The New York herald., 1874-11-10
VHE POLITICIANS MURDER.
Proceedings Before Coroner Woltman On
the McKenna Homicide.
EX-SENATOR OBRIEES TESTIMONY
Contradictory Evidence az TO the
Shooting.
WHAT THE DYING NAN SAID.

the court room OF the Coronsrs' once was yes
terday crowded with the witnesses in the No
Kenna homicide case, and with several Of the
prominent democratic politicians Of the Twenty
nrst ward. The inquiry was 70 be opened az
eleven O'Clock, before Coroner W0ltman, and
about that hour Mr.. Richard Croker accompanied
BY Colonel Fellows, took his place at the table
reserved for the counsel Mr.. Russell, Assistant
District Attorney, appeared on behalf Of the people,
Shortly after the commencement Of the proceed
ings Mr. John Kelly entered the room and took
, seat oy the side OF Mr.. croker and his counsel.
The nrst witness was ex-senator O'Brien, and the
remaining witnesses, yesterday, were spectators
Of the homicide, whose testimony was very con-
Trajectory as TO the actual shooting tits expected
that the inquiry win continue several days.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Before the swearing OF the jury Coroner Volt
nau said that. In consequence OF various rumors
being In circulation that the Jury had been tam
pered with, be should, before swearing them, put
10 each OF them several questions as 70 whether
they bad had any conversation with any one re-
speciing the case. or whether any county ofacers
nad seen them. Questions OF this character were
put by the Coroner. and they all answered In the
ssgarive.
THE JURY.
The following we're then sworn as jury
Philip A. Harris. No. 2s7 Third avenue.
Micnael Moore, No. 225 East Twenty-nrst street,
James Kedlan, No. 25s Third avenue.
Isaac Williams, No. al Tnird avenue.
George WhitsOn. no. AZ Lexington avenue.
Eaward ". Byrne. NO. 15s East Twentieth street.
Matthew Hanley, No. 500 Third avenue.
Jonn W. BALDWIN, No. sls THIRD avenue.
John J. Dash, No. lss lhlrd avenue.
Newman sticn, No. 81 Third avenue.
James 0'Hara, No. 3Os Third avenue.
John Schmidt, No. 2c3 Third avenue.
TIE CHARGE.
Coroner worman formally charged the Jury
in the usual manner, adding the following I'M
portant SENTENCE
No one has been charged directly before me
with the Killing OF John Mckenna, bur number
of persons have been arrested on suspicion OF
being present at the time John Mckenna received
his fatal wound; those parties arrested were al
held 20 bail 10 appear at the inquest.
THE TESTIMONY.
Ex senator o'Bren was the drst witness called
He said. reside at No. LA East Thirty-lourtn
street; was coming down from my house, as
near as can judge, about quaster to eight In
the morning on election day. and went in TO get q
cup OF coffee; stepped or Fourth avenue car
at Second avenue at about thirty or forty feet
from Thirty-iourrh street; a second avenue car
came along; stepped on the back platform, and
In the street l saw Mr.. Borst with .
crowd around him: he becKoned after me to
get on; there was a Gro xd around and he seemed
to be IN trouble; looked TO see who was there
and asked Them TO come away; there seemed to
"Come away. Billy;" with that Croker said ..You
Rt work here you viii get your head swelled to-
say 10 arepeaier: asked Mr.. Borss TO come away
again; with that was struck BY Croker.
Wirness-Coroner Croker: DICK Croker; with
that turned round and pulled for him; with tina,
they all pulled pistols, ana they said; .Get out
thus man. McKenna, until l saw him iall on the
ground; saw Croker put pistol 70 NcKenna'i
aepey scN sI0 'ns sannos sxeaf sHsS posSey "
DID, but 10. the pest OF my belief ne
a faS apGn ss S
Q man; they all commenced 10 ME; when they
commenced nrlng hickey had pistol turned 70.
ward me: man named craig came 10 liir him up
I told this man Craig 10 get him away: the man
was lying on the pavement on his back; BY this
murderers:' tnev were then arrested and taken
70 the station house; made charges against them,
itniGx at the ADVICE OF Hickey, it was decided to
make cnarge OF assault and battery II said II was
I'll very well for murderers TO make charges like
That, out II would not do; they were locked up,
and went away aud waited TO be sent alter; the
lext thing l heard was that the Coroner had
sbout two minutes after got or the car; never
earry q watch, so am not terrain; there were
them on: they all had pistols IN their hands and
hey were tane1 away from them; I did not see
Nth MS ieet toward the sidewalk and ms head
was toward the track; the nrst saw OF McKenna
nrst saw OF MIN; be received Inc snot Is ne eII
At the time OF the shooting think McKenna's
hat on when be e. was W shos; ~ It was KIND OF round
hat; my face was toward the west, and I saw
Croker put his pistol against mis- head; Croker
MIN; McKenna seemed to have come down
the avenue and Standing on the sidewalk:
man Hickey point his pistol toward both these
men and Craig ran away; Hickey said he would
L nlafQlqs npliQye
that there were two or three men VINO got away
VINO, mad pistols; there was pistol IN Crokers
hand and In the hands OF the two Hickeys and
5neridan.
In reply to Coroner woltman, Colonel Fellows
said that ne appeared then, as ne would appear
throughout the case, lor Mr. croker. and he wosld
act on the Coroner'S suggestion OF asking ques-
saSus sso the IN the
Assistant District Attorney Russell. and ne thought
that this would be the most convenient mode OF
examining the witnesses, whenever It was found
Witness resumed. and pointing to large dia-
gram on the wall representing the scene OF the
MURDER said tnat the trouble tooK place opposite
the oyster house; 1 did not strike Mr. Croker
ala not esf have pstol carry
understood the ponce carried away McKenna;
mad been slightly acquainted with McKenns ior
TESTIMONY OF Mr. BoRsr
William H. Borst SAID II reside at No. 1877 West
ami living on my incone ! was approaching
Thirfy-fourth street, III second avenue. on elec-
tiOu udy, saw coroner croker anu tue Two dlck
eys; when was getting near them said, .Good
morning, Coroner;'' Croker said. What business
have you hereW l said "Pve not done
anything;"; he said he would have US sent
TO state Prison; saw Mr.. O'Brien coming
across the street; Croker told O'Brien that ne
would beat him by about 1000 majority; O'Brlen
told CROKER ne was an migrate and repeater
VBrien then attempted TO clinch him and O,Brien
shouted for The police; ar that time McKenna
Jumped toward MIN and then heard q pistol shot
! looked anu saw Croker with pistol 10 ms hand
as McKenna stepped forward he fell toward Thir
y-ourtn street; as he ieli Hickey nred one or two
shots at MN / tnen ran into store doorway when
looked around saw Hickey, and saw Steve
o,brlen lex up McKenna; ran to the Jackson
OluO ana told them what had happened; CraIg was
crying anu he asked Croker what ne snot ncKenna
LOT, o'Bnen was going down on the east
sioe oI second avenue; sJhe men VINO
we're around were croker, The two HicSej .
nnd sheridan; | did not see ANYTHING
IN O'Briens hands; Croker shot after O'Brten
nad chnched; only about thirty seconds inter-
veued between the fgnt aud calling or the police
Vbrien had nothing IN his nand at the time Nc
kenna was MT, am positive; did not notice the
position OF Mckenna until tie shot was nred;
Mpkeuna "a pal m turfn mr.