Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-25
SHOT DEAD!
Maurice Egan Killed at the Merchants
Exchange by Albert Powers.
Arrest Of POwers-FoIl Report Of the
Coroner's Inquest


Coroner's Inquest
About O'Clock last night, couple of
pistol shots were heard in the Merchants
Exchange, ON North Cherry street, near
the UNION AND AMERICAN Office, and a
man, who proved to be Maurice Egan, the
news agent al the Chattanooga depot, ran
out Of the Exchange and into the cigar store
of Mr.. Landauer, next door,
Mr.. IIandauer Immediately closed his
doors, after admitting DIS. Tom Maddin
and j. G. Douglas. Egan fell just inside
the cigar store, striking the back of his head
with considerable force. Upon examining
him, the doctors found that life was extinct,
a pistol shot having enteredhis left side and
PASSED THROUGH THE HEART,
another slight wound, caused by glancing
shot, being found on his back, rather ON the
right side.
The body was conveyed TO the back por-
tiOn of Mr. Landauer's establishment, jus
tice Everett and Deputy Coroner Ryan no
titled, and jury was sworn, consisting of
the following named:
Hugh Douglas, Ed Miller, Alex Bean, ].
d. Smith, n. Klein, Ill. Appel, L. Emanuel.
DR.. Douglas was the first witness exam
IlC tCSlulCu W lllC va UOuN
being found, as above described, and said
he was satisfied the pistol in the left side
had caused the death of the deceased.
j. d. Ackland, colo-ed, testified that he
was in Landauer's store and heard the
two pistol shots, but did not see who Shot
them.
THE BODY
was then given over to Mr.. John Egan, a
brother Of the deceased and other friends,
by whom it was conveyed to the Nicholson
House and properly attended to.
Justice Everett then announced that the
jury would proceed to his Office, on Dead
erick street, where the examination would
be continued as soon as witnesses could be
subppned Nearly an hours delay ensued
before the witnesses could be secured, and
at half past nine the investigation was re-
Sumed. The first witness called was
VIM. HASILTT,
who testified: Mr.. Ed. Gardner was in the
Merchants Exchange drinking claret wine.
Mr.. Egan came in and asked him what he
was drinking and Gardner said ciaret wine.
Egan said he'd take some too. He was
standing at the bar when Mr.. Al. Powers
came up and touched him. Egan jumped
back and said he'd kill any man that would
touch him. He cooked his pistol; Powers
said I'm Lot afraid of him. If that's your
game I'll see YOU" Then he started ont,
and tried to get Egan's pistol from him,
but didn't get it. Esan then went out too
and pretty soon he came back with three
men. asked them what they would have
and they told me. Cox and Powers came
in, and asked them what they'd have and
they told me and l started to wait on bOti
parties Qhe witness is bar-keeper at the
Merehant's). Egan said
HE WAS INSULTED
| when he was in there before, and he jumped
| back and tried TO draw his pistol. POwels
said, '.If that's your game, I'm with you,
| aud then he shot him. | suppose Power:
must have been drinking before, and tina
| ne was under theiniuence of liquor. EgaI
! has been drinking for several days.
| The witness then identified a pistO
which was shown him as the pistol he haC
seen Egan with, and said that he saw Egal
cock it when the parties were in the hous'
the first time, but that he didn't see hin
pull il out after they came back the second
time.
| CHARLES REDDICK swoRS.
This witness testified that he had jus
come down Church street and turned "
| Cherry. going towards the Merchants EN
change. when he met Powers who scenes
very much excited. He had known Pow
ers for a wear or better and had had him il
his employ. He asked Powers what Wa
the matter and he said Il asked a ma
| down there TO take a drink with me and i
tried 10 shoot me, but Gardner LkSpC hiI
from it? | asked him :; 40 it was, and h
said he didn't know; he wanted me to e
back with him. L told Powers to keep Ou
of the way. He said y don't want :
be shot when I've done nothing" "
talked there a few minutes and l saN
Egan cross Cherry street and 60 into III
Exchange; Powers didn't see him. "
were at LcndauerS and Mr. Cox and Power
went through into the Exchange; in abou
half minute l heard pistol twice an
saw ECan run ont and stagser and fall int
Landauers store and | walked away.
NORRIS LELLYETT
being sworn, made the following statement
in substance:
Met Mr.. Egan in the Maxwell HOus
about half past seven o'clock. He was III
der the Influence of liquor. went to hin
and Mr.. Leaper and persuaded him to g
outside. After getting out, we were iOine
by Mr.. Cantrell. Egan crossed over to Oh
Merchants Exchange, to which place 70
lowed him. When l got in, he was givin
the bar-keeper his order. Just at this tim
two other men came in and gave their OF
der TO the bar-keeper also. Just at TN
time Mr.. Egan walked off the side doc
and repeated his order to the bar-keepe
when one of the men turned on hin az
said:
Take your hand from behind YOU. 70
have pistol" Before Mr.. Eagan coul
reply he drew his pistol and fired, wher
upon Eagan turned as iftO run, whenthe GEL
tleman fired again. Did not see NJ. Eaga
after the first shot, on account of his havin
run into the ball. do not know whethc
Mr.. Eagan had his hand behind him or DC
as my attention was attracted to the otht
parties. On going into the hall immed
ately afterthe shooting, tOsee if Eagan Wa
hurt found his cane lying on the foo
but could not find him. picked up III
cane and looked about to see if he ha
dropped anything else, but found nothin.
then went out and found him living o
the floor of Landauer's cigar store,
DEAD.
Brant Leaper testified: A. ~ o.o,oo
Ill -snMH
MI; L IT an =. myself entered the Ma,
wei -.vu.e, and noticed Maurice Ega
I apparently under the influence OF liquO
and making hiuIself very conspicuous. "
I IMr, l.. and lnyself,) persuaded him
leave the house and walked out with hin
After getting out on the street, he insiS.e
on our going to the Merchants EXchans
with him. We went into the bar-roOm an
were Immediately followed by two men
Mr.. Cox and man L did not know, an
the latter called for some whisky. VIII
! standing at the bar, Egan started to wal
: | uD to the other end of the room, and Il
: | man at the bar wheeled around and dra'
! | ing a pistol, remarking at the same tim
aDOn't walk behind me, you s-n Of
b-h," or something to that effect, and fire
Egan stopped forward and ran into the La
the man with the pistol followed 70 q
door and fred again. / didn't understaI
Eagan to say anything to Powers at all;
:. | think he was blowing this horn, eth
when he was shot, or just a second befo;
have seen him make that motion of thrO'
: | ING his hand behind him at least a tho
> sand times.
, Joseph Cox testified in effect as follow
. He was standing at Lsndauer's cigar sto
when Powers came up; they had been I
: gether most Of the afternoon, but we
Separated inthe evening; Powers rushed u
grabbed the witness and said,
> "GIvE ME YOUR GUN"
uStuaSS asked what was the matter al