The New York herald., 1871-12-15

investigations Before Coroner Young An
Open Verdict.

Investigation Before Coroner Young An
Open Verdict.
The case OF James Durnia2. the cOachman, late
OF No. Great Jones street. whose death has here
tofore been quite fully published In the HERALD.
yesterday received thorough investigation before
Coroner Young.
Early on Tuesday morning OF last week deceased
was found lying on the pavement at the corner or
Finy-sixth street and Third avenue, apparently
much under the influence liquor and near him
stood tho horses and coach which had been In
charge OF deceased.
Thomas burning. brother OF deceased. seemed
strongly impressed with the idea chat, after the
police had taken charge OF hts brother. he had heen
dubbed and his skull fractured In that manner, but
he had no evidence whatever TO sustain his sus.
plclOns.
Henry Quinn, an officer OF the Nineteenth pre-
cinct, deposed tnat on Tuesday morning last no
found deceased lying on the corner OF Fifty-sixth
street and Third avenue, evidently much int0xi-
Gated; raised him upon his feet aud asked him
what he was doing, to which he made little or no
reply and after little delay took him 10 the sta
ton house, assisted BY citizen. where complaint
for drunkenness ana disorderly conduct was made
stairs ana placed III q cell by the doorman; soon
alter deceased was arrested he inquired for 'Mke"
and said man by tnaS name had been with him;
deceased entered no complaint OF having been
cluDDed or Injured In any way.
DR.. Rogers was called to the station house ut
seven O'Clock on Tuesday morning and found him
insensble; SAW no marks oil violence on HIM.
neither was there anything TO show that he had u
fracture oil the skull; thought IL might have been q
case OF ap0plexy Brighs disease Of the kidneys;
his breath smelled so strongly OF liquor Is to DO
very offensive.
Sergeant Whitcomb testified to the admission or
deceased TO the station house ana his condition at
the time; Burning was placed In q cell and visited
three times before six O'Clock In the morning;
al the second visit to the cell found deceased lying
on tho door, with his head towards the door, spoke
twice to deceased during the night and he replied
In insulting and pr0iane language, telling him, III
short to Mnd his own business
Other witnesses were examined, but no
new light was thrown on the matter. The
impression was that deceased, while inebriated had
fallen from his box and fractured his skull; but
Captain Gunner, OF the Nineteenth precinct, who
had made thorough investigation OF the case,
could not learn Ill what manner the injuries were
received.
Coroner Young delivered the case 10 the jury.
who rendered the following
-. .-.,.N VERDICT
"That James Burning Came 10 his death by COM
preston OF tue brain from fracture OF the skull, re-
Celved in some manner to uS UNKNOWN, and we
exonerate the police from oil blame In the matter"
Be.ore the investigation was concluded the
brother OF deceased expressed himself as being per-
fecny satisfied with the manner In which II had
been conducted; but after the verdict was received
no exhibited quite different spirit, and charged
the officer making the arrest with using violence TO
the dead man. I. ...5t..4