The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-20
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS.


COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS.
The Hudson Street Homicide-Trial OF
William J. Sharkey for Shooting Rob-
ert Dunn-Opening or Assistant District
Attorney RusselI-Testimony for the
Prosecution-The Defence To BE Opened
This Morning.
The trial Of William J. Sharkey, charged with the
murder of Robert Dunn In Hudson street on the LIST
or September last, was continued yesterday in the
General Sessions, his Honor Recorder Hackett pre-
siding. After the transaction OF some preliminary
business Assistant District Attorney Horace Rus.
sell proceeded to open the case for the people,
rating the circumstances attending the shooting in
the saloon, which he expected to prove by the wit
nesses who would be examined. In the course OF
his remarks Mr. Russell said that Sharkey's
slang and his reckless conduct In the
saloon on the night Of the shooting
were similar to the conduct OF fr0ntiersmen, who
were now POLITICALLY called the Argonauts Of 40.
The court room was crowded. by the friends OF the
respective parties
The first witness called for the people was Jacob
Phillips. He testified that the day Of the shoot
ing he went to funeral with both Bob Dunn and
Sharkey; the former was somewhat better dressed
than usual, which brought forth remarks from
sharkey, during which he stated Dunn owed him
went to the saloon in Hudson street known as
"The Place )" Sharkey there and the subject Of
Dunn being unusually we'll dressed was renewed,
and Sharkey said, 'T'll bet that Dunn don't show
up tonight" some time after this Dunn came
WI ne
HIM $500; Dunn replied by calling him o
liar, ana said, if he did owe him any
money he could not pay him then; the con-
versation lasted some time, during which
Sharkey called the deceased names Of the most
a. ol,s,.
am liked; play cards, and am daddy OF the game ~
Dunn replied that he did not want to fight, and
hs aSo ana ae get
Sharkey said, bob, there was time would lay this
hand on butchers block for your sake and
would have given you money as would to beg
away, but Snarkey still kept him covered and,
resting the pistol on his lett arm, he fred on the
deceased, and at once turned to me and SAID.
"Bob did not mean to do that; did not mean to
IsharSey) then went out, and renamed with the
deceased, whose clothing ! cut with knife, and
found out where the wound was; finding he was
dying went out to get assistance.
Henry Kline, who had been kept In the House Of
Detention, was the next witness. He said he had
street, from April to September; had known Shar-
key and Dunn about four months; Dunn visited the
times week; witness was present on the night Of
the shooting, which was Sunday the LIST OF Septem-
Der; he stated that on q week evening about
couple OF weeks before the occurrence Sh0rkey and
three or four men were conversing Dunn was not
tnere) when he 1.-THE wttness) heard somebody say,
REPLIED, " Sae vii wll eh II VIII send him home on
chip" The witness then proceeded to narrate
the occurrences Of the Sunday night in the the
were ringing for church and found sharkey,
Belts and Harvey there; ,snarEey said that
wifes earrings and that he would like to get some
money to redeem them: he did not like to go home
in previous to Dunn's coming in Snarkey said to
Harvey, "lll bet you bottle OF wine Bob won't
show up here TO night Harvey replied, II guess
other, the former saying, bob, ! win take drink
umbrella, Sharkey knocked OF Dunn's hat; he re-
minded nlm that It was q new one, and he
tae end Of the bar sharKey said to Dunn, Don't
you owe me $5ooi" he SAID, mo, don't, and II you
say SO you lle;' sharkey said .Get behind
hind me; have you pistolr' at the same time pull
ing pistol out Of his pocket; Dunn said he never
carried any. (The witness identified pistol
which was shown him as the one which Sharkey
had Sharkey asked Phillips and the others If they
had pistol and they said they had not; the witness
got very nervous then. went outside, got behind
Sharkey, when he said, 81 don't want any OF your
tricks around me- the witness then went outside
or Iour minutes; Dunn had changed his position
from the upper to the lower end Of the bar and
leads into the hall. "a diagram Of the barroom
handed to the witness and he described the p0-
sitlon in which the parties stood snarkey elbowed
Sharkey called Dunn o plump. bastard and
other vile names before the shooting Sharkey said
he had seen the time when he would go into
butcner's shop ana nave his right hand cut on for
him; "Yes, y said he al would put my hand in my
pocket and hand you out money the same as
would to q beggar or bootblack;" Sharkey
had his pistol in his hand, and was then near the
front OF the bar, and Dunn stood at the lower end
he held the pistol over his arm, and the witness
thought he raised 1t up and down three times, hold
ing 1t in his right hand; sharkey said again. Il
have seen the time, you son OF b-h, would go
into q butchers shop and have this hand cut
on for you,n using his hand, and then
sharkey exclaimed, ooh, Bob, did not mean
to do that;, when the witness got around to where
Dunn was Sharkey had gone Dunn's clothes were
after he was shot; he was dead before the doctor
got there; the wound was in the breast; Dunn did
not use any vulgar language to Snarkey before the
shooting; he only said to him about the money,
you lie y the only words spoken BY Dunn alter
the pistol went on were, "Ohl ohl' the witness
noticed that Dunn was very pale after Sharkey
had been talking to him for a few minutes.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr.. Beach at
great length, and said that he had to give up the
pastry and the theatrical profession because he
nad very poor memory; Kline said that Sharkey
the shooting.
John y. Belts, who was present in the barroom
during the occurrence, detailed IL at great length,
and In the main corroborated Kline's testimony
about what occurred up to the time OF the explo-
sion OF the pistol Sharkeylbecame excited, and,
drawing out his pistol, bantcred Dunn to fight with
pistols; ne said, FIX yourself: or are you hxedr
Dunn said he had no pistol, and Sharkey suggested
that he should get one from some OF his friends;
Dunn made no reply Sharkey called his attention
to his pistol being cooked, that IL hair trlg-
ger and w0nld go or very easy; Dunn said, "Put
that up; don't tight, especially with such tools
those; am no lighting mani" Sharkey wanted
while he was in front OF II, aud said, There
is only a couple OF feet between us; who
is the best mani ! am playing cards all