National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-22
INQUEST ON THE BODY OF
PHILIP HAHN.
VERDICT OF THE JURY-JOSEPH NOR
WOOD HELD FOR TRIAL

VERDICT OF THE JURY-JOSEPH NOR
WOOD HELD FOR TRIAL.
Yesterday morning Acting Coroner DR.. ]. T.
Hartigan held an inquest on the body OF Philip
Hahn, who died Sunday from the effects OF blow
inflicted by a man named Joseph Norwood. The
following Jury were summoned; Dorsey Olagett,
Kipsey Brewer John Miller, G. W. Drew, O. NJ.
LYONS, Jas.T Rudd, Jacob S. Redman, j. B. Hill,
Thomas Berry, E. Jackson, John Scott and R. H.
Spindle.
The first witness called was Mr. George Smith.
He stated that the deceased philip H. Hahn, u.
came TO him Sunday morning, between II and 2
O'Clock, and aWoke him. This was at the corner
Of Ohio avenue and Thirteen-and-a-half street
northwest. He told him he was killed, and asked
share Of his bed; that he had been hit with 3
boot-tree. He said that Joe Norwood had struck
him. Between 8 and O'Clock he got worse, and
asked witness to get doctor; that he was dying,
and those were the last words he spoke. He
tossed about on the floor very much and breathed
very heavily. When witness got up in the morn
ing he tried to wake the deceased, but he could
not; then went for policeman. This was about
O'Clock on Sunday morning. After DR.. Buckley
arrived Sergeant Acton had Hahn taken to the
station-house, and from there he was taken to
Providence hospital.
William A. Williams was then Intercepted.
He stated that he lived at 216 Third street north
:
was at Mr. Norwood's shop, when deceased abused
Mr.. Norwood in very profane manner; he left
the shop abusing Mr.. Norwood; deceased and
Norwood left the shop about the same time soon
afterwards Norwood returned and said, 81 have
struck Hahn on the head with the clamps [clamps
here shown to and recognized by Witnessl Just out
here" directing his head towards the front door I;
witness did not imagine that the case was so Sc
rious he did not notice which left the shop first
Norwood requested witness after he returned TO
look out of the window and notice If he could see
Hahn Hahn was abusing Norwood when they
left the shop Norwood was making no reply did
not notice that Norwood took the clamps with
him the deceased and Norwood had been drink
ing together, but deceased was more under the
influence of liquor than the other, deceased being
decidedly drunk; Norwood and deceased at first
appeared to be on good terms, and Norwood told
deceased that at night he would help buy him q
pair of shoes.
DR.. W. BulkIey was sworn, and stated that
he was called to see the injured man on Sunday
morning, and found him very seriously injured;
saw him again at the station-house between IL
and Il O'Clock of Sunday forenoon, and advised
that other surgeons be summoned, as he thought
the man would die; was present at the post NOR
TEN; the fracture extended from the base to the
top of the skull, underneath which and directly
over the brain laid an immense mass Of blood.
This was caused by the blow which was the cause
of death. An operation would have been doubtful
in any event; there would have been but little
chance Of recovery.
d.. ]. S. Beale, physician at Providence hos
pital, said Hahn was taken to the hospital about
3p m. Sunday, and died about p. m. He was
regarded as dying when taken in.
Sergeant Joseph Acton testified that about $50
O'Clock Sunday morning found deceased at Mrs.
Glasgow's, as described by DR.. Buckley, and re-
moved him to the station. Between IL and I1:3O
O'Clock Sunday morning he arrested Norwood,
who stated, while dressing himself thEt Hahn
had come to his shop and abused him, and that
he had struck him and knocked him down, and
that he had hit deceased with the clamps, point
ing to the clamps then in the room. He under
stood that he struck deceased either at the door
or in the passage.
The jury, after brief consultation, rendered
the following verdict: That the said Philip H.
Hahn, jr, came to his death by reason Of injuries
of the head inflicted with a boot-elamp, or boot
tree, held in the hands Of Joseph Norwood.
The coroner thereupOn ordered that Norwood
be held for trial.