The New York herald., 1871-08-22

Conclusion Of the Inquest-The Mystery Still
Unravelled-Strange Revelations About
Durancey-McGhse's Father Ad-
heres to the Murder Theory.

Durancey-4cGhee's Father Ad-
heres to the Murder Theory.
Tbe Coroner's inquest on the bodies OF the unfor-
tunate victims Of the recent explosion In Jersey
City was resumed yesterday morning. The most
intense interest was manifested by the audience.
Every statement of the witnesses was listened to
with bated BREATH and yet the listeners were no
wiser ut the close OF the proceedings as 10 the cause
OF the explosion than they were four days ago.
The first witness placed on the stand was James
Burns who stated:-I live at No. State street. New
York; was employed as porter by Durancey Is
McGhee; went into their employ since May last; had
no regular hours; was there on Sunday morning
until eleven O'cl ock; saw both Durancey and
McGhee; saw Durancey that day about
three times; saw him about halfpast six
O'Clock IN the evening behind the bar;
he said had lost the key OF the stable; gave the
Key TO Tommy, his son, in the mornings saw NC
Ghee also; he said nothing to me, except asked
how the horse was getting along; did not see the
partners conversng together; l took sleep be-
tween one and two O'CLOCK, then went to the stable
and about four O'Clock returned to the store; went
down into the cellar but did nothing there; there
was gas meter in the cellar on the right OF the en-
trance towards Montgomery street. 1t was about
foot and half in width and q foot in height; 1t
was square; the gas was burning In the afternoon;
turned the gas OF between four and five O'Clock;
smelled no gas, but when opened in the morning
smelled foul air; ! placed three barrels In the
cellar on the 9th inst; they were brought
By John McGhee; they were blue barrels,
and smelled like OIL; Mr.. McGhee said nothing about
them; about three weeks before put q barrel OF
brandy into the cellar. the three barrels ike
Kerosene oil barrels have handled kerosene OIL be.
fore; but could not tell decidedly II the smell was
that OF kerosene; was not in the cellar on Sunday
only at the time stated; when went out OF the cellar
and went again to the stable and afterwards went
back, locked the cellar and went straight home; l
then noticed smell; there stair to the cellar
from the rear OF the fruit stores arrived home about
nalfpast six O'Clock; left at the saloon Durancey,
McGhee and Mulligan, the bartender; did not
hear word pass between them; first heard
about the fire at half-past seven O'Clock In the
morning was told by little boy In the street, don't
know who he was; went 10 see Mrs. Durancey and
said the fire was an awful job and she SAID moth.
ing; had no further conversation about the fire;
then went 10 the stable; had conversation with
any one about the fire; II was my business to pump
liquors from the barrels; never had any conversa-
ton with either Durancey Mcihee about the con-
tents OF the three barrels; there were coverings
on the bungs; worked III handling kerosene for two
The smell OF Kerosene but could not tell that kero-
sene was In these barrels; saw Mulligan after the
fire, but had no talk about the fire; talked to him
while he was locked up In the station house, but
said nothing about the fire; met him to-day, but
said nothing about the fire; nobody was to see me
yesterday; have no family; took a walk around
Castle Garden, and that part OF the town: met man
pGnaed: saw Mrs. Duranoey nearly every day since
the fire: nothing was said about the fire; little
Ionnny r M has never asked me about his faiher when
home ana went to bed; did not return that night;
awOke IN the morning about half-past six O'Clock;
had On then the same clothes have on now; McGhee
was In the habit OF bringing goods to the store:
saw HIM going to New York with the wagon the day
he brought the three barrels never heard Durancey
Mr.. Summers testihed-Lives at No. l78 South
street; am reaner of petroleum OIL at the corner
the business twelve years; have seen the barrels
taken IRON the ruins; tney have the appearance OF
kerosene oil barrels but the smell IL very nuistlnct
almost too sweet for kerosene Kerosene IS not eX-
posive before reaching temperature OF l1O Fahren-
heit: 1t would not explode in barrel II the bung be
tight In and the barrel full but only half full OF
baser material so the air could reach It, there would
explosion OF kerosene will create flame: the smoke
Is black. according TO the heavnesS OF the oil; the
rsg rn ro W wcua ne ne
oil would not he much; nave known barrel OF OIL
10 burn up and not eXpIode there was no benzine
IN the barrels taken from the ruins.
Mr.. Winfield here put a question as to the explo-
sve power OF gas arising from kerosene or other
plosive lIQuid If scattered over the fO0r Coroner
Wandle at once interposed and directed the witness
not TO answer the question. The investigation was
Instituted not for the benefit OF the insurance COM
panies concerned but tor the purpose OF eliciting
facts as to the cause OF death or persons.
Any question which does not atm at the latter OBJ
Ject was lnadmlsslble. The investigation would be
sufficiently protracted without the introduction Of
issues III which the State is not concerned.
Mr. &. 70. Edge was then placed on the stand, and
he testified as fOl.Ows:-I reside In Montgomery
street, near Van Worst square, and am superinten-
dent OF the Jersey City and HObOken Gas Works:
gas Is not explosive unless from other causes; 1t
would require 600 feet OF gas TO fill room the size
of the saloon and would take twenty-o hours for
this quantity to escape from one burner: flame
would immediately follow an explosion caused by
gas: should think me force OF ihe explosion would
be about the same on all sdes; did not hear the
explosion at the saloon; wis familiar with the
building; can form no opinion as TO the cause OF
the explosion, to Its chars cter what could
have caused so instantaneous fre; the force OF the
explosion OF gas rests altogether upon The pro-
portions OF gas and AR as mixed vogether consider
tnnk sufficient gas escaping from one burner IN the
cellar could fill the store sufficiently TO expode, but
would be sulilcent TO sunocae persons IN the upper
part OF the building.
Smith Mead sworn--Am mason and builder: on
Monday morning furnished men 70 dig ont the bo-
dies OF men III the cellar found two bodies In The
west end OF the cellar on Tuesday; they close
probably fifty loads, before the bodies were dlscov-
cred: the store moor and the second door lay on
them; smelled Oil around the premises, ana on the
water in the cellar saw some oil nOattng; could
not say what description OF oil 1t was; on Tuesday
we came to the gas meter In the cellar; 1t was de.
tached from the feed pipe and the gas was escaping.
Mr.. Townsend sworn-I knew Durancey and Nc.
Ghee the first for three years ana the latter eight:
had n conversation with Mr.. McGnee on Sunday
evening, between seven and eight O'Clock; he was
sitting outside the door; he said they were going
widen Montgomery street and tneg would make
well out OF 1t by getting so much for their place;
jimmy, the porter, then came along, and was gong
In, when McGhee asked HIM where ne was going; he
said he was going down to the cellar to Dut out the
gas; McGhee told him not to mind the gas, he would
TO IT. short time alter was in the saloon again,
when Muligan, The BARTENDER, pulled down the
shades on Montgomery street; said TO him Mr. Nc
ihee sitting out there, he VIII not like II: he
piled that Mr.. McGhee tOid nm TO do my brother
inlaw said he smelled kerosene oil; my father said
IL was from the roo which had recently been tarred;
was in the saloon quite often; the father OF McGhee
said to that Mullgan was the only living witness,
and told him OF the conversation had with his
son.
Henry r. Farrier, Chief Engineer OF the Fire De-
partment, testified that he arrived at the fire before
any apparatus; members OF No. truck i0und
body while the fire was raging, and at about four
O'Clock another was found; the same morning
placed gang OF men at work, and also engaged
another gang, under Smith Mead; did not near the
first explosion, but heard the secOnd cannot tell