The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-22
THE BRICKYARD MURDER.
Vain Attempt OF . Jersey Coroner and
HIS Jury 10 Unravel its Mystery-The
V&rdfet.

ktAs Jury 10 OuTeVeA lts Myseery-Ihc
Verdict.
The Coroner's inquest on the body Of Simon
George, an employe OF Russell 4 Uonnelly's brick
yard, near Little Falls, who died in the st. Josephs
Hospital at Paterson, last Monday morning, was
concluded yesterday. That the man was muir
dered there seems to be no doubt. The story OF
his death, as elected by the evidence adduced at
the inquest, is substantially as f6llOws:-
On Saturday evening, August Q, q large crowd
OF Irish and French laborers in the several brick
yards at Slngack, near Little Falls, assembled at
the wayside saloon OF Arthur Bum, in the vicinity
Of the kilns, and which depends for its patronage
upon the brickyard employees. All hands had
several drinks apiece, and when the saloon was
shut up at ten o'clock, and the crowd were turned
out, they were evidently just in the condition
for hight. When they got outside, the Irishmen,
who had been evincing an enmity towards the
Frenchmen for some time, made an attack upon
the latter with clubs and stones which they had
armed themselves with. Some of the clubs were
heavy pieces OF cedar, with the knots upon them,
making fearful weapon. Thus armed they
made sudden attack upon the unarmed French
men, and before they knew what was the
matter several Of them were knocked down in
rapid succession They would ask, "Are you
Frenchman ?" and then, without waiting for an an
swer, would level him to the ground. Those who
were not stunned lost no time in escaping from
the neignoo rhcod, and one or two, who saw what
ing up the road. One OF these
TRYING TO ESCAPE
up the ROAD was simon George, one OF the French
men,. Several OF the Irlshmen saw him and yelled
out the lact, whereupOn dozen or 80, armed with
clubs, followed him up the road. One of Georges
friends who observed this, ran for assistance, but
when they returned they found nothing of him and
the crowd mad dispersed. Georges friends
hunted along the road but could lind
a. q hQ Ian
resumed, but It was not until nearly noon Sun
DAY; August lO that George was found lying IN a
bead was covered with dry leaves. he was minus
MS pants, and the shirt which he wore was torn to
ne pore OF having been
less.
He was removed to the shanty occupied by the
brick hands at Singac&, where medical attendance
was summoned and the usual remedies applied.
There was no appearance OF the severe wound on
his skull, and the doctor thought for some time
that the man was only suffering from the effects OF
the liquor he had drunk the night before. But not
getting better, he was removed to st. Josephs
Hospital, at Paterson, on Tuesday, August II,
where he remained in
sEMI-coNsCIoUs CONDITION
until last Monday morning, when he died. 1t was
not until short time before he died that the hos
pltal physicians knew the circumstances attending
his injuries. which they learned OF another man
who was brought down to the hospital sick.
After death post-mOrtem was held on Georges
body, wnen 1t was discovered that mis- skull was
crushed in, apparently with some blunt instru-
ment. An inquest was accordingly commenced by
coroner Amrau, at Paterson on Tuesday last
but tor want Of witnesses IL was adjourned until
yesterday.
Several witnesses were examined yesterday, and
the above are the facts elected by the evidence.
There is no doubt George met his death at the
hands of the crowd who pursued him on the Satur-
day night In question, although who committed the
deed was not found out nor, in fact, the names OF
those who were concerned IN the iracas. One OF the
witnesses, however. sw0re that u man named Nu-
gent, employed at Mcdonald Lewis brick yard,
was III the crowd who were fighting, but there Is
no evidence that he struck the blows which re-
suited III Georges death or had any thing to do with
1t. Further than that George died from the effects
OF inju iles sustained in
THE DRUNKEN FRACAS
WILL perhaps, never be known.
Alter spending the entire day in the investiga-
tiOD OF the matter the above were all the details OF
the affair that could be ascertained and the jury
were compelled to return a verdict in accordance
with those facts. An effort Will be made, how
ever, to get the names OF some OF the parties en-.
gagged in the drunken fight, so that, II possible
they can be brought before the next Grand Jury
which sits in September.