New-York tribune., 1874-11-11
THE POLITICAL MURDER.
THE McKENNA INQUEST.

The Mckenna inquest was continued yester-
day morning before Coroner WOtman at the Coroners
Office. The courtroom was crowded as usual and small
knots Of interested discussed the proceedings
the street corners outside. Among others present
Mayor-elect wickham. John Kelly, Assembly yman-
elect Thos G. Campbell. and Nicholas Muller. Assistant
Attorney Russell appeared the representative
Of the DstrictAttorneys Office and John f. Fellows as
counsel for the Croker party. The case was opened py
Coroner Woltman calling the attention OF the jury 10
statement charging him with being influenced by the
presence Of John Kelly in the conduct of the case e
said that tine statement untrue, and that be in-
tended to accord justice everybody connected
with affair. Mr.. Kelly requested the privilege oil
putting himself right in the matter and said that the
statement OF his trying to influence the Coroner was IN
correct. He q the case, regularly sud-
penaed. and had not interfered with the Coroner.
The first witness called John Woodlook OF NO sil
East Fory-sixth-st., who testified that he saw oBrien
and Croker in angry controversy, and heard firing; he
saw McKenna fall. but did not see pistol In the hanus
OF either Croker or 0Brien George HioseV hour
ishing pistol and heard several shots fired atter mc
Kenna fell did not Hickey shoot he helped coo-
vey McKenna to the drug store. and heard him say
Dick Croker shot me :" slso heard him tell capt
Aaire station house that Croker and Hickey Ao'
him McKenna seemed conscious and rational at the
time.
Susan Hoffman, child living at No. 6JT secondaVe'
testified tO seeing Croker and OBncn hghtlnS anu "
picking up Crokers hat when fell from his head she
did not see either Of them have pistol
James Smith of No. $40 East Thirtieth-st. challenger
at the pong-pace on second-ave, saw Hickey anu
Sheridan with pistols in their hands and heard Georee
Hickey cry Come on Steve O'Brien ana I'll hx you
OBrien cried out, Arrest that man." and pointed TO-
ward Croker Did not oBrien or Croker have pls,
tolls but Sheridan shoot at Mckenna aiter ho u"
Edward Nolan painter otNo. 326 East Tventv-fourth-
st. testified that he was in secondave ana saw ~ PRIV H
and Croker & qIasTeDf s nI psd IN croS hand
IL was Smith Wesson revolver; do not kho" %
he fired not. Dut certain he had pistol pvD p
man asked NJ Kcnna at the drug sore VINO shot Dlh
and he SAID Croker and Hickey" He sald the sahe W
Capt Alaire. When McKenna fell he was racing Cros,
Relieved that Croker fired the shot but d1 not see h
do it, Is positive Croker had pistol Ihs witness vas vas
rludly crosse xamned by Mr. F-iOWs Dut Nc ut NV
vsry Substantially from his statement as given above
James Carr Of No. SO3 ist Thiriy-cghthst
that lac standing at the northeast cOrner vi b.
fDnrthst and Secondave., aud saw OBren and Croker
quarreng O'Brien struck hrst ana CrIAer strucA pa
he saw three with pistols neari hrins anu 1aw i
the deceased fall; COker 10 or IL feec to tne ie
when Nc kenna w.. snGt ne Rr od a had one ard
was positive that neither OF tneln had one; sd" NC
Kenna fall, and saw the man who shot nun run run n awr1
nave never seen the before or since ana cihnot
nojtyely identify any here as the person "Ao ud
the shooting have had no CONVERSATION Win aug o"'
concerning this aniir
Al this point Assistant DisrictAtOrney Russell said:
Your Honor would ask If YOU will permit me to
cruss-c canine witnesses as severely ~ tD cuns ol
persons supposed to be Implicated IN tins an ar mas p
permited 10 dr observe thlt witnesses NnO est-Iy
apparently the denent OF certain persons VINO u.e
held IN custody ON account OF supPo Gu oonPiiJ'! 80
this fair aru very strictly Questioned by c0ansr ,hd
as "A representative OF the people desire 10 question
the Witnesses qdite as closely
Coroner Woltman replied that every facility and cour-
tesy would be extended the representative Of the
District ttorney's Ofc but he was aware tnat VII
pesses for the defense always more rgldF exam
ined in trials under the Jurisdiction OF the Dlstret-
Attorney than for the State ana ne wsnei 10
warn the Dstrict-Attorneys representative that here
HHt.er a Zach
whatever way he may testify should be accorded equal
irbts and priylleges The Assistant Dsrlct-At0rnev
then the witness. and elected the fol-
lowing additional testimony:
The man VINO ran away OF small size and thin he
wa dressed roughly ana his coat was rather ragged
witness did not notice any p'cuhariiy; witness
only about six feet from the peT'0n +" o uli INC
and ran: could plainly see Coronr Cocker wGen
McKenna fell ana Lls hands wert 10 @a by ms side he
had had talk about the occurrence WIN any one ce
except the Ordinary remark h+t IL WaS Dai Dishess
AT the close OF this crossexIinailon Coroner Volt
man said that useless to crossexamide Witnesses
AZ such length especially they were yet to come be-
fore the DstricAttornev. aud he would not permit it
again. Assistant Dstrict-AttOrney Russell asked; Am
to understand then, your Honor, that am debdrred
from questioning witnesses herel" Coroner Woitman
reDlied 81 will be glad - receive suggestions IRON you
ann from the counsel the legal aspects OF the case
but am the representative OF the peOpia, and any
questions you may ask must be through me-
l.. fort a
MI fe'io"S' i,0 ,,'',., - - , ,ia ooroper.
very ridiculous haoiI hdu grown up ''"o"s ' ~
within the last 10 years, OF requiring COUNSEL 10 AsA
,os,,o,s only throurh the coroner himself Every
i O -, r., ,t. r,,,t - c,unseI and IL be-
man in eNeiI N'"'' "'' 49, -.
comes farce when counsel must ask the coroner
,s ouaston and have the coroner repeat IT, TIe Coro
us qu0'Vi' ~ ,...,. h -o,,1 M, ,or,it
ner replied tAat neNeItselcss nc "ou' NV p'''"'
cornsel or the DistrictAtorGcY TO 20 the same
V'"ii7'' - -, -. rrt,io, bo b,J otcaedv ask.I
questions NIIh "''i~' " =, =.
The Assistant Dstrict-A.tOrney replied that he was
10 Yaulinu
contelIs =, he Chi -cied having witnesses whose
,t0 ~, te,Iad :" exculpAe the persons uhuer
tcStILi"iiJ DINERS uarSnY eXin41cu.