The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-24
THE HOMICIDE In AVENUE A.
Continuation OF the Tv.al of McNevins for Kill
ing Edward Hines-Testimony for the
Dsfenoe-Judge Bedford to Charge
the Jury To-Day.

The trial OF William II. McNevlns, charged with
shooting Edward Hines on the 27th Of November,
was continued yesterday before Judge Bedford, IN
the General Sessions. While the witnesses were
being examined the court room was crowded. and
the greatest interest seemed to be manifested In the
proceedings
TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION CONTINUED.
Assistant District Attorney Sullivan called Annle
Hines, the sister OF the deceased who said that she
saw HIM after he was shot, and went with him 10
the station house, and was with him when he died
at Bellevue Hospital; the knife now shown to me
took out OF my brothers. pocket and brought it
home, placing 1t upon q stand IN my bedroom;
missed it when woke up, and did not see 1t again
till last week. when my youngest brother gave to
me in Troy; he thought it belonged to my co usin's
husband.
DR.. Joseph Bryant surgeon at Bellevue HOspl-
tai testified that when Edward fines was admitted
he was suffering from a gunshOt wound about five
inches above the pevis In the abdomen; assisted in
the postmortcm examination, and in my opinion
the cause of death was perltonitis, caused by the
gunsh0t wound together with the escape or blood
into the cavity, that resulting from the laccration by
the bullet the bullet found by Of the other
doc tors.
Augustus Nelson, who ut the time OF the occurrence
was the police force, testified that about quar-
ter-past one O'Clock on Saturday morning, the 9th
of November, he was going down Fifteenth street
toward the East river and met McEevns on the
corner Of avenue A, coming down avenue A; heard
an alarm rap before went to the corner and ran
down to see what tho disturbance was; as l was
turning the corner McNevns turned it also, and
said, "You had better hurry, they are shooting he'll
out of somebody In Sixteenth street;' hurried
up, met an officer, turned back and saw
McNeyins jump into the basement of lager
Haeg dsW and sa IS ho
In Sixteenth street;n the prisoner SAID, "You must
Ge came ne mere e TO gs glass 81
him, but found nothing on him; number OF officers
searched Tor the revolver and loun II lying next to
ne shooting took place and on tue same side Of the
The prosecution here rested, and counsel for the
prisoner proceeded TO open the case for tue defence
that was done in the defence Of the prisoners lie,
whom the deceasei-wlio was q notorious pugilist--
'D'' TESTIMONY ron THE DEFENCE.
William II. McNevins, the accused, was sworn.
and gave his version OF the AFFAIR." am painter,
past twelve upon the night OF the occurrence !
came from free anu easy" win wilma young man
freary, and met James aud Edward Hines: James
shook hands With me and asked me to have drink;
] took It, and then went into the back room;
James Hines had penknife In his hand. and
followed me. asking me TO have another drink;
said that did not care about any more tnat
Edward Hines said to James, 'Gve me that knife
and VIII XIII the son Of 4 b-h before GO TO
BROOKLYN meaning me; they got ont and heard
Edward hall00 TO Johnny Murphy, young man
no was III the store, to come out and nelp him TO
take Jimmy home; James resisted and fell down,
ana while they were struggling went to the door,
and immediately Edward ran at me with knife;
hit him on the head with a revolver ran away and
vas followed by him; haOoed, "Stand back;n
Edward ran me towards the gutter and the two
brothers were coming at me; when l hit Edward
both ran at me; struck against the coal box and
fell against the wheel Of the carts lying side
ways on the W heel when l fired at the deceased;
Ing over me and Edward had a knife In mis- hands
when shot Edward jumped up and ran; Edward
dropped the knife and Jimmy picked 1t up and
ran at me; said, "Stand back" he ran me down
fonr or i've houses struck at me, and fired at him
too: dropped the pistol and ran around Fifteenth
street, the officers statement about the running and
the hiding Is correct.
Counsel then offered to prove that the deceased
the 22d OF May 1870 shot at the witness brother,
nut the Court ruled that only the general bad CHAR
acter OF the deceased, as personally known to the
witness, and not 81 ecilc acts could be proven.
McNevlns was allowed to further state that he
knew the deceased TO be q lighter and dangerous
he heard than the deceased had said that he would
fight at 100 pounds any man In New YORK.
Mr.. Sullivan put McNcvns through searching
Gro g examination, during which he admitted that
nc associated with the 'Sixteenh street gang aud
that when he LEFT the store TO 60 IN the street he had
his hand upon his revolver, which was IN a side
pocket He said that the deceased followed him the
night before with backsnith's hammer; that he
ran INN from sixteenth TO Twentieth street, and
that he tMcNevinsl ran into his own allcyway
II. .. Moses testified that ten years ago the prls-
Oner was employed by his brother as an 0lice boy,
and was honest.
Michael Dean ana Jacob seitz, the former employ
ers OF McNevins, gave him a good character fer
Prisoners counsel asked for an Adjournment
which was granted. The case will DC resumed THIS
morning.