The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-31
The NEWARK FRATRICIDE.
Coroner's Inquest and
Verdict.
Tho Friends Of Both Brothers Trying to Screen
the Murdsrer-The Murderous Knife No
whore To Be Found and Nobody Krsws
Anything About It-Unsatisfactory
Statement Of the Aged Mother
Alsck Birrelps Account Of
the Terrible Tragedy.

Out-and-out murders are so rare in Newark, and
especially fratricdal limitations Of tire primal muir
der, as related In the book of Genesis, that 1t may
well be imagined the terrible murder on Tuesday
night OF James Birrel by his brother. Alexander,
In their mothers house on Beacon street. as pretty
fully described 10 yesterdays HERALD, has stirred
the old town on the Passalc to it's centre
more especially a. the Birren boys were
we'd known In the community rom theil
long and not very oreditable connection
with the Fire Department. Bad as both men are
admitted to have been, they are not without hosts
OF sympathizers, who recoIlect the better part Of
both. The case OF the murdered man Is q veritsble
iuhlment OF the scrptural Injunction that "whoso
sheddeth mans blood. BY man shall his blood be
she'd" He slew German some years ago, as al.
himself, not by tho law, but by man, and this
man his own brother. Yesterday afternoon
TIE INQUEST
was commenced by Coroner vreeland After the
empanneilng OF the jury they proceeded to the
house OF the Brrells, on Beacon street, and viewed
the body after which they took the statement Of
the OLD lady, Mrs. Brrell. The agony Of the poor
creature was really hesrtrending, and some Jurors
with soft hearts shed tears OF sorrow for her.
WHAT THE MOTHER OF THE TWO MEN SAID
On being sworn Mrs Christina Btrrell stated that
she was the mother OF James ana Alexander Biz
Tell; that she lived at No. II Beacon street. Newark
the two men living with her; on Tuesday evening
they came home about six O'Clock. James about an
hour ahead Of his brother; the quarrel between
them commenced soon after seven O'Clock and be-
gan by Alexander's accusing James Of some little
thing; tried to quiet them they stopped for mo-
ment; went back to the Kitchen from the porch
and stayed there minute; first thing witness saw
was James going out Of the porch as II into the
garden; Alexander was standing in the porch;
didn't think she heard them say any thing; Alex.
ander came In /; went out and found James lying on
the grass; spoke to him and then saw what was
the trouble; did not sec either Of them have
knife, being busy cooking; didn't know where they
got the knife didn't know whether Alexander said
anything, but put on his coat and 60 out; there
were great many shoe knives about the house,
quarrel d rst commenced James struck Alexander;
didn't knock him down; James was sober when he
came home a ana alexander W. was inIoxicated
know what became OF the knife; all witness knew
about the knife was what she had heard since the
AFFAIR; thought she saw Alexander down on his
knees or side alter he was struck; James was
thrty-three years OF age.
In giving her testimony the old lady manifested
an undou5ted disposition to say as little as she could
calculated to initiate against Alexander. 1t was
especially hard to get her to say anything about
and indie FED, the Cor0ner's effort this direction
proved almost a failure. 1t was the general inn
preston that she knew good deal more than she
was willing TO reveal.
The jury and Coroner then adjourned to the
court house and continued the inquest.
Catharine Kendall swOrn-Thls witness, neigh
Dor OF the Birrei's. saw nothing 0, the fight, but
was called in alter the murder was committed;
Mrs. Blrrell told her that Aleck had been finding
fault because supper was not ready and that
n took her NC sa Ssss
done;'' Alexander said, ut was done in self
Defense"
sworn-Witness testified to James visiting his
house Just before the tragedy, and alter 1t Alex
yo am AFRAID aSe eS killed Us e M
tackled me twice with shoe knife, and took 1t
nom him and struck him, and ain afraid have
DR.. B. l.. Dodd, county physician, testified to
having examined the corpse the morning after the
near che region OF tue collar bone with the breast
bone, where there was ound about an inch long;
IT had passed the aorta and was just such wound
rs II the heart had been pierced; didn't think the
man could have lived more than five mlnu es after
the infection OF the wounds was satisfied the
Lieutenant Partenielder, Of the police, was next
sworn, and recited the statement substantially
himself u and s aae e
James in self-deence, exhibiting numerous marks
OF violence to prove his assertion. Chief OF Police
Rodgers corroborated the Lieutenant's story, and
added that Alexander had told him that he had
thrown the knife away.
vERITABLE KNOW. NOTHING ON THE STAND.
Ralph Jefferson, an intimate friend Of the Biz
reil's, who said he had carried the murdered man
In his arms when an infant, was next sworn. The
main feature OF this Witness testimony was his
Gisinclination and sometimes positive
refusal to answer pointed questions OF County
OF the knife. On cross examination it was dogge6
out Of him that IT, MIS- Brreli had told him they
d we Ss no for
can't tell you" witness. after great deal Of cir.
cumlocutious questioning, declined to tell all he
knew about the knife.
James Cusick, policeman, and Mrs. Allison, wife of
James and sister Of the deceased, swere placed on
the stand, but their evidence was unimpOrtant.
THE FRATRlCIDE GIVES HIS VERSION OF TIE
DEADLY FRACAs.
Alexander Birrell, the slayer o. his brother, was
next called by the Coroner, and asked II he wished
TO make any statement. He was ADVISED that he
say w so,e wished mat would
the following story: -On Monday night mother
bought pound OF veal outlets and tried them
day night James took the outlets and eat them;
next morning when mother went to get them
eggs; Tuesday night, when came ' home, Il tolS
mother In James presence "Jsmes has eaten
them cutlets;" he told me that 1t was none Of my
shut he would slap 1t for me; he said that he
would do 1t anyhow, and he did do 1t; 1 backed out
one step from p, him and he ran and cnched me and
fell he caught NE with his left hand by the throat
that way (suiting the action to the word) my head
was lying on the bench OF the porch then he COM
menced with his right hand hitting me on the face
forehead and cheek; suppose ne hit me eight
mind and laid there moment after he got or me
then when got up mother said
WE OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES;
! answered her that only spoke the truth, and
ne said "Damn you, Amt you got enough OF IL nOw9
Then he added. 81 will give you some more :" and
he hit me with his left hand he then caught me by
my shirt on the right side at the same time, and
raised his right hand; and as he did saw a knife
in IT; then he said "God damn you, III cut your
heart OUT" as he said that l grabbed his hand
with the knife In 10y with both OF mine, and
wrenched the knife out got the knife In my right
hand and
GAVE HIN PLUNGE.
struck him with it. that's all 1 did not turn
the knife at ALL but It might have turned round
In answer to questions by jurors, Birrel replied
as follcws-I had been at work until tour O'Clock;
James don't work with me- my shirt was not torn
the cut on my nose might have been done by
knife can't say positively; James turned and
went out; then threw the knife on
short shoemaker's knife, about Two and q half
inches long, he used the knife last Sunday
half soling boots; the knife was generally
kept In fathers pox; couldn't tell where James