New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-07
THE WALWORTH INQUEST.
A REHEARSAL OF THE TRAGEDY.


UNNATURAL GOODNESS or THE PRIsONER-HE
COMMITTED TO AWAIT THE ACTION or THE
GRAND JURY-HIs ACCOUNT or TuE FATAL
MEETING. .......
The inquest concerning the tragic death Of
Mansfield Tracy WalwortR. the novelist who was shot
down by his son, Frank Hardin Waworth at the sturte
want House at Broadway and Twenty-ninth-st. early
on Tuesday morning. held by Coroner Young IN the
Twenty nth Precinct staton-house. in ThirtiethsL,
near SeYenthave., yesterday II had been announced
that tho inquest would begin at 1880 a. NJ and at that
hour Coroner Young, Deputy Coroner Marsh, Dis
trictAttorney Phelps. the Jury, and many Others
were In attendance punctnay; but neither
the prisoner nor his counsel had arrived Police Capt
Burden informed the Coroner that he had sent sereeants
Heating and Mulin to the TOmbs 10 a coach at an early
hour fetch the prisoner 70 the atonhouse and that
lie expected them to return mOmentary With this as
surance the officials and others waited patiently for
full hour but s the prisoner and his escort did not ap
pear Anxious know the cause Of the delay the Cor.
oner asked Capt. Burden 10 send telegram TO Capt
Kennedy the Sixth Precinct Station house. near the
Tombs, for information. dispatch was sent as re-
quested via the Central Telegraph, at Police Head
quarters in Mulberry-st.. and ct about IS minute.
before noon answer received that the prisoner and
the olcershad Just left the Tombs for the Twentynintn
Precinct sationhouse. While waiting the arrival Of tho
prisoner the officials well the spectator became
very impatient and nothing occurred 20 relieve
suspense which was evidently very irksome. At last,
however coach whirled up to the door OF the station
house at about ten minutes past nOon and Capt Bur
den recognizing 1t the sent by him for the ps-
oner ordered o platoon Of officers to clear tho
sidewalk and doorway. which had become ohstructcd By
a crowd OF curious persons to catch glimpse OF
the young parrcide Sergeant Heating, who was on the
box with the driver and Sergeant Muln, who was In
side OF the vehicle alighed, and assisting the prisoner
from the coach they escorted hin into the saonhoue,
followed by his counsel, Charles oConor, exDistrict
Attorney Garyln, and eXJudge Beach, who had accom-
panied him in the COACH After the arrival OF the parry
il became known that tho long delay bad occurred
through prorac'e cd consultation OF the prisoner and
h4 counsel before leaving the Tombs
Tie prisoner on alightng from the coach, ascended
the .cps OF the statiOnhOuse with firm tread. and
seemed unconscious Of those either side who, with
craued nccEs, we're watching him closely. He looked
neither 10 tho right the left bit walked quickly into
the large sitting-room between the Office and the cells
which had been furnished with extra chairs and tables
for the holding Of the inquest He wore gray business
sut with light purple necke and sOft-crowned white
felt hat As heretofore described he Is Of medium hight
and rather slight physique, though evidently acl'e
and muscular. His eyes gray and rather small
though piercing, and expressive or determination
Though carewOrn IN appearance, he was neitDer nag
gard nor downcast but the contrary seemingly thl
OF anu commence. OuliDR thp aAiA''s az '"@%
searcbingy at the witnesses, and seemed 10 listen 70
their testimony with profound interest though from his
unnatural coouess a stranger might have thought hun
only spectator rather than prisoner charged Win he
killing OF his father When his fathers landady drnu
fed the blood stained note as the one that ne hdd eN
with her, he regarded apparently with unconcern as
he also did his fathers hoodsmeared card. presented
subsequently by Dr.. Fleming while on the witness
stand While Mr. Moorehead who occupied the room adj
tha tpSfYlUg the prisoner lOSt
none of HIS though tho witness testified
feelngly and in describing the manner IN when inc
shots were fired, and the cry OF murder uttered very
impressively, by saTpng his hands together III hit
ton OF the shots and initiating the cry IN Voico OF
terror and distress When about to make BIS remark
able statement the prisoner seemed for an instant ahS
only an instant and about to give way undef
the depressing influences Of tho OCCASION but after
yybspcr of encouragement from Mr.. OCOnor, 'ho re'
covered himself quickly and maintained his c0mposie'
az he had done throughout tho examination. to degree
which caused general remark among both oHlclils ana
spectators.
The proceedings were conducted very quietly. and
lacked mach Of the intense dramatic interest aud incl
dent which the spectators had expected they "OIh
have. The witnesses were examined only OY lhe CorC
ncr and no questions asked either ny the Dtct
Attorney or the counsel for the defense though the es
timony was watched very closely by both IAo ron
call Of Jurors showed the presence OF the ioio"lng
Iobn Y REYNOLDS attorney and couuseloratAw; eN
DEPUTY Coroner Thomas c. Knox, physician ana sur
geon; John r. Gmour, agent F. C. Senior unue FiaAeI
Jonathan Clark retired merchant, and FeIdnand
EibeI uyery-sta5e keeper. The jurors having an
swercd TO their names. the Coroner charged them 10
"banish from their minds all prejudice; to oolieIale
from, memory all that they had read concerning tho
case. and to be governed entirely by the testimony
which would only be such as had direct bearing upon
the death Of the deceased without regard to previous
family troubles"