The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-25
MORE SKULL CRACKING.
Fatal Result or q Spree-PossibIy a Murder
Omcial lmvestisa Oh Two Mem Detained

Fatal Result Or . Spree-PossibIy Murder
Omcial Imvestisation-rws Men Detained
as Witnesses.
The mysterious mania In regard to fatally frac
turing skulls still continues a will be seen by the
report of the circumstances attending the death
another victim as developed before Coroner keenan,
yesterday morning.
Thomas Coogan, q man thirty-sx years OF age,
recently lived with his family at $40 Second avenue
He was addicted to the use OF liquid poison, and
on Tuesday Of last week was indulging
TO excess He continued his spree into the night,
and at q late hour was in the groggcry Of man
named Moore, corner Of Thirtyilth street and Sec
ond avenue, In state OF gross inebriation. Whether
Coogan left that place voluntarily or was forcibly
elected by the proprietor or at his nstgation is un.
certain but it Is sure that directly after midnight
lie was found PROSTATE on the sidewalk, immedi-
atey fronting Moore's barroom, In an almost help
less condition, with blood on his face ana on the
pavement and blood also issuing from his left ear
About the same time Moore and three other men
were seen In suspicious proximity TO Coogan, but
not together the three strangers running away
upon the approach Of a citizen. Coogan was re-
moved to Bellevue Hospital by the police and sub.
sequently died there as now appears, from bad
fracture of the skull. Coroner Keenan, took charge
of the case and examined several Witnesses. The
testimony In some material points Is quite conflict
ing which adds suspicion to the case. Below VIII
THE EVIDENCE ELECTED.
Michael Kane OF No 2t5 East Thirty ninth street.
deposed that at about twelve O'Clock on Tuesday
night he was gong NJ, Second avenue, on tue
west side, and when about midway between
Thirty-f0urth and Thirty NTH streets he heard
heavy fall, and at the same time saw three men
standing on the northeast corner OF Tniryth street
and second avenue; soon alter hearing the fall he
saw three men run across the avenue aud about $50
feet up 1hrty-ffth street, where they stood: when
IN T.
ness saw what looked like a body lying where he
had seen.th three men; heard no nosean saw no
scuIfie before the fall: OF The three men who ran
away two were pretty large and the other smaller;
alter they stopped running he saw one OF the larger
men hand the smaller one something dnas looked
Ofiicer John Flg0tt, OF the Twenty-hrst precinct,
testified that just after twelve O'Clock on the msr-
Ing OF the 18th instant! while IN Thirynih street,
near Second avenue Mr.. Moore met him and said
man had fallen down In front OF his pace the Wit
ness raped for assistance: found deceased lying
on inc sidewalk on the northeast corner or Second
avenue aud Thirty-nith street, where Moores place
Is; deceased's head was towards the door and MS
feet towards the curb; he had some blood ON his
face ana some coming from the lett ear; there was
blood on the sidewalk near his read; deceased was
able 10 walk a short distance. and, becoming weak,
was placed in wagon and taken to the station
house; deceased asked where he was being TAKEN.
Peter Abbott, or 351 East Thirty firth street, de.
posed that between eleven and twelve O'Clock on
the night Of the 16h while going mp second avenue,
he saw man fail near the corner OF Thirty-ni,l
street, there was no one near him when ne fell;
crossed over 10 the opposite side Of the street and
then saw Moore standing by the body, who asked
him to give MIN lift; Moore then went for an OIL
Ger while the witness watched the store; there were
no other men near deceased when he fell.
House Surgeon Alexander, Of Bellevue Hospital,
testincd that deceased was admitted 10 MS care at
two O'Clock on the morning OF the nth In state
OF nsenslbity; ne had an alcoholic breath and was
bleeding from the left ear; the patient rallied
ana was sensible for two days; May ~ the patient
became delirious and died early the following
morning
DIR. Alexander made post-mortem examination
on the body, and on examining the mead DIS
covered round depression rs II made by ham.
mcr, and on opening the Skull circular fracture OF
the base or the skull was found, running through
the perous portion OF the temporal bone, across the
sphenoid TO the perous portion Of the other tenn
moral hone then backward to the Occipital bone TO
the starring point. The injuries were the cause OF
death.
No other witnesses being present Coroner Keenan,
adjourned the investigation Tor two or three days.
In the meantime the witness Abbott, and Moore,
keeper or the porter where deceased had been,
were detained az witnesses.
Captain Byrnes OF the Twenty first precinct, Ia IN
search of further testimony calculated TO uDrayel
the mystery ut present surrounding the case.