The New York herald., 1874-09-26
THE LAWN HOMICIDE.
OAeial Investfg gstiOn-verdict Against
Burke.

OAeial Investfg atiOn-Verdact Against
Burke.
An inquest was yesterday held Dy coroner Kess-
Ter In the case OF Thomas Lewis, alas Thomas A.
LAWN, whose death occurred late last Saturday
night as was alleged, by violence, inflicted at the
bands OF James Burke, night watchman in the
employ OF the Fire Department, In mont OF No. IS
E,drtdae street. None OF the witnesses were able
10 identity Burke as the man who Knocked down
and killed the deceased Subjoined Will be found
a synopsts OF the testimony taken before the jury
Frederica Hartung, OF Nos. Ia and 10 Eldrtdge
street. deposed that at eleven O'Clock last Satur.
day night she saw q man pushed out oil the engine
house In Eidridge street and saw him fall and
heard him scream, when a man followed him up
and kicked him repeatedly in the side and head
the man who did the kicking made his escape In
the engine house.
Augusta Schumann, OF No. 10 Eldridge street.
saw two men come out OF the engine house. when
one struck the other and, after knocking him
down, Kicked him three times on the head with
the heel OF his boot; deceased gave several
screams; the man who kicked deceased returned
TO the engine mousse ana was taken away an hour
later.
Robert Love, OF No. 81 West Thirty-sixth street,
deposed tnat ne heard deceased say that he mad
been 10 see that big - as he heard he wanted to
whip him deceased took rom his pocket three
Diaded knle and wanted the witness to open It,
but he did not; deceased got the kniie opened
tn the hall and said he was going over to see
that dig -; deceased then saia, II am going
over again and Will cut him; ~ heard deceased
make similar threats against Burke; on several
occasions the witness advised deceased to keep
away from the prisoner; deceased mad been
orlnking some that Saturday night; deceased
said that prisoner had treated Hlm badly; the wit
ness IL watchman In the en- pOy OF the Fire de-
partment; has seen Lawn intoxicated several
times.
George Wagner OF No. 20 Eldrdge street, testi.
neo that ne was acquainted with both deceased
ana prisoner, who were In his place at ten O'Clock
on saturday night; deceased called TO Burke to
come Out, but ne refused to do so, and LAWN left;
Burke afterward went away, and later ut night
She witness heard that LAWN mad been killed.
August Olker on Saturday night opened the
blade oil knife for the prisoner, but heard him
make no threats against any
Susan LAWN, widow o. deceased, was called to
she stand ana testified that she knew Burke owed
her husband money deceased would drink occa.
stOnally; deceased was not IN the habit Of carry
Ing knife, and had none that night; they had
always been friends til deceased was thrown out
OF employment.
The ofhccr making the arrest was called, but
threw no new l1Rh. on the matter.
Deputy Coroner Leo, VINO made the pOst-mOrtem
examination on the body OF deceased. deposed
that compression OF the brain was the cause or
death.
The case was then given to the fury, who re-
turned verdict against Burke.
The prisoner was then arraigned and examined
ne u t"enLy-nin years 0l age was born In New
Jersey and lives ut No. 1917 GreeDe street.
Colonel Spencer, who appeared Tor the prisoner
moved that he be admitted to bail, inasmucn as
the crime at most was notning more than man
slaughter in the fourth degree, and furt nermore
tnat tnere was not particle ol proof to show that
the prisoner was the man who struck and kicked
deceased bur the motion denied.
Counsel Will renew his motion before the Dis
trlCt AttOrQeV.