The New York herald., 1870-01-26
THE TENEMENT HOUSE TRAGEDY.
Suhocation Of the Boy Casey-Investi9ati
Before Coroner schirmer- Testimony in
the Case and Verdict Of the Jury

Coroner Schirmer yesterday instituted an investi.
CATION at the Fifth precinct police station In the case
OF the lad James Casey, who was suiIocated ON Mon
day during the ire III the tenement house No. 0
Worth street, as already reported In the HERALD
TWAS At first suspected the lire was OF inoendary
orign but no evidence to that effect could DO pro-
cured, Below Will be found synopsis OF the eyi-
dence adduced and fhe verdict OF the jury
Davis Harris, living on the second floor, front
room. OF premises No. Worth street. dcposed that
ne went home about haf-past four O'Clock in the
afternoon, and then left for vesey street to sell
some slippers which he had manufactured: then
went to Bleecker street TO procure materials
70 make other supplies; from there went
to n Hudson street. where his wife and
children were visiting, and at eight O'CLOCK In the
evening returned home with his family; on open.
ing the door OF his room saw fire and smoke and
cried fire." went down stairs ana subsequently,
proceeded TO the house OF Mrs. Lynch, 81 West
Broadway, with whom he had formerly boarded:
after remaining there nearly an nour went to the
house OF his brohern-law, s6 Norfolk street; knew
nothing about the origin OF the nre; has Dcon In.
sured lor SIX or seven months for $500 in the Rut
gers Insurance Company before being insured an
agent OF tue company came and mace an examina.
ton OF ms place.
Celia Harris, wife OF the previous witness, testt.
ned that before leaving for Hudson street after her
husband had gone she made large fire In the range
TO heat her smoothing IRONS SO that she could iron
some clothes when she returned nome.
James Casey, father OF deceased, dcposed that he
was ut home at six O'Clock In the evening and had
supper; two hours later, his wife being tired, they all
went to bed; soon afterwards smelt smoke In Lhe
room, winch IL IN the attic the oldest OF witness
got up ana opening the door looked out. and seeing
fire ana smoke gave the alarm aud then they tried
to save their lives; they all rushed out the witness
going down stairs, thinking the others Of the family
had preceded INN In the confusion which prevailed
all through The house; when the witness reached the
street he was tod his wife and child mad not es-
saped he then cried out TO them and At the same
time saw his WHO on the top OF the house: 1t that
time his eldest son escaped through the front door
Johns asey, thirteen years Of aye, son or the pre
vious witness testified that on the hanse
10 be on IRE himself ana his father rnsned out OF tho
house. leaving his nother and brother behind; .
fireman subsequently brought out the witness,
brother.
James II. Monroe foreman OF nook aud Ladder
Company No. ., ueposed that on hearing OF the IRE
and OF a woman being on tue top OF the house ne
ana some OF hls men started for the place. giving
directions 70 his assistant TO run the truck OUT
reaching the scene OF the rc the witness saw names
issuing from the second moor; the house il q
two story and attic wooden or frame house
ladders IN the front and rear, and he
took small ladder and got on the roof in the rear;
could not see any one on the roof; pulled the ladder
up on the extension and went into the second
and thence into the attic, but found no one there;
We then entered the front room IN the attic and
some one said, ''Iierc is the woman now,n aud
STOPPING down found Mrs. Casey ana the deceased,
both lying on the door IN an lnsensiDlc condition.
the witness picked up the CHILD and brought him to
tile station house and noticed That he alive on
reaching the street; hurried to the station house
where water given TO deceased but he died in
few minutes afterwards: think the fire orig mated
on the second noor there was no blaze In the back
room.
Patrick Gleason, occupying the rear room on the
second noor OF No. orth street, deposed that Mr..
Harris occupied the front room; heard the alarm OF
fire ard, gong into the hail. saw bre IN Mr.. Harris
room; THAI the lire was near the stove around the
mantepiece; Threw a pail Of wafer into the room,
but the smoke oyerpoweliug him he left for the
street. This witness could not tell how the Gre
originated.
Dr. Joseph Cushnan dcposed TO examining the
body OF deceased and In his opinion sunocation WAS
the cause OF DEATH aud the jury accordingly Tenoereo
. verdict 70 that eject