The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-06
THE JOHNSON HOMICIDE.
Inquest Over the Body Of the Mate ~ the
Schooner Wakefield.

Inquest Over the Body Of the Mate ~ the
Schooner Wakefield.
The inquest touching the causes which led to the
death OF James Johnson, mate Of the schooner
Wakefield, who died OF his injuries at the Long
Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, on Thursday
last, was commenced, before Coroner WhitehiIl,
Yesterday. The deceased was native OF New Jer-
sew. was half owner of the schooner, was unmar-
ried and appears to have been pretty rough
customer generally. He was, according to the
testimony, a man Of Incorporate habits. One Sun
day night three weeks ago. he got into an alterca-
ton in front OF liquor store on the corner Of
Thirty ninth street and Eleventh avenue, New
York, during which he bit mans nose OF, whose
name Is John D0wney. This was on the 18th OF
August. The man, in retaliation, struck
deceased on the head with q stone. John
Fox, the Captain OF the Wakefield, was
in company with Johnson at the time the
ARRAY took place, and Downey asserts positively
that he did nothing incur the anger OF his assai
ant other than to interfere and try and prevent
the two men, Fox and deceased, from doing injury
to one another For thus playing the role OF peace
maker he was knocked down. beaten and part Of
his nose bitten Oh.
John Fox who was the first witness examined
at the inquest, tesTlfed that Johnson came on
board the schooner on Sunday night last,
Vc6Sel
Thirty eighth street; he said he had been struck
on the head with bottle and felt bad and that he
had bitten mans nose OF; this affair occurred
about six O'Clock on Sunday, August u, on the
corner OF Thirty.ninth street and Eleventh avenue
he said, II was there and he had to pull man or
me who then struck him on the head with q
bottle;n remember being In liquor store
at the corner named and recolect stranger
attacking me, but as / was intoxicated don't re-
member anything more; could not recognize the
AZ NIT fpfk TAhn &hoe
night; on the night he was struck with the bottle
he came on the boat looking very bloody and he
told me he was going away l gave him 81, and
told me his jaw was sore and he could not eat; he
told me he was too sick to work, ana got q man
named flaming to come on the boat; we got
to the foot Of Amit W.or street Brooklyn
asked me to get him some pills. and the apothecary
told him to take three; deceased took four; asked
the Waterman on the dock for assistance to have
Johnson taken care Of, and the man told him that
the Board OF Health would take him in charge; in
the evening the health authorities took deceased
away; did go up to the hospital but didn't see him.
New Jersey, before she came to New York she has
been carrying ofIal from Thirtyeighth street; we
laid up there for three weeks; had been about q
week at this place when the row took place. we
than the liquor store on Eleventh avenue except q
beer saloon; don't remember what took place
when l was intoxicated; deceased was In the
habit OF drinking, so much so that he never saved
any money by It; he did not accuse me of cOwardice
on the night he was beaten because ran away
from him.
the college hospital made affidavit that he
had made q lost mortem examination OF the body
OF deceased and came to the conclusion that de ath
resulted from meningitis, resulting from injury to
the brain.
The inquest was adjourned until Tuesday after
noon, at four O'Clock.