The New York herald., 1872-10-22
BROOKLYN COURTS.
COURT Of OYER AND TEaMlAER.

Henry Rogers Tor RA1ll1nS OmCer OOn0.
hue-The "Battlc Row. Tragedy-Di-
rect Evidence Against the Prisoner
Testimony OF Witnesses Of tho Fatal
Blow.
Before Judge Gilbert and Associate Justices voor-
hees and Johnson.
The court room OF the Oyer and Terminer In the
Court House, Brooklyn, was crowded yesterday Dy
the roughs and thieves OF the Fourteenth ward.
The attraction was the trial of Henry Rogers, q
member Of the notorious "Battle Row. gang, for
the murder OF Policeman John Donahue, OF the
Fourth street station early on the morning of the
5th of July last. The prisoner is about thirtyfve
years Of age, and despite the efforts which he had
evidently made to present respectable appear
ance. he bore the traces in looks and manner OF
the life of lawlessness which he had been leading
up to the time OF the commission OF this crime.
"Battle Row." as the locality OF North First
street, between Eleventh street and Union avenue
is best known, was the resort OF
A GANG OF OUTLAWS
who made their headquarters at the low groggery in
that vicinity kept by one Hugh McGOldrick. Henry
Rogers, the prisoner, was prominent member Of
this gang, who became perfect terror to the neigh
borhood and whose career Of lawlessness finally
eliminated in the murder of the unfortunate Police.
man Donahue In July last This gang had given
the police of the Fifth precinct Captain Woglom's)
great deal OF trouble, and several hours previous
to this murder some OF them had an encounter
with several officers in Grand street. On this night
In question the prisoner and other members of the
ana after leaving there proceeded to McGodrick's
place. AT midnight the proprietor put them out
and shut up shop. The crowd congregated about
the door and began to sing rbald songs and created
such a disturbance that Oflicer Donahue ordered
them to be quiet. Just before this Rogers was
heard to say that II Donahue came along there
that night
HE WOULD KILL HIM.
He had armed himself with heavy cartrung
which he took out OF McGOldrlcks saloon and as
soon as the officer, after speaking to the crowd,
started to leave the place, he struck him on the
being SO powerful as to turn the officer completely
around. The crowd then fed, ,eaving poor Donahue
lying insensble on the sidewalk with fractured
skull and wetering in his own blood. Several Oti-
GERS arrived shortly afterwards and conveyed the
injured man to the City Hospital where he died In
The assault was committed soon after midnight
on Sunday morning, and by daylight Captain
Woglom's officers had arrested Rogers and nearly
as witnesses, and some OF whom were examined
for the people yesterday. One OF the arrested
the police while being taken from the Court House
to the jail o few days since.
THE PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY.
District Attorney Brttton and his assistant
Edgar j. Cullen, appeared for the people yesterday
while Messrs. Theodore Edison and Z. g. Davis
prisoner jury was obtained with little difiicuity
and Mr.: Britton opened the case for the people.
The first witness examined was Policeman Cart
well, who testified substantially as lows:-0n
the 9th OF July Donahue was my side partner; we
went on duty together; l last saw him IN health
Oh tTanu StTeet, one DUCK lIom MCdOluTlCkS >
place; he was In Uniform; saw him next In front
OF McGoldrick's place, lying on the sidewalk; 1t
was about nine or ten minutes after parted with
him when he left me he went toward McGOdrick IS
place; when ] found him he acted as II he was
crazy; he was lying on his back as IL In c0nvul-
slons, gasping and snortng; l looked around to
see who had done 1t; there was
BLOOD ALL AROUND HIM,
and the skull was fractured; when arrived there
Hound no one near; went with German named
Vessel, VINO gave the alarm; O1cer Travis and |
lifted him into wagon; Oficer Travis went with
could md and short distance from 1t found o
broken club (The bludgeon was shown and ident
ned.l IL looked like o cartrung; there was no
blood upon 1t the club was Just the same then II Is
now; found one piece In the gutter and two on
the sidewalk stayed there full hour I guess be-
fore ! went away; did not see Rogers then !;
McGoldrick's place was closed; McG0ldrick closed
his place with an Iron BAR 1t was q piece OF iron
just long enough to cross the door, about four feet
long; did not see Rogers that night.
Omcers travis and Holland testified to about the
same effect. Then came the testimony OF the sur
ge0ns who made the postmortem examination.
THE MURDER WITNESSED.
Richard Mclaughlin saw the prisoner standing
by the coal box In front OF McGoldrick's place.
with his hands behind him; Rogers said 'If bona
the witness saw the prisoner strike the oflcer and
the blow was such violent one that Donahue was
turned completely around; Rogers was not SO
drunk but that he knew what he was about.
Edward Clark said that as D0nahue passed he
spoke to the crowd for making such noise, and as
he was starting OF down the street
ROGERS STRUCK HIM;
Donahue threw up his arms and fell TO the pave
mcnt; witness was certain that II was Rogers
who struck the olcer as he saw his face by the gas
light.
Abraham Gibson heard Rogers say '1t 70 time