The New York herald., 1874-12-09
THE ELECTION MURDER.
Opening of the Trial of the
Coroner.
TAMPERING WITH JURORS.
Judge Barrett to Deal Summarily
ae with the Offenders.
Testimony Produced for the
Prosecution. ih


At the opening OF the Court or Oyer and Termi-
ner yesterday there was great rush for seats,
and IN very short time the court room was
crowded. There was as might be expected, an
unusual number OF politicians occupying 'front.'
seats, VINO watched the proceedings with the
closest attention. But as the circumstances at
tending the murder of McKenna presented none
OF the exciting incidents ana promised no devel-
opments OF the nature that invested with such In
terest the trials OF Mcfarland, OF Stokes and OF
young Walworth, for their severa. deeds OF shoot.
ing to the death their victims, and which so
strongly attracted the female element OF the strong
minded stripe TO attend the Court during these
trials there was not solitary member oil the lat.
ter to grace the trial OF Croker.
Judge Barrett took his seat promptly at the ap-
pointed hour. Counsel for the prosecution and
for the defence were ais punctualy on hand; and
the jury having taken their seats the case was
about to be formally proceeded with when brief
and unexpected interruption came from the DIS
trlct Attorney. a -
ATTEMPT TO TAMPER WITH JURORS.
District Attorney Phelps rising, informed the
Court that last night he had been informed by q
gentleman who met HIM on the street, and who
had been drawn as juror, but who had not, how
ever, been examined, that he (the juror had been
approached IN very suspicious manner by per-
son representing himself as an attorney and coun-
sellor.at-law. The person so approaching him
had, said the District Attorney. acted with very
gross improperly and nagrant lack OF sense, to
say the least. The juror who nad been addressed
obtained the card OF the so-called attorney, and
that card he respectfully submitted to His Honor
for him TO take such action as he deemed might be
proper In the premises. He was bound to say That
the person alluded to was not any one OF the gen.
tlemen ne knew to be actively associated In the
case who were then In Court. rs.s.
Justice Barrett replied that he had himself been
informed that another OF the jurors had been ad-
dressed In very wrong manner by an unknown
person. The juror had substantially thrust aside
the man. and was not aware OF his name or sta
tton- In the other matter, however, he considered
1t MS duty to direct the District Attorney to send
for the juror, reduce his statement to sworn
writing and to obtain such other proof as might
be available, and submit the who're to the Court
II necessary he would cite the attorney before
him and punish him for contempt. and also take
steps to have him disbarred by the next General
Term OF the Supreme Court The Court would act
promised TO give his attention 10 the matter.
WITNESSES EXCLUDED TILL CALLED TO TESTIFY.
wen as those for the defence, Judge Barrett
directed all the witnesses to leave the Court and
not enter again until called to testify.
OPENING FOR TIE PROSECUTION.
Mr.. Rollins, in his opening the case to the iurv.
said he was confident when the evidence was iail
before them that the jury would pronounce the
killing OF John McKenna q brutal and wicked
murder by the bullet OF an assassin. There was
no occasion for the use OF firearms; the alteration
was . TRIVIAL one; IL was not the cause but was
used as the pretext Tor the execution Of murder
bullet, and whether 1t was intended for McKenna
or some other man the indictment was framed 10
Be- snd IL o i s Ss
reference TO 2 diagram representing second ave-
Rollins said ne would not 6e tempted aside rom a
the main issues to make any comment on the ex-
Croker fed sna hss sss
did not dre It, then may Cod give him good zoo de de.
the TEsrIAoNY-JAxEs o'BRrEN ON THE STAND.
Ex-Sher1n James O'Bren was the nrst witness
ney. He Immediately took the stand, closely
sscrusinised ., sne mass o. people in the court:
Tntrty-fourth street; have not been IN business
since J ceased 70 TO- Pc @ Senator; was Candidate
trcs; saw Richard Croker about hslipass seven
on 1 the ~ o. election S IL haG
street and Second avenue; i did not see Croker s
nnti unit ESs 70 the corner saw BI!y Borst
nocosa 70 .s 70
threatening Borst with State Prison; when got
your head for you to-day BY 2Coo resorssd sMs mat
did not want to talk to repesters; with that
Croker, when others snouted out, "Give it to the
--w backed out as far as l could the
@ @
the two Sneridans and hickey had pistols also:
the ISan 1ss Mss ssndns
q. In whose hands did you first see plstolf A.
Croker was the nrst man whom saw with pistol
McKenna iall. 5G 8E' 49, III -
9. When the police arrived what became OF the
the station house there was some very loud talk
In the station house; did not have great zeal
had been taken away rom them: made charges
against the prisoners; Croker wanted to make 8 |
charge against me Tor assault and battery.
by Mr.. Fellows:--I had been on the morning OF the
e.ection TO the Jackson Cluo corner Tnirtietn
whether Rorst was there Or not; know Michael s,i
ue CosseilS; couldn't % say 4 he was there; know
breakfast at the clubs A. No sir, I DO not; |
have never been 10 Owney Geogheghan's place.
!. DO you Know whether Mike Costello, Borst,
Hogan and Geogheghan are residents OF your Con-
sSss SIssysSss district OF no' A. dOnt know that
Q. Do You know man in that district called the
Counsel objected, and the question was not an.
q. DO you know at whose solicitanon the men I
nave meationea appeared In your district tnat
3 We're iney there atyour requests a. don't
Know. - !. IL 80 q - = -
Q 70 you know II they were there In your in
tefestS A. don't know.
The witness described the positions occupied by
all parties TO the row on the diagram. Croker and
myself had been al political enmity Tor some
years, but It Was nothing that amounted to any
thing; just before McKenna fell / saw Croker put
the pistol to hts head; ieel perfectly confident
that Croker was firing at McKenna and intended
to kill him. u
Q. Is your memory any better now than at the
Coroner's inquestf A. Well, don't know; 1 did
not nave much confidence In the Coroner's In
quest; thought 1t was more OF sham than any
thing else.
q. Did You ever tell Mr.. Nevns, Q reporter for
the Associated Press, that you saw Croker throw
his pistol III the street after firing ltS A. Idon't