The New York herald., 1874-07-31
M'CANN'S LAST HOUR.

Tracing Him to His Death-FrOm sa-
loon to saIoon-The ssOne Mistake" OF
His Life-Harrigan's Gauge for To-
pers-Wagner Vindicated.
The INQUEST on the body Of John McCann, who
was found dead on Communipaw avenue, Jersey
City, was commenced last evening at the Morgue
in Bergen, before Coroner Reinhardt The self
confessed perpetrator OF the homicide, Thomas
Brooks, was present. He resides at No. AZ Division
place Newark. He is about twenty-six years of
age ana unmarried He was accompanied by his
counsel, Norman l.. Rowe, who watched the pro-
ceedings with intense interest. large audience
was present
John Scanon testifed-I reside In West side
avenue; had man IN my employ named John
Mccain; he worked for me about three years /;
last sunday he came to my house at SIX O'Clock In
the afternoon; we went TO Garner's beer garden
in Bergen avenues after taking two drinks of lager
each we passed down Grand street; McCanu was
sober; we went to Jackson and Communipaw
avenues; we mad cigars there but no drink; at
nine O'Clock we went to John O'Rourke's, where
We had one glass OF lager each; we went
then to Alexander McCOy's saloon In Grand
street, where we had two glasses OF beer
each; were there from twenty minutes to half an
hour; went then to Mike Murphy's, corner OF
Grand street and Hudson avenue; we had two
glasses OF lager each there; we remained about
half an hour; we came back to John O'Rourke's; !;
IL was nearly twelve O'Clock hal glass OF lager
but don't know what McCann took; we were
there half an hour; we then went towards home !;
we stopped at Pat Tealing's on our way and we had
"a glass OF ale each; we stopped only five minutes;
we stopped at Rays saloon, on the next corner,
where We had a glass OF lager each; we stayed
about ten minutes; we then went to McCann's
dwelling, on the West Side avenue don't know
what time we got there; we sat down on a box
and talked from ten to twenty minutes 'McCann
was then cheerful and pleasant, but not
intoxicated: as We were about parting q
Msf0n the horse se'''S was going slowly; I then
lett McCann and got nearly as FAR as West Side
avenue when heard two shots fired; heard no
talk before the shots were fired; stood still,
the time OF our parting he had nothing in his nand
saw nothing more OF him; heard ne was killed; 1
never quarrelled with him; never saw him drunk
more than three times; he was generally square {;
he once maze mlstaAe and stole iour ducks Tor
chickens; took one.
Patrick Harrgar sworn-On Sunday last went
into ORourEe's saloon and there met John McCann
and John ScanlOn: it was pretty nearly midnight |;
we nad drinks around; was in there with them
about hall an hour; we mad round Of cigars also (;
Scanlon and had few words, but they were
nothing OF any consequence; they left the store
,sem 1ney went we're seger Sas
more liquor IN me than either OF them did not see
McCsnn alive afterwards; they left me at my
house he had drunk ten or twelve glasses OF beer
yet he was sober; can drink fifteen glasses and
still remain sober: McCann lived about half a mile
from my RESIDENCE
John Mcguire testified that he saw Mccain and
Scanlon enter O'Rourke's saloon: they remained
there about halt an hOur; while they were there
did not see McCann drink.
Officer Hunt testified that he found the body Of
Mccain ABOUT ten minutes TO four O'Clock in the
morning; it was lying face downward aad length
wise on The road his head was turned towards
Newark; there was the mark OF a truck along his
back: when witness turned nlm over he found o
whip, which dropped out Of McCann's hand; the
whip was warm; there was no other weapon
found on the body: the place where the body was
lying was about 800 feet IRON McCann's residence.
Or. stout County Physician, eXamned-i held q
post.mOrtem examination on the body OF John Nc
Cam: found the right arm fractured; there was
a bullet hole left OF the median line of the occipi-
tai bone; found that the ball had entered the right
hemisphere OF tue skull; the bullet wound caused
death.
DR.. Bird who assisted in the postmOrtem exam
nation, c0rroborated this testimony
The Coroner here announced tnat the inquest
would be adjonl ned, as It was desirable that other
witnesses should be in attendance.
WORD FOR WAGNER
IT appears the young man, Frank Wagner better
known among his friends IN Newark as sport y
who was first pounced upon by the ''knowing"
bue.coated officers and accused OF being the
slayer of McCanD, Is the very reverse OF being q
disrepatable character. as previously represented.
All the produce dealers in Newark in whose en-
pioy he has been unite IN cnaracteriZing nim as a
young man OF unquestoned reputation. BY an
easily understood error he was, IN the first re-
ports, conlounded with McCann, the dead high.
Maymau.