The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-05
Coroner Young Makes an InvestigatidA-A Jury
Of Merchants Testimony Elicited-verdict
Against Sharkey-He is Committed to the
-Recommendation by the Jury.

Below VIII be found q report OF the testimony
elected before the Coroner and the verdict Of the
jury, which was composed exclusively OF merchants
doing business In the city. Their names ore:-
+. S. Merriheld, 442 Broadway.
T.. 2. GreenOugh, &c Howard street.
Thomas d. Day, 248 Canal street.
j. G. McCleery, 40 Howard street.
Jacob Hememan, as Howard street.
s. H. Embree, 444 Broome street.
d. +. Howell, 495 Broadway.
Frank Kellogg. 400 Broadway.
II. c. Lewis, 553 Broadway
J. N. Drcisch, 65 Walker street,
M. M. Fleery, 44S Pearl street.
Jacob Phillips, OF 81 West Thirteenth street, de.
posed that he was acquainted with deceased for
twenty years; saw him last Sunday evening at the
porter house 2sS Hudson street; went there with
deceased; Mr.. Dunn and myself entered the "a
loon together, and Sharkey and Mr.. Belts were
there; deceased was asked to treat and he did so,
the parties taking brandy punch; other parties
then treated Sharkey criticised Dunns personal ap-
pearance-h0w well he was dressed; 6harkey said
to deceased that he looked like lousy hummer and
often lushng; Sharkey then hit Dunn on the hat
with his umbrella, to which the latter demurred;
they then changed tho subject Sharkey saying that
Dunn owed him $780, Dunn said, "If you say owe
you $500 you lie; we had money transactions to-
gether and put up my share;" Sharkey replied,
"You are sucker, thief and liar - Sharkey then
became very much excited, and drawing pistol,
said to Dunn, Elk yourself, you son OF b-h; you
bastard;" Dunn said, "Bill, you do not want to
shoot me-" Sharkey said, "Get behind the bar;
there is only two feet between US; fix yourself;"
ShaIkey had his pistol cooked at the time;
they were then about three feet apart; Sharkey
asked the witness and Mr.. Belts for pistol to give
to deceased; Sharkey called Dunn pimp and
petty larceny thief sharkey then put the pistol in
his pocket, and when Dunn changed position
sharkey pulled his pistol again, and had it pointed
towards Dunn all tho time he held 1t in his hand;
Mr. Welsh told Sharkey to put up the pistol and, as
dec eased was leaning against the counter, the
illness heard the report OF q pistol, and looking
around, heard Dunn exclam, "Ohl ohl' and saw
him stagger; Dunn fell to the floor and died in
alb ont five minutes Sharkey then ran to Dunn and
said, "Bob, l did not mean to do it;' Sharkey
then left the place; did not think Sharkey intended
toshoot; do not think the discharge OF the pistol
was accidental; Dunn told the witness that he and
Sharkey had had some difficulty; at the time Shar
key shot deceased the witness was only q few feet
Mr.. Welsh, of 4o3 Washington street. knew de-
ceased and also the prisoner; saw deceased at 2SS
anS ssrsn sa aKs cas
his hand; ' the witness asked ,sharkey e
t at the Witness lace and said, "Bi do you make
good for Dunn :" to which the witness replied;
Dunn groan said to Sharkey, 81! hope you are
satisfied now you have shot DUNN sharkey bent
you;" sent Tor doctor, but Dunn died in five or
six minutes afterwards; could not say whether the
shooting na SE yha'
John Belts, Of 2ss Hudson street, was called and
sworn. He corroboratcd the testimony OF the
came there about six O'Clock in the evening and.
during conversation, said Dunn had not treated
him right about some money matters, and while
talking Dunn came in; can't say that think the
discharge OF the pistol was accidental; think
Sharkey Intended to shoot Mr.. Dunn the men pre-
friends.
draw q pistol on another for fifteen or twenty
minutes without intending to shoot him; saw the
pistol In Sharkeys hand and saw the fash OF the
pistol; Sharkey said, 'Bob, you thcving son OF
b-h, have seen the time would go into
you ~
Henry W. Kline, bartender for Charles Harvey,
2SS Hudson street. testified that when he came
back from his supper he heard Sharkcy and some
one else talking about Dunn; Sharkey said Dunn
came to ME crying, with his wfe's diamond ring,
and wanted some money, and l gave him S500;n
Just then Dunn came in, ana he and Sharkey had
hard words about money matters, and Sharkey
pulled pistol and threatened Dunn, using the
most vile and abusive language; he said, prepare
yourself, you sinking son Of b-h; III put you
pistol went OFF, after which sarkey said bob,
did not intend to do IT, think the shooting was
not nnS heard sns s, say ~
had the pistol In his hand The witness intercred,
when the prisoner turned upon him and said, II
SHOT and told NJ Harvey he was AFRAID there there
would be somebody hurt with the pistol, but Har-
vey thought Sharkey was in fun and 1t would soon
William Heiey, Of So Morton street, corroborated
Thinks e % o th nsa was
Dunn was not offensive to Mr.. Sharkey before the
shooting; he went out directly after the shooting;
Dunn was a quiet and inofrensve man; he was
perfectly sober at the time of the ARRAY; Sharkey
was much excited, and appeared to be under the
Thomas Hanna, OF No. Renwick street, was
called, ana testified TO seeing Sharkey with
cooked pistol in the porter house on Sunday. even.
m n m
manner; heard the report OF the pistol and saw the
fash; the. pistol did not go or accidentally; the
pistol was not on Sharkey's arm when IL exploded;
Sharkey said to Dunn. excitedly, "You play cards
With me- ne play cards aths time and am king Of
Captain Ira 8. Garland, Of the Twenty-e eighth pre-
cinct, testified that between four and five O'Clock
formation tina, Sharkey wanted to see him; went
out and met Sharkey In washington street. near
Perry, with Mr.: Stewart Sharkey said 1t was an
unfortunate affair, but 1t was an accident
Dr.. Marsh, who had made EOst-mOrtem examf-
nation on the body OF Dunn, assisted by DR.. Philip
o'Iianlon, of the Board or Health, then read his
pearcd IN the HERALD. '' r
Coroner Young then made brief charge to the
jury, In which he commented upon the alarmingly
frequent use Of deadly weapons to the great sacri-
ice Of human life, and forcibly Impressed on the
minds OF the jury that 1t would be their duty to
render verdict strictly In accordance with the
testimony.
absence Of about twenty minutes, returned with
the following
vERDIcT:-
"That Robert 8. Dunn came to his death by q
pistol shot wound OF the abdomen, at the hands OF
william J. Sharkey, on the evening of Sunday. Sep
tember i, 1872, at 2SS Hudson street And we
would recommend to the authorities the adoption
or stringent measures for the suppression OF the
fndiscriminate carrying Of firearms by irrespon-
sibe parties.r
Sharkey is twenty nine years OF age, was born In
New York, lives at l19 Varick street and has no
cupatiOn at present.
BY advice OF counsel, Sharkey declined to make
any statement at present.
Coroner Young committed the prisoner to the
Tombs to await the action OF the Grand Jury.
A BANK ROBBER BREAKS JAIL
Hazardous Escape OF George w. Edwards
from the New Jersey state Prison.