The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-01
The MURDER OF OFFICER LAMBRECAT.


Trial Of George Lavsry-Testimony a. TO the
Rencontre ana the Subsequent Homiside.
At halfpast eleven O'Clock yesterday morning
George Lavery was placed on trial In the Court Of
oyer ind Termner Judge Ingraham presiding,
charged with the murder Of Detective Philip Lam
brecht OF the Nineteenth precinct, on the 25th Of
February. MIR. Sullivan prosecuted behalf OF the
people.
MI. Howe, counsel for the prisoner, questioned
the jurors whether they were acquainted with the
Police Commissioners, Captain Gunner or the de-
ceased, and peremptorily challenged all who
answered in the affirmative or who lived in near
the Nineteenth precinct using up almost the thirty
challenges.
Judge lngraham laughingly remarked that he
thought nobody would be hurt, for instance, if he
was acquainted with Judge Boswofth
Mr.. H0we-Not at all, Your Honor. know you
friend Of Judge BoswOrth. do this merely TO
save time.
The following jury was sworn Francis ]. Don
ely, Nehemiah N. Cornish, Francis =. Furnel, Jr.,
Charles b. Reilly, Benjamin Hadlcy, Sydney Davis,
John Pope, Jacob Dawson, George Hess, Aaron
Bowen, James j.. Reynolds, Benjamin Fullerton.
THE TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION
! Ofllcer Patrick OBrien OF the Nineteenth pre-
cinct, the first witness called for the prosecu-
tiOn He stated that about twelve O'Clock on the
night Of the 25th of February he and other officers
were sent by their captain, in plain Clothes to look
for the assaants OF Officer Tully They wore their
shields on their breasts. There were four OF them,
Officers Webb, Lambrecht, ToOker and OBrien,
walking In single file.
THE Observation-Disclosures THE oFFICERs-THE
DETECTIVES SKULL SMASHED IN.
Officer OBrlen gave very Ineligible account OF
the ARRAY. He said as the officers were walking
down Fifty ninth street, and at Second avenue, they
met William Lavery, George Lavery and william
Fitzgerald. walking arm in arm, Fitzgerald in the
middle; as they were passing one or the civilians
josted against Officer TOoker, who then asked,
"Isn't the sidewalk wide enough for us % Witness
looked back over his shoulder at the same moment
and saw Fitzgerald strike Officer ToOker with
his fist; Tooker seized Fitzgerald, and VIII
liam Lavery ran and caught Tooker, and
| witness arrested william Lavery; at the
same time Oniccr Lambrecht came running back
and seized George Lavery. The next thing witness
saw was Lambrecht and George Lavery wrestling
| in the middle of the road: both fell and Lam
brecht let go; the prisoner then ran for stone !;
Mom because he was JUST then enoSkes
against wagon by three men; he seized one OF
them, Daniel DoheIty, and let go William Layery;
brecht cried, 'StOp the fighting IN shoot you -
william Lavery wrested with him and they both
were whipping" Officer ToOker against fence.
KILLING THE OFFICER.
While Lambrecht and william Lavery were on
the ground George Lavery ran up with a large
stone in his right hand, raised up the stone and
brought il with all MS might down upon the officers
skull: the officer tried to get up and fell again
the witness then seized George Lavery, and after
struggle with him took him to the station house.
PISTOL SHOT.
On cross-examinatlOn by Mr.. Howe the witness
admitted that the prisoner had not laid hands on
any one until Lanbrecht seized him. Lambrecht
"A tn
throw Lavery. The officer let go Lavery and then
shot was fred. After great maneuvring coun-
sci got witness to acknowledge that Lambrecht
told him 1t was he who hred the shot. When
they got back to the station and George Lavery
belt and flung II at Lavery who ducked his head,
and the club , smashed pane OF glass; ne didn't
threaten to have Lavery's life.
Officer Tooker, who took William Fitzgerald to the
station gave similar version of the affair. He
said 1T was pretty warm work; 1t lasted only
minute, and during the time he never got a chance
to take out his club or revolver"
Oficer Webb testified that he saw the deceased
struck by George Lavery; Lambrecht got stunned;
he staggered up and asked l what was struck
with = Witness he's n REPLIED S sM, this and
brecht, not at any one in particular
The Court then took recess.
After the recess 0ficer Webb was cross. xam-
ined. He saw the prisoner George Lavery, at the
station, bleeding from the head and waiting for
ming it at the prisoner saying .'You are the man
that thought TO Kill me-take that" and 1t went
Sergeant Hamilton testified to seeing Lambrecht
brought back wounded in the head; the prisoner
also was bleeding and Lambrecnt charged him with
feOni0uS assault.
Captain Gunner Nineteenth precinct, testified
to having sent squad on special duty; in ten
minutes Lambrecht was brought back with his
skull fractured, and he Identified the prisoner as
his assaant; the officers were in citizens dress;
Lavery was bleeding nom the head.
Dr. Swami testified that Lambrecht had scalp
wound, Jagged as II With rough instrument; the
stone must have been thrown with great force, as
II a mi hln "a M q nj nm tha
l4th OF March from conclusion OF the brain; avery
had two scalp wounds, as II from blows OF biets.
caused by blows from the butt OF pistol: Lam
brecht rallied in the hospital; did not hear that
and got sardines to eat he died after the operation
OF tfephining.
In reply to Mr.. sullivan,u srgeon Gum said the
deceased could not have recovered without the
operation.
Or. Hitchcock of st. Luke's Hospital, testified
that IL was impossible for the deceased 10 have
recovered from that wound
TO Mr.. Howe-He once got 1T OF vomiting from
taking small quantity of beer from another patient
DR.. Hull, who performed the operation, gave SIM
liar testimony.
0nicer Fitzpatrick testified that he ran from the
station TO the assistance Of OBrien who was strug-
Cling with the prisoner; the latter seized him and
Tried 70 throw him over railing and he then struck
the prisoner on the head with his club.
The prosecution here rested.
THE DEFENCE.
MI howe addressed the jury for the defence. He
sed the deceased detective was gant-a man OF
we passions and in perpetual brOils and he was
ne assaiiant OF the prisoner against whose charac-
yer nothing could be alleged and il would be proved
that inc prisoner was justified in everything he did
TESTIMONY OF THE PRISONER,
george Lavery, the defendant testified that he
y laoorer; Matthew Lavery, William Fitzgerald
ana Danlel poherty were walking ahead: William
Lavery anu the witness were walking behind when
he ana william overlook the others they found
them standing with the police not knowing N
there w2s "A hight going on he looked into the crowd
and Officer Lambrecht struck him: he struck back.
others fought into the middle OF the road hearing
Lambrechi say "Where Is my biy9i witness nnTi
having any weapon put ont his foot and trpped IN
Lambrecht and ran away; Lambrecht fred after him
and missed; he looked back and saw Lambrecht
kueeing on his cousin william, pounding him In
the head with the butt Of his pistol: 0nicer Brien
seized him and struck him, and threw his revolver
at bin Ofcer Fitzpatrick struck him with his c!pp
and beat him across the street and dragged him 10
the station house; while he was sitting there wait
Ing for the doctor Lambreeht hung his club ~ him.
and said il lie had another pistol he would bill him.
he never s4ruck LambYecht with a stone; the police