New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-26
A TENEMENT FEUD.
BRoDERICK,s PLEA OF sELF-DEFENsE.


An unusually sad story of continued and
faalyendng family contention revealed yesterday
ut an inquest by Coroner Young relative to the death OF
James w. Broderck who killed by his own father
early on Friday morning. The father taken from
the Toinbs 10 the Coroners Office about hour before
the beginning Of the inquest He is II years DID, OF me-
dun stature with blue eyes, sandy mustache and goatee
ana short sandy hair plentifully mixed with gray He
wore hght-cOlored trousers. with clean brown
checked short blouse neatly ironed shirt.
HIS eldest son. who also stabbed during the fatal
struggle arrived afterward and they greeted each
other quietly His wife and their two eldest daughters
Gil In deep mourning arrived only moment before the
beginning OF the inquest, with his youngest daughter
little girl of seven years. who white dress with
black sash While they were entering the father was
sitting beside his counsel, with his back toward the
door, but becoming aware OF their presence he
sprang to his feet and toward them His wife threw
her arms around his neck and they stood In the middle
OF the room surrounded by their children The specta
tors drew back, and painful followed. The
husband and wife kissed each other repeatedly both
groaning and sobbng convulsivey. Turning from his
wife. he embraced his daughters and Selling the
younger IN his arms he casped her closely to him. and
kept her beside him throughout the inquest
The testimony elected received with unfegned
astonshmen only by the spectators but also by the
Coroner, and Police Captain Washburn, whose
officers had arrested the accused and who had personally
cOnversed with him at the staton-house. 1t appeared
that for sone unexplained reason the prisoner and his
family had previously concealed the circumstances OF
the terrible tragedy. While the witnessstand, how
ever, reticence seemed to disappear, and all told
OF threat by the to throw their
father down stairs; of their violent attack upon
him with knife and a loaded club of their previous
threats against him OF their waywardness and
abuse toward him. aud OF their grandmohers irritating
interference with him. Tho mother, progressing
woman Of about 45 years, testified with evident reuc-
lance against her The daughters manifested less
unwngness to expose their brothers, while the
ded brother himself seemed to have determined TO
make full confession of his waywardness The
brother was OF rather short stature
but broadrshouldered and OF powerful physique.
His wound caused him to vince frequently while he
was giving his testimony The calling OF the father
himself to the wtnesstand by his counsel was regarded
with considerable surprise. Coroner Young was willing
that he should make a statement, but the testimony
could be permitted to have weight with the jury he
preferred not to examine the man formally. He re-
minded counsel that accused persons were rarely II
ever called upon to testify formally at inquests which
were to pronounce upon the guilt Of any one but
simply to determine the manner of death and by whom
caused. While making his statement the accused ex-
hbited much nervousness and spoke hurredly At the
close of the inquest there sad parting between the
father and his wife and children, and just before the
police took him he crossed the room and, throw
ing his around his kissed him, the son return
ing the embrace The substance Of the testimony will
be found below with the verdict OF the jury Of justa
BILE homicide:
THE TESTIMONY AND VERDICT.
Della Elizabeth Broderck testified: The deceased
was my son; my family consisted Of my husband, my
SELF our six children and my mother, who is rs years
old and has sick for the past six years. Thurs
day night 1 went TO a picnic at Funks Park with my
son James, the deceased, and my daughter Clara; my
husband remained at home with my eldest daughter
Kate, her little sister, and her grandmother we went
to the picnic with my husbands permission; we met
my youngest Tommy and my eldest son John at the
picnic; they home with John had been drink
ing and was little under the influence OF liquor; all
got home after m. on Friday; my husband was
waiting at the street door; he a little under the
influence Of liquor but not much we all went up stairs
and talked together for short me John and his father
had few words about family matters; his father
ordered him out of the house, but James got hold of him
and pulled him into his bedroom James made John
stay with him after that we all went to bed when the
trouble place in the morning. was in the sitting
room sewing a button my husbands pantaoons;
heard the boys talking improperly to their ather
they were in the kitchen there is bedroom between
that and the stngroom heard one Of the boys, don't
know which one call his father - heard James, the
deceased say, Let's throw the - down stairs "
saw my husband 20 toward them with 6ed-slat
called out 10 them not TO quarrel and would
settle IT. but before could get clothing to put on
IL was all over if could have got to them cond nave
stOpped 10 all; whenever my hus0andwas quarrelng
always put my around his neck and took him
away: could always persuade him to be qulet James,
the deceased never drank he know the taste of
liquor but he was very passionate John drank some
times and his father often mad trouble with hin about
that, ana about woman; my husband was very quar-
resome whenever ne had Veen ui1s to Du lanes
contributed toward the support or the FANNY all tue
time but John did anything more than TO pay MS
board when he was sober never saw the knife now
shown TO LIE; did not see any staDDing.
THE SONS CONFESSION
John W. Frederick testified Met the folks at the
.afaH a1
with them asked father for his meerschaum pipe to
smoke he refused and said he let others take it and
ought to let me he said that his business, and
told him I would get "square" with him he ordered
me ont OF the house, and went to bed my brother
James woke tine up III tae morhlng ana GaIG GOns
he also said, Let's put the - out!' and l said;
Yes, let's throw the old = down stairs -" father
then came at with bed-slat, and grabbed table
knife the table raised the knife and caught father
by the shoulder; thinking had the best OF hun,
dropped the knife and against him head
FIRST feeling that ,I Was Ss,. stabbed, Units sag
then out found my brother James stabbed on the
stairs seward did not see knife in my fathers hand
account OF my own dlsobedience; have threatened
my father before, but never struck him two years
ago the deceased knocked his father down the floor
he then seized chased his father of the
house grandmother would always interfere and take
part against faher she has concealed my bad &C
lions from him many time wherever had any dis.
turbance with father would go away; the deceased
carried pistol for long tme because he had testified
against thieves snd he afraid they could xii,
him he threatened to shoot father several times
father working man, and always provided
good home for his family through dlsobedencc to my
father put the Penitentiary for assault
and battery and grand larceny.
THE SISTERS vNDIcATE THEIR FATHER.
Catherine Broderick sworn am IA years old; the
deceased my brother; arose about 6:i5 q. IN.
to get ready to 90 to my work; am Dustie-
maker; about 6:i5 a. m. heard father quarreling ABOUT
a button to be sewed by my sister CARA ne was Id
the kitchen between my bedroom and the sttlngroon
heard him say he mad told grandmother 70 tel cara 10
sew IL on; heard grandmother say that she hau orgo
ten 10 tell Clara; grandmother and were IN our peu
roo,n torather dressing; father came in aud pushed