Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-23
SHOCKING RomlciDE IN THE GAS HOUSE.
a Mans Skull Smashed In with q Shovel.
Killing Of Patrick Welch by John Lyden.

Killing Of Patrick Welch BY John Lyden.
INTBkFEIENCg. GOES TO HIS HONE, wAsHKs
AND DRESSES, AND LBAvEs For PARTS US-
KNows.
Our citizens were shocked yesterday by the
report that another homicide had beeR
committed, the victim beng ia6orsr
At the Washington gss-works named Patrick
WEIGH, who had been killed by a felios
laborer named John LIZ den. &C seems that the
men, who were Beighbors, residing at the west
end OF the city, and both night workmen at the
gas-vorks, left their homes on Saturday night
about 1870 O'Clock for the scene Of their nightly
labors So far as is known they had been pre-
viousiy On friendly terms with each other, and
drawing their hres, for the purpose OF masking
them mp anew. WEIGH, it appears, missed
tome coke that he had ready, and inquired
OF afeliow-wor KNIT an, named Redmsn Sulll van,
ii he had taken II, and received reply IN
The negative, when Lyden stepping up said
be had used II in firing mp. This led to
angry WORDS and an ARRAY, which was stopped
by the inter ference Of the other workmen, b az
was afterwards renewed. Welcn was seated on
a pile OF coai near 70 Ly den, who, as soon as he
had filed up his wheelbarroy, started 20 dump
it, ard in doing so had to pass by WEIGH, " men
he stopped. aud. raising his coal shovel, struck
Welch twice on the top of the head, telling him
them and caught Lyden, thus preventing q
third blow. The latter resumed his barrow,
while WeIch was laying On his back appar entity
hfeless. Lydeu finding what he had done and
that " eich did not rally, exclaimed,
"Is he GOING TO DIE?'
and at ouce rushed out and to his home, where
he washed himself, and, putting on q change of
clothing, left without saying a word to his wife
of the murder or what his purposes were. He
has not been seen since. Both were natives OF
Galway, Ireland.
WEIGH came to this country about fogr years
ago. and had been living in this city ever since
He leaves wife and one child.
Lyden is about fOrty.fye years of age and
came TO this country ten years ago, and Is
been a fireman at the gas HOr ks since that tina
He has wife and two children living at the
house adjoining that where WEIGH lives, on 23d
street, between and NJ streets, northwest.
When the facts became known, Sergeant
Swindell, with OFF Toomey, Fleet, Crump,
and Trunneil, repaired to the gashouse, whero,
after an exanin alton, it was found there we're
cuts on the top of the head OF WEIGH,
THE SKULL BEING CRUSHED.
The coroner was notified, and after viewing
the body ordered it to be removed to the fourth
precinct station house, Lieut.. Green in charge,
and ct once dispatched Officers Warwick and
Hawkes. TO arrest Lyden, but they returned with
the information that he had LETT the city. The
OF the murdered man arrived and beheld Welch
cold in death was neartrending, and it was with
difficulty that they were removed.
The Inquest.
coroner Patterson arrived at the station house
at IL O'Clock this morning. and, assisted by Dr.
j. L. Hsrtigan, proceeded to hold an Inquest
Sergeant kneas having sum moned iury with
j. u. Elliott As foreman. Mr.. o. ID. Barrett ap-
Peared as counsel for accused. The body OF
tie victim was laying in the loft over the tier of
cells in the rear building of the station house
dressed in grey pants, with a blue flannel shirt.
The face was blsckened with al dust. The
jury were called in to view the body, and DR..
Patterson administered the oath to them, when
they repaired TO the sitting rooms of tn STA
ton. and the first witness called was Ea,sre
NVrIhy, who testified that Patrick WEIGH and
John Lyden had some words together about
pile OF coke which had been dumped tor use on
the ncoT or the furnace room; WEIGH went
away, and when he came back he found the
coke gone, aud inc uiTed what had become of it,
He asked Daniel Sullivan who bad taken It,
and at that time John Lyden stepped up and
said he had used it. TbeTeupOn welch slapped
him with his open hand, aud fight was about
TO commence, when the men interfered and
parted them. quarter Of an hour after
WARDS, perhaps. WEIGH had fired up has fur
mace, ana went snd Sat down on a pile of
coal. Lyden was engaged in taking out some
dirt from barrow, and be walked over to
WEIGH and struck him with his shovel on the
head; witness did not see the first blow struck
but heard it, looked around, saw the second
blow struck; heard no words passed between
them at this time. Cross-eXamineI :-Welch's
head was turned from LydeD when he struck the
blow; he was not asleep, and Lyden went no be-
hind him or on one side, ard struck him; neither
had been drinking that he knew Of as thew
showed no signs Of intoxtcaton; thought .bsy
had some drinks in the fore part OF the night
but they did not show Il; did not see Lydsn wlen
he went towards WEIGH; witness is a labo, er az
the gas works.
Daniel WeIch testified that a few words had
taken place between deceased and Lyden: saw
the hat of of Lyden and his nose bleeding, but
everything had been settled between them, and
nearly halt an hour afterwards WEIGH was ait
ting down on pile OF coal, when Lyden was
tlliDg his dirt into his barrow; witness heard a
noise, and turned about Just in time TO see the
second blow struck by Lyden; saw no other
blow struck.
By Mr.. Barrett:-The noise he heard was the
hands calling out, " The man is killed." wit
ness was some Six or seven yards of, and thgy
got some water and commenced to battle
Welch's head.
By juror:-It was close upon o'clock when
the blows were struck; Welch was sitting on a
pile of coal close by the wall, and Iyden ap-
preached him from side direction his left side
being turned towards Lyden.
By Mr.. Barrett:-The blow was struck from
the eide of deceased, and not from behind; he
made no noise except 70 give a sort OF grunt.
Redmon SuUiUGa, lab0rer at the gas works
testned substantially as the preceding wit
Michael CLANCY was sworn. His testimony was
corroborative of that OF the preceding wit
nesses
The last witness testified that he heard L.ytIeu
say just as he struck WEIGH with the shovel,
You son OF gun, you hit me while ago"
WEIGH had his head resting on his hand, leaning
up towards the wall, when struck. He first
struck right-h blow and then a left
handed one. each time on the top of the head.
Aathe'o Donohoe's testimony was corrobora-
tive.
DR.. HdJtigan testified that he performed the
autopsy; found q cut and an extensive fracture
Of the skull, the bone being driven into the
BRAIN the wound produced death very soon
afterwards.
The jury then retired, and soon afterwards
rendered q
" That deceased came to his death between the
hours of and clock, on the 22d instant at
the works of the Washington gas company, cor
ner OF 18th and u streets, from q blow on the
mead inflicted with coal shovel held in the
hands of John Lyden."
The body was handed over to the undertaken
who conveyed il to the friends ofsthe decea ed
His family are very poor and in great distress.
~
MANY NEW AND ELxeAET DESIGNS in iewsIry
and ornaments for the hair and for full dress
purposes have been introduced for the first time
this season. In Jet goods these designs are
especially noticeable. In the celebrated Whitby
jets there are superb sets with carved figures
representing birds nests, punches of acorns
crosses formed of rosebuds and leaves with
bracelets, lOckets, and full sets to match and
new Gets Of French jet of rare beauty. In
tiarss, coronets, and bandeaux we notice superb
French gilt studded with pearls, graceful
sigrettes, tipped With Alaska diamonds. and
tortoise shell Spanish combs OF towering pro-
portions, which are considered the very latest
freak OF Dame Fashion. These goods, which
we have seen in endless variety at Mr.. Priggs
Jewelry store, No. i5I Pennsylvania avenue