The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-17
THE JERSEY CITY MURDER
Continuation Of the Coroner's
Inquest.
Was Kane Killed at All High and Lofty Swear
ing-The Jury Befogged-A Witness Who
Forgot to Say Something Smart
Another Adjournment

me C0rOncr'S inquest on ING pouy VI oonn nv
Adams Kane was resumed at Jersey City yester-
day Britton the alleged murderer, was again
present with his counsel. Mr.. Abe Hummei, and
large stan OF female relatives, including his mother
He was quite subdued, and no. for moment did
he raise his head during the entire proceedings.
The meeting between him and his mother was
most affecting. Sheriff Renhardt rectihed the
blunder committed last Friday, and this time the
Deputy brought handouts into requislton. The
following evidence deserves an attentive perusal
for Its negative character as contrasted with that
given last Friday as well for the reluctant man.
ner in which 1t was given:-
Officer Harvey testified was on duty on Tues
day night last on Montgomery street, between
Warren and Greene streets; arrested Britton
shortly alter twelve O'Clock; Officer Kipp assisted
me; James Clothier was standing behind Britton;
Clothier said, "There Is the man that shot the
man arrest him;n the man l arrested gave his
name as Nathan Britton he rough at first, but
we cooled him down; did not see the pistol but
we had not gone ten steps on our way to the sta
ton house when man. unknown to me, cried
out "Onicer, we have found the pistol-there 1t
is;n the pistol was handed to me by James Nc
Cain pistol produced) cannot swear that Is
the pistol; / asked Britton where he kept
that pistol, and he answered, 81 carried it right
here" placing his hand on his right hip; the pistol
was lying on the desk at the station house when
this observation was made; Britton also remarked
that he dropped the pistol or something to that
effect; he seemed excited ana should Judge he
was under the influence OF liquor
monv ana added the nrlsoner was yeIY much
excited and threatened to put head on me;n
asked him why ne carried plstol-to shoot lolks
and he replied, NO. did not shoot him dropped
the pistol and it went on;r when Harvey was
Bearching him at the station house he elt this
pocket OF his pants pointing to the right hip and
Is
the pocket where carried the pisto;n tile pistol
shown me here resembles the one we handed 10
the sergeant though cannot be positive, for did
not observe the makers name.
James Maloney, engineer on the Pennsylvania
Railroad, examined-l know the prisoner Britton;
also knew Kane the deceased: they were always
the best OF friends to my knowledge; Brtton was
on my engine last Tuesday night for about ten min
utes; could not say he was under the influence OF
liquor, for could smell no rum on him, but he acted
very strangely; did not hear him make any threats;
told him to sit down on the seat or he might lall
on.
Coroner-wny did you say he might fall Off If you
had not noticed him TO be under the influence Of
A.-Well, he was acting strangely; he got of and
said Yes, I'll go anywhere with you;r never saw
Britton under the influence OF liquor; he asked me
him he was around the yard somewhere
The foreman OF the jury, Mr.. Blackwell interro-
gated the witness AS TO the scuiiling scene with
Britton on the engine, and the threatening IAN
guage used by Brtton TO Clothier. but the witness
denied all knowledge of It, lie said that neither
pushed him back into the tank
James Curry, fireman, testified in almost the eX-
act words OF the engineer. He heard no threats on
the part Of Britton Like the engineer, he conld
remember nothing OF the scuffng scene on the en-
gine as sworn to on Friday: me jurors seemed
the witness was In court when the engineer gave
his testimony.
George Romano, special night watchman at the
Pennsylvania Railroad depot, testified saw Brit
ton, the prisoner, last Tuesday night In company
with Kane, about twelve O'Clock; Tommy 1.-THE
IN a q n u
story short, was acting If he were crazy drunk
told him II he did not Keep still would put him out
let me have hum, and III take him to the shanty
and put him to sleep:' they walked up the track
freight office, and had not been there ten minutes
when one of the night clerks (Henderson) came
when Adams tkanel had hold of Britton,
] heard Britton say that he would blow Jim Nc
Gains C d brains out; this was about
twelve O'Clock; Britton showed me seven shooter
about three months ago and told him 1t was
wrong to carry 1t; the pistol here produced Is q
The Coroner, in answer to the foreman OF the
jury, stated that he had not subpGnaed Henderson.
the night clerk, who carried the intelligence OF the
shooting to Romano The Coroner observed that
he summoned every person who was within fifty
feet of the spot where the shooting took place.
There were others who had information merely by
hearsay and these he did not think II necessary to
summon.
Eugene Valley was recalled and examined with
great mnuteness about the flash when the shoot
Ing occurred One OF the jurors (Mr. Walsl) here
lnterpoSed and called attention to a singular state
ment made by witness after he left the Court room
last Friday. In presence OF Mr.. Commerce and two
other young men the witness remarked, "If had
thought OF it at the time would have stated that
the pistol might have fallen on the track and ex-
ploded.n This the witness admitted.
The Jury was so completely belonged that several
members asked for further Adjournment and the
inquest was accordingly postponed till this after
noon. Ii certain portions OF the foregoing test
mOny be entitled to credence the question may
probably arise, Was Kane killed at all I II the Jury
be not IN better frame OF mind and approach the
consideration OF the case with clearer heads this
afternoon, Jersey justice will be outraged, and the
inauisiton in this most important OF cases will end