The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-13
THE FIFTH WARD HOMICIDE.

Coroner Young yesterday investigated the case Of
William Morrissey late Of 25S West street, who was
killed late last Sunday night by blow on the head
from paving stone In the hands Of one Of gang Of
young rowdies. John Martin Connors, John Clancy
and Richard Ahrens were arrested by Detective Field
and others Of the Fifth precinct police on suspicion
OF being concerned In the killing of Morrissey. 1t
with Morrissey stabbed him in the forehead, and
that in the second fight, which ensued In
a few minutes later, his brother John crushed
In Morrlssey's skull with paving stone, but the
testimony failed to show such to be the case,
although strongly pointing to such result In
fact there was total absence OF positive testi-
mony to which Of the prisoners inflicted the fatal
violence, and as consequence the jury held all OF
them. Below win be found q synopsis of the evil
dence eliCited:-
George Harmon, Of 90 Laight street. testified that
he was o cousin to deceased; saw him last Sunday
night, .in company with Mr.. Thompson and the
wound on the }ore6ead adj ten minutes later
saw deceased IN Washington street lying
down, with stone on his shoulder; Martin
"Come on, that will do for him; did not see Mar
tin Connors throw anything; heavy 6t o. paving
positively identify it as the one he took from de-
ceased's shoulder.
Simon Thompson, Of 25s West street, de posed
the deceased In front of the door; the Connors
brothers and one or two others went into an ad-
came out and said he could beat that
Z during which John Connors struck the wit,
moss, who had interfered to separate them
Connors and those with him ran away and deceased
the witness heard stone rafting on the pave
ment, and, going in that direction found deceased
previous to the difficulty MOrrissey threatened 10
punch John Connors In the snoot;" where de-
place for to conceal there spe
= shanties and dark aleyways near there.
& tns ca Sssws
Soanoiss in the face ana the latter punched
the hands Of one Of the Connors' boys; they
saw saw, policeman coming; ran away; deceased ran
that his brother was being murdered; ran into
/ Washington street and then saw Martin and John
Connors, John Clancy and Richard Aherns beating
deceased; the witness ran away crying s.murder,
and just as he returned his brother was knocked
down with paving stone, which hit him on the
head; the boys then ran away Martin COnnOre was
! the last one to go; don't know which one Of them
: threw the stone; the witness was quite sure the
Connors murdered his brother.
Thomas McNierney, OF ~ Greenwich street. de-
posed that he saw deceased on Sunday night, cor
quarrel with John Oonnors; witness took hold Of
John Connors and told him TO clear out; twenty
minutes later heard deceased had been murdered,
lying on the pavement
Patrick Fitzmorris Of % Harrison street, deposed
that he saw the Connors and two others fighting,
and, going up the men ran away the smallest OF
them saying, "Come away now that win do for
him." think the remark was made by Martin Con-
nors; deceased was then insensible.
Omcer Kellaher testified to arresting John Con-
nors and finding blood on his hand; asked him
where the blood came from, and he refused to tell
Detective Richard Field OF the Fifth precinct, tes
titled that he arrested Martin Connors in Williams
burg, and told him that M0rrissey was dead,
to which the prisoner replied, "Chrst what did to
him would not hurt anybody" he admitted that he
= thrown at Morrissey, but he denied knowing who
= did throw 1t.
Richard Ahrens, Of 81 vestry street, one OF the
\ he'd that he saw the Gonnors and John Clancy last
81 Sunday night The gave testimony substantially
the same as that given by several OF the preceding
wtnesses); after the first difficulty Martin Connors
said he had struck deceased, but did not say what
: with; after the first fight he went home and knew
nothing about the killing OF Morrissey while con-
al fined in the station house John Connors asked him
to keep still and not say anything about his brother
: Martin having knife.
Deputy Coroner Marsh stated the result OF the
postmortem examination, after which Coroner
II Young submitted the to the jury who rendered
the following
''That william MOrrissey came to his death by frac.
ture OF the SKULL received on the 9th day OF June,
= 1872 as we believe, from o blow by a paving
stone at the hands OF John COnnors Martin Connors
y John Clancy and Richard Ahrens but which OF
then r., threw the stone from the testimony we are
~ A motion was made by counsel for the prisoners
to admit them to ball. but this was refused by the
n Coroner The accused parties are from sixteen to
eighteen years OF age and 1t is needless to say all
OF them deny their guilt Coroner Young commit
ted them TO the Tombs to await the action OF the
d Grand Jury.
man, upon whose exertons his parents relied for a
4 support.