought
| in the following
| VERDICT
That the deceased came to his death from pistol
shot wound received at the hands Of the prisoner
He was then committed to await the action OF tho
Grad Jury
| on his examination he stated that he was fifty
three years OF age, native OF Bavaria and resided
| at 80 Hopkins street. Williamsburg. BY advice OF
his counsel he reserved hs defence for another trt
bunal wnere he would show that he had no intention
| OF taxing life