New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-13
Local Intelligence.

Coroner's Inquest Verdict-Funeral Of the
Murdered OHcer.-G. 2. Townsden, the po-
lice officer who was shot and MORALLY
wounded on the evening Of Wednesday, the
seventh instant, at the corner of St. Charles
and Common streets, by Aleck Newton,
having died of his wound on Saturday
morning, an inquest was held by Coroner
Creagh, at which the following evidence
in regard to the affair was elected:
William Walsh stated that he and New
ton were in front of No. 80 st. Charles
street, conversing about game OF faro,
when they were ordered to leave by the
officers on the beat. The officers were IN
formed that they were friends, and request
ed to attend to their own business. The
officers then took Walsh and started toward
the station, telling some one else to arrest
Newton. A pistol shot being fired just as
the party started off, the officers let Walsh
go and ran toward Gravier street. Walsh
took cab and got out of the way. The
shooting took place on st. Charles street
about twenty feet from Common. Witness
did not see who fired the shot.
Corporal Champagne. standing at the
corner of St. Charles and Gravier, heard
five pistol shots in the direction of Common
street. and ran there with officers McLaugh-
lin and Coleman. Was informed that
man had been shot, and was told by several
that Alexander Newton done the shooting.
Officer Coleman found the pistol with which
the shooting had been done, in the gutter
arrested Newton and took him to the first
precinct station, where he was soon alter
identified by officers McAlpine and Reilly.
who were the officers that first approached
Newton and Walsh.
officer Reilly saw Newton and Walsh dis
putting near VOLTS cigar store, at the corner
of St. Charles and Common, and. passed
them in company with officer McAlplne.
They continued to quarrel and disturb the
peace, when they were ordered to leave,
Walsh answered impertinently, and they
arrested him, calling at the same time for
officer Townsden to arrest Newton. De-
ceased put his hand On Newtons shoulder.
The latter half turned and witness saw the
fash Of the pistol, and deceased fell down.
Witness and his partner then let Walsh go,
and went after Newton, who backed across
ST. Charles street, firing four shots at them
He then ran toward the st. Charles Hotel,
and was arrested by officers Jones aad
Reilly. Witness is positive that Newton
fred all the shots.
Officer McAlpine corroborated the above.
James DIVER, No. 450 Dryades street, rec
ognized Newton as the man who done the
shooting, and told the officer to look IN the
gutter for the pistol
Officer Jones saw Newton fire the last
shots, and arrested him.
Officer Murphy was at the Orleans House,
and saw Newton, whom he knows, fire two
shots from the middle of the street.
Dr. Ames, city physician, made the post
nortem examination, and found that the
ball, entering the cavity of the abdomen
two and half inches below the navel, and
little to the right fit, passed downward,
cutting the small intestines in four places
and lodging in the pelvis.
The verdict of the jury was to the effect
that deceased came to his death by pistol
shot wound inflicted by Alexander Newton,
and the jury charges said Alexander New
ton with the crime of murder.
The funeral of the murdered officer took
place at twelve o'clock Sunday, the re-
mains being escorted to their last resting
place by large detachment of police under
the command of Sergeants Vankirk and
Caster, and followed by large cortege of
friends.
The reputation of the deceased was that
of quiet, peaceable citizen, and good
officer. He leaves young wife and babe
10 mourn his untimely loss.
COAL OLA girl named Mint Reed,
IL an az and RnHa1