The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-02
THE GREENWICH STREET TRAGEDY
Trial of Mark GIL for the Murder OF
Mortimer SulIivan-The Evidence in
the Case-summing Up OF COunseL-Re-
corder Hackett's Charge.


Mortimer Sullivan-The Evidence in
the Case-Summing Up OF CounseL-Re-
corder Hackett's Charge.
The court room OF the General Sessions was the
centre Of attraction yesterday TO those who are
interested in criminal proceedings, the trial OF
Mark Gill, charged with the murder OF Mortimer
Sullivan, being the first on the calendar for the
day. Every seat inside and outside Of the bar was
occupied, and ofncials, jurors and spectators all
seemed to be impressed with the solemnity OF the
occasion. Gil, who is charged with premeditatedly
taking the lie OF Sullivan at saloon in Green
wlch street. corner OF Murray street, is young
man, not OF so forbidding physognomy as some
would suppose judging from his language and con-
duct preceding the shooting. He was attired In
light gray suit, wore a white necktle and occupied
q seat beside his counsel ex-Judge Garvin and
Colonel Fellows.
District Attorney Phelps and Assistant istrict
Attorney Lyon represented the people, and at the
opening of the Court the trial was moved.
The process OF empanelling jury in cases OF
murder in the first degree Ia customAriy farce,
abe object OF the prisoners counsel beng to ex'
clude intelligent men who may have read the
transaction in the ne wspapers, and whose minds
are, therefore, not as immaculate, to use their
phrase "as q sheet OF clean white paper" In this
case, however, the counsel nrerposed no technical
objections, but permitted the District Attorney to
lead in the examination OF the gentlemen sum-
moned TO act as jurors. The result was that
within one hour twelve jurors, who stated that
they had no conscien tious scruples in regard to
capital punishment, were seated 10 the box. Wnen
the twelfth juror was sworn, Judge Garvin stated
that he had just learned that the foreman Richard
France occupied the premises wnere the homicide
took place, and by mutual consent the Juror was
excused from serving
Boyle, carriage maker: Frank b. Whitfield,
plumber; simon Abraham, clerk; Henry 5. Den
nison artist; Edward W. Prentice, jeweller James
Purcell, baker; Arnold strauss, veneers; Freder-
ick W. Foeler, merchant; George Pierce, mason
Phillip Cantlin, Jr.. liquors Isaac p. GreenyAult,
OPENING FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Assistant District Attorney Lyon then pro-
ceeded TO open the case Tor the prosecution, mar
rating in a clear and dispassionate manner the
circumstances OF the killing and the facts which
would be adduced to sustain the serious charge
preferred against the prisoner at the bar.
As the shooting took place only Two weeks ago
the facts as they appeared In the HERALD are al
ready fresh in the minds of our readers so tnat
the salient points OF the evidence given by the
witnesses at the Ooroner's Investigation need only
the hrst witness called was Frederick Seeber, a
barkeeper. employed ID lager beer saloon at NO
morning or the 10Th OF June the prisoner and Nor
inner sullivan came In together about elgn
were under the influence OF liquor and commenced
TO wrestle; sullivan went into the yard and Gil
came up IN staggering kind Of way aud said
which was behind the lunch bar; the witness re
pled that he could not have 1t, and hid II away
while Gill and sullivan were sparring and wrest
hing the witness thought they were IN fun; sulli
van came out OF the yard ana went up Murra
street; that was all the witness saw OF the occur
ences Of tnat morning. '9s
Crossexamined-The saloon where Il am EN-
ployed is not the place where the shooting oc
CURED; they drank lager; the prisoner staggered
MP to the counter and was talking very loud anC
poisterous; sullivan did not stagger Il saw tn
prisoner at four O'Clock that morning, but Sullivan
was not with him he drank glass OF rye wins
Eey: he drank several times in our place on Thurs
WQdnp he dav "A
was In the saloon and was beasty drunk; he aiC
his head on the table and that drunken sleel
wake him up; two of his friends woke nimup an,
went up Murray street with him. Glll Was cal
rier and used to take care OF produce wagon
around the market; have known Gill for thre
years; he used TO refrain from liquor considers
was not on one OF those sprees ne would avo
liquor entirely; At the time Of this killing and iC
several days prior to that the prisoner had been G
one OF his sprees.
A recess OF twenty minutes was taken. aft
which
JOHN p. wHLLBRoCB,
the bartender employed In G. W. Meyers salot
at 269 Greenwich street, where the shooting Q
Cured, was examined by Mr.. Lyon. lie lestiht
mat on the morning OF the 10th OF June the pr
oner and sullivan entered the saloon about elg
O'Clock and renamed little over an hour alt
80 talk about yacht racing and wanted to make
bet; Gin borrowed Ave collars from his '1os;
and sullivan had two dollars; they wanted u
witness TO hold the money but ne refused 70 90 s.
little while alter Gil struck sullivan IN the rae
out ne hlo not seem 20 take any notlce VI Nv, ett
laughing; then GIL went out and was absent hs
al hour when ne came III again Suliv an.asked III
II he was fxed Tor him nowY u
prisoner replied, "Yes, am 1xt
Tor you:" and then ne put nis hand into his We
pocket and drew out pistol and fred towar'
the floor and discharged one shot; sullivan the
SAID, "You can shoot me II you Ike, Gn;v the
Sullivan said, III will throw you the dice ~ he 3
the dice and threw them IN 'front.' OF the counte
Sullivan Knocked the box on the counter and sa
20 Gil, "Beat that now II you can ~ Gill said,
will beat that,u and held the pistol up 70 sullivan
the time he fred the first shot on the door; q
pistol was not loot away from SuDivan's. IA
when he fred; the ball struck the deceased IN u
eve; he died few moments afterwards the vi
ness saw him move mis- mouth before he W
taken out but he did not SPEAK; Gill walked D
aud then he ran up Murray street followed 10y
crowd who DauOOeQ, nMuTQeIl pnlceD This "a