The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-14
The JERSEY CITY MURDER.
Kane Shot Down without a NO
ment's Warning.
The Brief but Forcible Story Of the Murder
Coroner's Inquest-The Alleged Murderer
Present with HE Counsel-The Witness
Who Found the Pistol Refuses to
Identify It-Marching in
State to Prison.

Identity It-Marching IN
State to Prison.
The man who was murdered in Jersey City few
nights ago was not, IL now appears, John Adams,
but John McAdams Kane This discovery was not
made till the brother OF the murdered man APP
peared In Jersey City yesterday. 1t also appears
that the alleged murderer, whose name is Nathan
Britton, was known among the employees as
Tommy At the inquest, which was CON-
menced yesterday, in the Morgue at the
Rink, before Coroner Reinhardt, the accused
was present, in charge OF Deputy Sheriff
Tangernan. He Is in the full sense beardIess
boy, scarcely twenty years OF age, with hard,
sharp features countcnance betraying more way
wardness than intelligence, full Of sewill and i'm
patient under restrant-in short, he is fair speci-
men OF that class Of human beings that are apply
designated 'mcn before their time" He was
neatly dressed and sported q nashy gold
watch chain. Beside him sat the entire firm
OF Howe Hummel, who watched the
case with close attention, though Mr..
Howe was not quite at ease in the uncomfortable
position assigned him. He has some strong OBJ
jections against the presence Of O hundred wagons
and as many horses confronting him in the august
Court set apart for the "Crowner's quest" elbow
do you like 1t now % asked the HERALD reporter,
inquest
mel was ahead in the reply. "Oh, don't mention it;
thought we were tedious in New York, hut this is
caution. Still we win push this case" IL bet
you,n added Howe "and think we have good
case too.n This was a clIncher, and the CONVERSE
ton closed. The jurymen were not little dis
tracted lin the religious sense) when the robust
New York legal champion would shift uneasily in
his seat ana dazzle their eyes with his immense
diamonds.
The audience was composed chiefly Of railroad
employees. Five or six females were in attendance
but it did not transpire whether they related
to or in sympathy with the prisoner The follow
ing Jurors were selected to pronounce on the man.
ner in which Kane came to his death:-Robert c.
Blackwell, William Van CieeI Richard ]. Wilson,
sou, Joseph McAdoo, David L. Smith, James g.
Clark, Samuel Bridgart, Harry knight and Patrick
Walsh.
The first witness in the case was James Mccain
who testifed:-I live in Railroad avenue and am
pany; was on duty last Tuesday night; had no
trouble with any person that night; Britton re-
fused to sign the check that gave him for his pay
take his 'tme,n which means 10 us quitting; about
an hour afterwards he came to me; this was
continue to work; told him l guessed not
as we did not do business that way, for we could
not have man leave one hour and work the next
he said there was no use in his staying around,
then; told him there was not, and he left; saw
had not been drinking, as far as l could judge
saw him next on Tuesday morning standing in the
office; told the paymaster that here was man
who refused to sign the check roll because the
name was not right; the paymaster gave him or
ders to sign IL; he signed it "T: Britton," with
him he could not get 1t till next pay day;
he then walked out OF the Office, and did not see
him tin after the shooting ne was IN Goth1er,s
he was in liquor; saw Adams lying on the track;
never heard OF any threats uttered against me by
Brtton; have 1t now merely by hearsay that
have enemies; Adams lived about fifteen minutes
after he was shot; spoke to him several times,
but he made no answer; when the officers came
told them to arrest that man, meaning Britton, as
he had shot man pistol shown can't say that Is
passed it to the officer without examining 1t.
DR.. Buck, County Physician. examned-I held
postmorten examination on the body OF John
Adams Kane; there was no wound on the body,
except bullet wound on the left side OF the abdO-
men, Immediately forward OF the anterior superior
spinous process OF the ilium; passed in probe
and found that the direction of the wound was
downwards and backwards; / opened the body,
the small intestInes, completely passing backwards
towards the spinal column; 1t had also passed
through the ascending yena cava the abdomen
found lying in THE cavity OF the pelvs Outlet
exhibitcd) that Is the bullet death resulted from
James E. Clothier testified board at 25 Ex-
change place. in this CITY, but live in Philadelphia
am employed as yardmaster by night in the Penn
with Britton; last Monday night ordered him to
go into the Union freight yard as We were snort Of
men there he said ne would not go, as he did not
know anything about the yard. told him they
would show HIM: he said he would take his "time'
as there were men who had come there
a anG he worked % about an hour and
a half; he came and told me he wanted his
.'time;' went to write out his time. and told him
answered that he had nine days; he followed me
out of McCain's office, and we said no more about
It; Adams THE deceased) also followed me, and
SAID that was losing very good man L; / said
had done my duty and would not give In about an
Guided 70 90 to work, but that Mr.. Mccain would
not let him; told him l could not help it: he was
not very angry, but was very cool; he laid down
he bore any malice against me until Tuesday
night when saw him on engine 74S about ten min
utes past twelve; came up and asked Mr.. Adams,
the foreman Of the drill engine mot the engineer)
If his train was nearly made up; at that moment
Brtton said .'There he goes now, meaning me
he used profane language towards me; the
glneer or m. fireman grabbed him and pushed him
mean ?" he got on the engine and followed me to
Greene street crossing; ! saw he was intoxi-
Gated and paid no attention to him; Adams was
with him trying to get him to go away; he said he
would not, but he came up to me and wanted mis-
go and get it; he said he wanted it out OF me and
that II did not give 1t to him he would take 1t out
o. me; made no ia, answer; he stepped back and
Adams said, "c Come on, Tommy, and go
a Hash and heard report; they we're
clinched at the time Adams jumped up and said,
20, my God I'm shot; 20 for a doctor, will you,
peaseYD grabbed Britton and sent for an officer;
did not see the pistol at all till went to the sta
ton house; delivered him to the officer and went
for q doctor; was gone about fifteen minutes,
and when | came back Adams was dead was
standing within two feet Of Brtton when the shoot
ing occurred; Adams was not under the influence
OF liquor; DR.. Mclaughlin came with me, but it
was too late the correct language used by Britton
when he saw me first was, "There he goes now,
shooting occurred.
Eugene Vahey sworn-I live at No. s Exchange
place, but my home Is in Pttston Pa. am EN-.
ployed night sman in the freight yard OF the
Pennsylvania depot; was present at the shooting
last Tuesday night shortly after twelve; saw the
pistol in Britton's hand in the early part OF the
evening. His testimony was q repetition OF that
gwen by Clothier.
Ira Beam examined--I live at 457 Grove street
m a. fha ulu ania