New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-22
THE JERSEY CITY MYSTERY.
CLOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION DESPERATE
CHARACTER or DURhNCEY--A WORTHLESS
VERDICT.

Jersey CITY was resumed yesterday al 10 a. m. before
Coroner wande. Owing the absence of the District
Attorney. the examination OF witnesses conducted
by WIN. T. Rlnien, foreman OF the jury. c. H. winfield
and c. D. Landon Ncw-York represented tho interests
OF William McGhce. father ~ deceased. number Of
| prominent Insurance men were present
Nelson Waterhouso testihod: Anna police officer; my
beat is from Warren to Montsomery-sts saw nothing
unusual during the early part Of the night which the
| Gre occurred: at midnight while at Greene and Mont
Fomcryss. saw the explosion did not see McGhee or
D1rancey during the night; the first explosion appeared
to blow out on Montgomcryst the second followed in
four to six mnulcs 10 the ere and found the build
ing all a5laze Attempted to onter but failed account
OF the flames mot exSerg ant Harvey after my ar
rival; the Gre was one immense blaze with very lttlo
smoke; did not notice any person during the evening
who n Panama or li-ht hat did not notice any IN
Gammablc material running ont ard burning.
THREE BA.REiS.
Jamc8 Barns testi ds live at No Sta.c-st., New
York; employed IS porter FOR Duranccy mcGhce
from My last 10 the day Of the fire. had regular
hours my pay 81 per day at first aftcrward $40 per
week; at the s;hoon Sunday about 1Oi IN, and
remained until evening by request Of jurors witness
here described clothing worn Ivy the partners. Saw
Durancey about tkree times that day; saw him at
ca p. NJ behind the bar; he said had lost the
key OF the stable told him had given it to his son
Tommy that morning; cGhee also during the day;
ne sail nothing except ask how the horse getting
along; did not see Durancay and McGhee cCnversing
with each other; in the afternoon fell asleep and then
went 70 the stable returned 10 the store about p. m,
and went into the cellar; here was gas-meter
there at the right OF the entrance toward
Moutgomery-st; it was about a foot and q
half from the wall and about one foot
sCuarc the Gas was burning in The afternoon turned
il on between and O'Clock; snollod no gus when
opened in the morning. but old 'nc fCul air placed
three barrels the cellar on .he OH inst they were
blue barrels. and smecd like kerosene oil; they were
brought 10y John McGhee shorty amer dnnti lei bic
Chez said nothing about them; have banded kerosene
OIL but could not say poSyey Ih ,nt naiIrIS t
time mentioned; went 70 the stable alter came ont |
then r,turned anu Locked Tue eeir uoDIi rU'u tIu.
there wa. stairs from the Of the fruit store
mn dav hnt was rot thrown open; McGhcc. Durrnccy.
ana MullEan the bartender We're ut the saloon when
rived home ut $50 p. ~; first learned Of the hr a
1850 Monday was told by boy IN the street don
lie habit ~ tqng wood 10 the house left Ms Duran
cey and went 80 the stable; had no conversation with
any one the ire; met men during the day who said
Snew nothing shout it, never saw anything drawn out
Of the three blue blreis; never bad any conversation
barrels; te bung we've not covered have handled
Lero3ehe ~ ,LIe' VI 80, iri it.1I an, vel
Acquainted with It's SMELL the bartender iuiigan
io.liy. but did not ,poak u the ire have |
seen Mrs. Duranccy nearly every day since t6e /
johnny has asked me about his father; whom ia
the saloon sunday nj lit went directly home ava
return that ght; did not wake until q a. M h"d
clothes then a. now McGhee was IN the LaDL
in be wagon tic day h. brought the three blue barrels
never heard any quarrel between Durancty ana NC
Fxr1oHvr NATURE OF KEROSENE.
G. Summers testified; resile at No. l75 south Sixth
ST. ny business is OIL rcniu have followed it Il years;
have witnessed explosions OF Kerosene oil IN It's liquid
state II is not explosive until It reaches temperature
OF 100 (FJ 1t is explosive in crude than In re-
fined state It would explode in barrel which was
banged mp; it woald not explode If the barrel was
to explode when coming in contact with air, but even
then it would require spark to ignite lt an sAposoh
OF kerosene viii create fame the smoke !, Dense ac-
cordiug the weight Of the oil; smoke arising rom
napltha would lighter the conclusion from an eXpo-
sion of barrel Of Kerosene would not he very great
have known barrel Of oil 10 burn up without tNlo'A-'
ie ,eeu the barrels taken from the ruins they
HE Kerosene oil barrels; the smell very indi,tuc,
almost too for kerosene there was no Oh IN the
Mr. VIM ID here questioned the witness in relation to
the explosive qualities Of the yap0r which might hc
caused 10y -prinklng oil on floor and inquired whether
such vupoI would ignite ana explode upon AGE'iHg
The Coroner objected TO the question, ard stated that
he held inquest 10 ascertain the cause OF the death
C o. Is Tig TnT ,' by Mr. winfield The latter
donj tho cbaroe ana said that he appeared ouly ~
Insisted upoa the Corouer's recalling his assertion
COULD GAS HAVE CAUSED THE EXrLosi0Sf
G. Washington Edge testified: reside in Montgomery
st. near Van vorst-square Superintendent OF the
Jersey CITY and Hob0ken Gas Works, manufacturing
from 100000 to 100000 cubic feet Of per annum
it would require cubic feet Of to Ill room the
sigo ~ the saloon and it would take 20 hours
f a,,,a this vo apdn' mmedioely follow the czro
Sian of gas; should think the force would
b the same on all sides did hear the explosions at
the saloon familiar with the building can FORM no
ouiuon a. the cause ~ the explosion OF - 10 is
acter or "a to what would have produced 80 l1sLa'i
re.Ils "a fire. the force Of IN explosion Oh gas depends
upon the quantity Of gas mixed with me ar Ahlng mo
consideration the condition Of the building do not tHh
tI p, escaping from one burne! Ia Lue cellar was SUM
t 10 cac an explosion: IL il had been caused 10y gas
TIE people residing in ne building Wouiu nh'G pe
was simply lash, and it then went out conld nor sGy
whether gas would produce the most NOtht
explosion, If in same Guan'ity - ,,.,,.. !
Smith Mead test 80, Pa uc, -, Vo,d",,
am mason and builder; iurHishtu htu on Aohua!
mOruin TO dig the bodies out Of the ruins found TWO
Ios OnTuesday last n the west end Of thr cellar they
were close together removed large quantities OF OF ll'
before reaching tncm-prJbably 30 loads the store
moor anu ,osSiIitv Of the bodies having been
sclaped by implements used IN the sedIchi smeISh
attr in inc CELLAR could state what kind of oil IL
was. We reached the gsmctcr IN the cellar on IurSyi
cannot give auv information regard 10 the appearance
Of lie bodies, the sight was 80 sichenng mat turned
I'm pv 10 question by OF the Jurors, the witness
here stated that the bodies were louhq about II d d
from inside stairs they were close tosethei' anu
y ToTp.cnd tcstilei: knew Durancey and McGhee
t}rc and light wears respectively; had conversation
Win tucm on sunday evening; NJ Ghec said that Mont
ggucry ~ would be widcEtd shortly and they would pe
durel where he was going; he replied 10 put ON the
Gas MrGhee said" Never mind the gas Will attend
D. m. the bartender pulled down the blinds ana
said 10 him. Mr.. MrGhee Will not IKE that ne Il
afil out there: =" he replied that McGhce had toi him
10 uui down the shade; my brotheIn-law thousht ne
sneled oil the premises my father ,aia u was the
roof which had recently boon Jared was IL Inc
saloon quite frequently. A.
ChcfEng ineeI Farrer testified; Arrived at tue nIe
lafaI the steamer: not know exactly what time the
alarm sounded gave directions 10 the nitneh row 10
proceed alter tne{ M a. ~, iTrinp catpdt @
exactly what time IL wac; another body was found ~
O'Clock: searched the ruins until O'Clock; thru orau"
q 10