The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-31
BRUTALITY AND DEATH.
The Killing Of Mary Ann Gallagher-Her Alleged
Assailant Sent to the Tombs-A False Witness
Entrapped--A villainous Looking Crowd
in Attendance at the Inquest.

For months past there has not been at the
Coroner's Office such congregation of rowdies,
fallen women and disreputable characters generally
as appeared there yesterday to witness the pro-
ceedings before Coroner Herman In the case OF
Patrick Clifford, the ex-State Prison convict, who
stands charged with brutally kicking Mary Ann
Gallagher, late OF No. II Allen street, in the abdo-
men and rupturing some OF the internal organs
in such manner as TO cause death.
Most OF the witnesses, like deceased.
were extremely depravcd women, and they
testified to knowing nothing about the
inniction of the fatal violence but one OF them,
fortunately for the ends OF justice seemed to have
quite forgotten the story she had stated to Captain
Clinchy about the kicking OF deceased by clifford.
The Captain, however, In his testimony, set the
matter right, and by so doing placed Mary Ann
Farrell, alias Brown, alias Coffee, in an unpleasant
predicament, bordering on perjury.
The prisoner with q vlainOus cast OF counte-
nance looked desperate enough to engage in any
grade OF crime, however dishonest and hazardous,
watched the investigation with apparent indifrer-
ence and seemed but little excited when the ver-
dict was recorded against him.
Below will be found brief synopsis OF tho testi-
mony adduced:-
Mrs. Mary Gallagher, mother OF deceased test-
fed that two weeks ago last Friday Patrick Clifford,
the prisoner, came to her basement window, at II
Allen street, under the influence of liquor and in
an insulting manner called to her, but she refused
to answer; on turning around the witness saw that
Clifford had his hand full OF money; he said 'I'
make you speak to me" and putting mis- hand be-
hind his back threatened to shoot the witness; the
prisoner had been living with deceased and he was
mad because the witness would not let him come to
the house; the next day Saturday deceased went
away, and on Sunday returned again and made
complaint that she felt bad; subsequently,
and with much reluctance, deceased told her
clifford in terrible manner without provocation
the doctor who was called and made an examina-
her body; Clifford was sentenced to the
state Prison for four years and hall, but only. re-
manned there short time. The witness fully iden-
titled the prisoner as Patrick Clifford.
Mary Ann Farrell, alias Brown, alias Coffee de-
PRAYED girl, living in Forsyth street. deposed that
she knew deceased and the prisoner, but saw moth
ing OF the kicking; on the Sunday night in ques-
ton found deceased at bad house In Hester
was assisted home by the Witness accompanied by
Lena Gerlach, keeper Of the house in Hester
street, testified that at one O'Clock on Sunday
morning deceased came In and asked II she had q
room, and the witness said .fes;" deceased went
stairs; at four O'Clock in the morning witness
heard some cries In the room occupied by deceased
and the prisoner, and at eleven O'Clock the prisoner
came and said TO witness that deceased had cramps
remain there during the day; at night
heard nothing about deceased being kicked.
Jane Beehec domestic IN the house, testified
that she heard deceased moaning most fearfully
and rapping on the door, which was partially
Opened by the prisoner, witness asked If ginger tea
would not be good and he said eyes, Witness
bought some ginger, and after making the tea took
IL up stairs.
Captain William II. Clinchy. of the Fourteenth
precinct testified that he arrested clifford and took
him to Bellevue Hospital, but deceased was then
dying and could not recognize him; arrested Mary
Ann Farrell, alias Brown, who told him that she had
the prisoner Kick deceased In Elizabeth street
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