The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-26
Inquest IN the Broderick
Tragedy.
The Father Acquitted Of Blame for the
Murder Of His Son.
"DoNE IN sELF-DEFENCE.'
The Witnesses Unite to Exonerate
the Murderer.
SCENES IN THE COURT ROOM

The Family Oongregate Around the Father
and Bemoan His Fate-The Prisoner
a.t To Be Admitted to Bail.
The inquest into the circumstances attending the
death OF James W. Broderlck, who was killed by
his father, Michael G. Frederick, on Friday last
took place at eleven O'Clock yesterday morning at
the Coroner's office. Shortly before the hour the
prisoner came In and sat at the table directly IN
front OF Coroner Young. he was evidently under
the weight Of great emotion and looked around
him apparently almost dazed with terror. He had
been sitting in his seat Q few moments when his
family entered the room. There were the wife, Mrs.
Delta Broderick the son John, who received q stub
wound at the moment James met his death, and
the daughters, Clara Catharine. and Margaret
The father rose and the wife rushed into his arms,
crying 'My husband, my poor Ausbandi" while
tears ran down the cheeks Of the wretched
woman, and the father sobbed like child.
1t was truly Affecting scene and was managed
without theatrical erect Then the father sue.
cesslvely took the three daughters and kissed
them. The smallest, little girl about I'VE years Of
age, he took upon his knee and kept there during
the inquest. Mrs. Frederick, who is nne look.
ing old woman, and the daughters were dressed in
were visible upon their countenances. The son
John remained unnoticed by the father and sat
down between the mother and the eldest daughter
locker on could hardly remain Indifferent to
such an exhibition OF family trouble. Whatever
the great sin Of the crime 1t was evident that the
suffering OF the living was heartfelt -
The inquest was managed very skilfuny and was
carried on evidently on preconcerted plan. The
family, which had already lost one of its MEMBERS
khov Tn kk1A elvrnnV
which took place no one point was brought up
against the father. and all the family united to
make their evidence favorable as possible to the
prisoner and as hard as possible upon the dead
and the living sons. Even John himself made the
most compromising revelations concerning him
SELF and the story Of each one made q whole
which was too perfect not to give the & 0.
SUSPICION OF PREVIOUS REHEARsAf.
This was made all the more palpable when after
the whole family abusing John, the son John abus.
ing himself and his father, and the father speaking
In the most reproachfu terms Of his living and
the jury had retired, the son, as il feeling there
was no further need Of eject, went up and sat be-
side his father, had pleasant chat with him, and
only seemed to see the improperly Of his action
when advised OF 1t by his counsel privately This
gave tnge OF unreanty to the whole thing, which,
perhaps, fortunately for the prisoner the jury was
not there to see. The motherin-aw was absent
from the inquest. She was the person about whom
all the trouble began, and 1t seemed rather extra
ordinary that she should not be present Mr.. Leo
Schwab appeared as counsel In the case.
Mrs. Della E. Frederick was the first person ex-
amined. She testihed-The last time saw my son
James alive was on Friday morning; James, John,
Catharine and myself went to picnic at Funks
Park on Thursday evening; my husband was not
there; we returned about one O'Clock, and found
my husband waiting for me; we all remained up
some time talking; there was q growl between
Michael and the oldest boy John; after that we
went to bed never saw James again alive; in
the after got On up IN the
was not in the room where the trouble was; had
been it would not have taken .sI place. | always
said "Be quiet TN get my Clothes and md win
Eab hgrrg Sf Sd 0s succeed In 'ime' and saw
on the stairs; James did not drink; John was a
| little under the influence OF liquor; my husband
dd mot 'o1n IN the sny mad some
| my husband had been drinking little; James
took John into the bedroom; the father and the
| boys had trouble because they would not do what
the support Of the family; heard James exclaim,
| d think it was James,, "Throw the Old son Of 4
p.h OUT" ala net see my husband have knife;
| did not know he used one.
JOHN W, BRODKRICK
| testiHed-I live in West Tenth street, and work
with my boss, Thomas L. Asten, of No SO Beecker
street; went alone to the picnic Of the Stanley
aSsr M "a' door vain ana met
| me; had some trouble about woman with my
father that night, and went out saying would
| little past six; James woke me up and said,
'Come odt here, this Old son Of b-h Is growing
asked my tnr S S What the nUse
about; he ordered me out Of the house; Jim then
and said says let's throw O him him down
| saw my father come with sat; then took
| l felt something sticking me and ran out James
| would always interfere when my father would put
in word; have often threatened my father; so
mas James; was taken away on Q stretcher after
supporting James on the stairs till he was dead;
never had much trouble with my father that is, no
James often had trouble with my father; two years
| ago he took q sword 10 my father and chased him
bu ia nne Of my Sroer
James lot ia, dlsoo PEE running away and firing
Captain IN f sns existed es
father, James and my grandmother
eesttned-My name Is Catharne Frederick; live at
was at the picnic with my mother and brothers;
s ZANE H9SSf psnc S Saars
past one when got home; went TO bed; heard
e. work sn a sS 81 S
street, at hustle making; was dressing myself
When nearu some trouble between my grand
mother and father; heard him complaining about
button which was to have been sewed on his
pants; heard him tell grandmother that he had
told Clara to put the button on; went outside
and told Clara to wake up james and John, ana |
heard them come In; grandmother was putting
up Jimmy I said. "Or else there might be a
murder;" heard Jimmy threaten to shoot my
father before, and grandmother used to talk ugly
TO my father; my ather pushed my grandmother
over and she fell on the bed Clara then went and
woke them up: John came in first, Jimmy was
about yard behind him John sat on chair by
tue table, Jimmy was pulling on his shoes trouble
commenced when Invent out TO comb my hair;
heard John calling for Jimmy, but did not see the
row; wnen went into the room saw the knife IN
papa's hand; Jimmy and father were close toge-
Their and striking out at one another; stayed Ia