The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-15
THE CITY.

THR TaGAS MURDER. RressS3afSo,o De-
fore the Coroner. Coroner Chastant yesterday
morning held aV inquest to investigate into
the causes that led to the death Of old man
James Pagan, sometimes called Barney Dean.
who died in the Charity Hospital on the 18th
inst. from the effects of being beaten and
badly kicked by . notorious thief. named
Washington Banks, Oh Chippewa. between
Terpsichore and Melpomene streets on the
night of the Sd inst.
The following testimony was elected at the
investigation:
Patroman James Adams have known
the deceased for the last twenty years; he
always bore o good reputation; he Was old
ard quite feeble, and was accustomed to
sleep at different places. wherever lie was let
stay out Of charity; lie had no home. On
the night OF the I'd inst, at 8 o'clock, as
was walking my beat, I heard man halloing
on Chippewa street, between Terpsichore and
Melpomene.
was about twenty feet off and when got
to the place the colored man was moving off;
he had been kicking the deceased, who had
been taken to the station by Robert Crofton.
heard the deceased say don't strike me any
more; when got to the station l saw the de-
ceased and Washington Banks. l told Banks
that he was the man that struck Pagan; he
answered that he would put IL ball through
him if he had IA pistol. The old man said
that Banks was the man that struck him,
Robt Crofton-I do not know the de-
ceased; l am night clerk and ope-
rator at the Second Precinct Station;
[ was sitting down when Banks came
in on the night OF the Sd inst and asked for
drink of water he then went in the direction
Of the stable; heard some disturbance, and
heard Bankss voice and IA voice like the de-
ceased's; I could also hear blows; then left
the station for the place, which was about
half square; 1 saw Washington Banks stand
ing over the old man jerking him.
asked him what was the matter; he an
swered that the deceased was in the yard of
Mr.. Behen's stable, trying to steal a mule. I
then asked Banks to help me take him to the
station; the old man was so feeble he could
not walk and had his hand on his stomach,
while he was sitting on the steps. The colored
man Banks pulled him to the station. He
said he wanted to arrest deceased for trying
to steal mule He went off to get an officer
and then Patrolman Adams came along
The deceased told me that he went into the
yard to find place to lay down, and that
Banks beat him. Officer Adams then placed
the negro under arrest, and locked him up.
Banks acknowledged having struck the man
to me, thinking that he wanted to steal
mule. put Iuc Oltt uldu LII d SSA uAN wv
cred him with blanket, as he complained OF
being very cold.
He said he had no residence, but the peo-
pie around St. Thomas street gave him Il
shelter at night He said that he had not
drank ANYTHING for months, and was not
drunk at the time. I heard Banks say that
he ought to have ball through him. or some
thing to that effect
The jury then rendered verdict that the
deceased came to his death from injuries re-
ceived at the hands OF Washington Banks,
who is now confined in the Parish Prison. on
the night Of the Sd instant.
Coroner Chastant will this day make the
necessary affidavit charging the accused with
wiliul murder.
By means of all ingenious process lately
devised, barrel can now be made consisting
of but one stave. This, it appears, is accom-
plished by turning steamed log, of the
length OF q barrel, against sharp knife OF
the requisite length, aud thus cutting it into
a continuous sheet of wood of the thickness
of barrel stave. Enough of this ribbon OF
wood is then cut off for the circumference of
a barrel, AMI crozed or chamfered by suitable
machinery To give the barrel Il proper
shape. Sits IRE cut in two ends by a gang OF
saws. and the heads are thus brought to the
requisite size as compared with the bilge
The usual number of hoops are put on. and
the barrel thus made is said to be equally as
strong as those manufactured in the ordinary
al, boino in, ha