The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-25
THE AVENUE A HOMICIDE.

Trial Of William Ill. McNevins for Shooting
Edward Hines-Testmony Ciosed-Jndge
Bedford to Charge the Jury To-day.
The case OF william ii. McNevins who Is now on
trial In the General Sessions before Judge Bedford
charged with killing Edward Hines was resumed
yesterday, when number OF witnesses were eX-
ahmed by counsel on both sides as to the circum-
stances OF the killing and the reputation OF the
deceased aud the prisoner.
CONTINUATION or TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE.
The first witness was Arthur KInsela who was IN
company with McNevins on the night or the occur
renee. The substance OF his testimony was that
while the whole party were drinking at the par, in
Feary's liquor saloon including the deceased, that
Edward Hines said TO the witness he would kill
McNevns before he went TO Brookiyn; after
James Hines asked the party to drink the
second time Edward ana James Hines
started TO 60 home; they were outside about
five minutes, when Kinsella heard noise, and
saw Edward struggling with James, who mar kniio
III MS hand; the witness Edward take the knife
from his brother, whereupon he (Kinsclia) walkel
inside and saw McNevins IN the back room; witness
stood at the door OF the and heard the report
OF the pistol three times In succession then Edward
Hines came In and said he was shot. ana he helped
him far as Twentieth street; witness did not
know where McNevlns was at the time OF the shoot
ing; the blade OF the knife was ABOUT three AMI
half inches long and was double the size OF the
small pocket knife shown; the deceased was . bad
character and fighter, and the witness had been
with him several times wnen he challenged men In
the ward
Assistant District Attorney Sullivan searchingly
crosseXamned the Witnesses for the defence, with
out however, ellciting any serious points Of variance
therein.
Felix Golden, q carman, VINO was In this saloon,
testified that after the shooting the deceased came
INTO the barroom, and that he (Golden found knife
with a blade over three Inches long on the door,
which he kept In his possession for three or four
months and which lie subsequently showed to Mr..
Hummel, Tlls witness contradicted Kinse!la by
stating that the prisoner was not In the back room
five minutes before the shooting
Abraham Humme !testilied that Golden showed
the knife to INN four weeks since, and described
II as having large blade.
ton OF the deceased to be That OF desperate charac
ter, and that in the fore part OF August, while
nue. A, the deceased came M and asked hun II ne
had seen the prisoner; ne replied IN the negative,
and pulled out knife and said II he caught Will
liam McNevins he would put that into him, or
and told hun 70 look out Tor himself, that Edward
Hines was looking for him; the blade OF the knife
was six or eight inches; the accused was always In
dread OF the deceased, who was the terror OF the
nelghOOrhOOd.
jacob Weckerhensar. who formerly kept saloon
In Sixteenth street, TESTIFIED 10 acts Of violence
which The deceased committed upon INN, ana TO .
threat that ne would shoot him right down.
Luke Gleason, member OF the Fire department.,
swore That he knew Hines, tho deceased, to be .
dangerous man; that he had diricuty with him
once, and that Tines went into blacksmith Is shop,
anu came behind him with sledge hammer where
upon woman haoOed, "Hcre he comes with .
sedge hammer; he VIII XII YOU" Tnc Witness said 10
man In the street, .iIave you got anything with
you that will protect ~ ana he said, ''Yes;"
witness pOlnted pistol at him. anu he ran away
into the house.
Henry McNeyins. the father Of the prisoner, test-
NED that he was quiet ana pcaceabe ana a STEADY
worker.
Jonn Murphy gave his version OF the anair stat
ing that lines threatened to XIII McNevins before
lie went to Brooklyn; thet when the party were III
the street the deceased made rush at McNevIns,
who struck MIN Oh the head, and that then de-
ceased followed him up backing him between tho
coal box and the cart; the deceased was right
the prisoner when he fred the shot; James picked
up the knife ana rushed at McNcvIns, who told him
twice to go back and then fired; the night before
this occurrence the deceased had backsmith's
hammer, and said TO the witness ne would 'croak"
McNevlns before he went to Brooklyn.
Andre Truberg, Aoam Stoke. Alfred Fetherstone
and BERNARD Mooney. painters, VINO employed
McNevins, testified to MS good character SO Tar
they knew IT. but In answer 10 Mr.. Sullivan the wit
nesses said that they did NOT know who his associ-
ates were at night, and did not know whether he
went with "tnc Sixteenth street gang"
Ofiicer Eagan testified that the deceased was a
wild, rough young man, and quarrelsone when
drunk, but when sober WAS Industrious
Sergeant Nicholson gave q similar statement, and
also stated that McNevins went with the sixteenth
street gang.
Robert Ii. Lievscy, who had business dealings
with the deceased. SAID lie believed hun to he INDUS
tri0us.
This closed the testimony In the case, aud the
counsel Will SUN up to-day.