The New York herald., 1872-07-24

The Coroner's Inquest Testimony for
Nichols-He il Proved To Have Been With
Wagner the Night Of the Murder
and To Have offered
Gold Watch for $25.

In Newark, was resumed yesterday by Coroner
Mum, at the Court House in that city. number
Of witnesses testified to identifying the body shed
out Of the Passaic as being that Of Wagner; that
he had with him the night he was last seen
man who wore dark clothes, and that he
had considerable sum Of money with
him on that night The most important
testimony, however, was that given by Police or
fcer John Lees His statement was to the effect
that he had known Nichols some time, he having
been on the police force three or four months. He
saw him last on the 10th or 11th OF this month on
the corner Of Washington and Academy streets.
Nichols had on q dark brown coat. He
asked witness where he could raise $25
on a gold watch worth 500, at the same
time pulling out such watch from
his pocket; he had never seen Nichols with watch
while he was on the police force: witness could
not swear whether it was on Wednesday or Thurs
day this occurred, but he thought 1t was Thurs
day.
THE SUSPECTED MURDERER IDENTIFIED.
After Lees had concluded his testimony the
prisoner James B. Nichols was brought Into Court.
He is tall, dark compexioned man, with
black curly hair and mustache, and
has none gn Of the aSs raSsr GSs Of tine
than otherwise, and altogether he is quite we'll
looking fellow. He wore q light slouch felt hat.
vest 90 He bore the the traces @ Of the jail about his per.
son. and at first seemed very Ill at ease. After
while ne mastered himself and maintained an un-
usual degree Of composure for man held under
such terrible imputatiOn. He was placed
in chair and seated in the middle. OF
the jurymen. German named Wolf was then
called In and told in German to point out the man
whom he saw with Wagner in the saloon on the
the persons present, and at settled on Nicnos
and declared him to be the man. BY order of Coro-
"nn Sshs Of & 'na s Than nat
Mr.. Kerr was also called, and he
testimony. He was then removed Albert Kalisch,
ajeweller, thought Nichols was one OF the two men
who entered his store and desired to sell watch
The testimony OF other witnesses went to show
that Olive q. Beemer young girl who has gained
with whose mother Nichols had boarded had pro.
THE WASHING OF NICHOLS SHIRT.
The washerwoman testified however, that
there was no blood on it that she saw.
Mr.. Carpenter, hotel proprietor testified that
Nichols slept ut his place on the night OF the nth,
when he was sober; witness noticed nothing un-
usual about his appearance; boarded with her
two children; he lett her mothers house owing
bill. The witness gave detailed account
Her relations with him. she said. were somewhat
more than those with ordinary persons" "a litter
in COURT. Nicho.s had told her that his cousin
NICuoIs' FIRST ARREST.
Offcer ONeil, of the police force swore to having
arrested Nichols the night OF the 9th ins tant in
| Market street on warrant for habltual drunken
ness. He was then in company with olive Beemer
NICHOLS VOLUNTARY STATEMENT.
James Il. Nichols being brought Ia again made q
voluntary statement the substance OF which L. as
folows:-on Monday, the sth instant, W..
Wagner and man named N couT
drinking beer. He was in the saloon again on
| Tuesday, and Wagner came in. The latter and
Whitcmore had been the night before to Belleville
on spree. on Tuesday they drank also and
! played cards during the afternoon. Finally Wag-
ner went out and he (Nichols followed shortly
afterwards. About seven O'Clock lie re-
ters OF an hour. lie slept at home that
night The prisoner then accounts Tor his
subsequent movements, saying that he visited New
| York and StapletOn, l.. l., on Friday. He never
saw Wagner, he says from the time he went out Of
! V0gt's saloon. between five and six O'Clock Oh the
night OF the 9TH inst.
Charles Vogt the saloon keeper testified that on
the 9th, in tile evening, Nichols left tho saloon be-
tween seven and eight; he was sure he did not
come back.
Another witness said Nichols had not been in the
saloon all day Wednesday.
At this stage of the inquest an adjournment was
hal till Thursday afternoon, as to allow OF
postmortem examination being had on the body.
with view to discovering whether there very any
marks OF violence The County Ply scian was so
ordered. Ii is doubtful In view Of the horrible
diton of the body. II that official will comply.
The question IS now naturally asked
why this examination was not had before. at the
time the body was Ound In the water. on the llh
instant. ~ his previous testimony DR. Dodd stated
that ne could see no marks Of violence, but Mr..
James H. Holt, who resides at the Hall Way House,
on the river towards Beeville. testified to having
found the body noating in the river and tc having
noticed streak behind the right ear OF the body
when he first saw 1t; there was blood OoZnI from
both eers there was spot Owe? the Lett eye of u
reddish purple color.
his first arrest. when in company with the Bcemer
girl, took place the same night Wagner Disappeared
lie was brought before the Police Justice, and,
promising to Keep eober and uo to work next day,
was allowed to 20.