New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-29
TRIAL OF DETECTIVE LEAHY.

THE NARRATIVE or THE MCNAMARA SHOOTING
TESTIMONY OF THE VICTIMS WIFE AND OF
DETECTIVE REILLY.
The terrible tragedy in a tenement house IN
West Twenty-nnth-st. near Eleventhave' on feo' ~
which resulted in the killing OF Michael Mcnamara
moor aborer by detectives who were In search OF Duch
Harmon" was subject OF investigation yesterday IN
the Court OF Oyer and Termner. before Judge Brady
The detective on trial is Leahy who fired the shot
through the door. He is rather younglooking man,
slender with dark hair and mustache. His counsel are
ex.Mayor Hall and VIM F. Howe, while the prosecution
ia represented usual by the Dstrict-Attorhey aohe'
The Jury was obtained at 1880 p NJ, and after snort re-
cess the DistricAttOrney opened his case reminding
the Jury among other things that the prisoner had peen
indicted only for maDsaugher, showing thst IN 'he
Judgment Of the Grand Jury he had intention to take
life.
The first witness was the humble wife Of the VICTIM
Rose Mcnamara q woman evidently In poor enough
circumstances, but who told her sad narrative WIN
great simplicity and with little show OF indigha-
ton or anger Her husband. she SAID had only Deeh III
the country five months and was peaceaDle. lnuus-
rious man. On the night in question she was awakened
by the noise the house bursting open the door
adjoining Greatly frightened and possessed with the
idea that they were party Of drunken loafers' she
called to her husband, and about the same uhe mary
Murphy, who lived with them anu siep' III 'no
sittng-room, cried out. Oh! Mr. Mac. my papy' my
babyW Mcnamara leaped out Oh Oeu auu s'oPPo" W
the door graspng his shovel he went The men were
then outside, making great noise as they sought 10
burst open the door Of their apartment He placed his
hand against the door and pushed. Finally 1t burst
open after panel had been broken IN and she almost
Immediately heard the pistol shot The officers had not
announced their errand Names and she, as well as
her husband did know but that they were drunken
rowdies She said distinctly that they had not made
known who they were. Her husband was very much
y1f nd WAS an departed
when they saw what they had done, but cane back
soon "As / saw them coming" she said, with her lip
trembling ittle 81 told them, You can shoot me and
the children now" But they asked If they had burt
anybody and then for the first time told her. Doue Dc
afraid we are officers" Again they left, picking up
the dark lantern they had brought up at first and
third time and wanted to take her husband to the
hospital. He afraid go with them before, for
they were citizens Clothes but this time policeman
accompanied them and her husband was taken away.
Mary Murphy, the woman alluded TO by Mrs. Macna-
mara was called Immediately alter her. she was much
intelligent and her testimony was gwen win more
cearness than that of Mrs. Mcnamara Her testimony
only varied from Mrs. Macnamaras in that she heard
Mcnamara say For Jesuss sake, don't hurt inc chid
rent! She moreover the officer fire at Mac namara,
although she could not identity him she was at the
time not three feet away. she said tbat u was
only after the officers came up ne thlrd tne tha sue
heard them say they were ohcers ana she also sau
positively that she did not SEQ MachdmaId raise rs
hand TO strike them.
panied Leahy TO Macnamara's ROOM was called next,
but before ne had gone FAR in his testimony Mr. Phelps
discovered tlat ne was not nelpng lne case Ol tHo
people, and the wltDess practically became Mayor
Halls. He SAID that six detectives went that night,
after having received instructions from Capt Irving 10
arrest Dutch HI gmOn at all hazards. Upon reaching
the house remained outside one III the back yarG,
and one lower hail. thus cutting of all possible
escape, except by the root. Tne remaining three
Lcahy Williamson aud the witness, who seems to have
had charge Of the aifLr-went upstairs 10 room on
the second floor. Having burst open the door, they
found Mr.. and Mrs. MeGovern and young woman
there, but fugitive. They then assembled to the third
floor, burst open two doors, finding the rooms unten,
anted; then they Macnamara's apartment, ana
the officer said that here he gave two loud knocks on
the with the butt OF his pistol and called QUE,
Omen the door: we are officers" No reply was made,
and the officer put his broad shoulder against the door
AMI burst the thin panel. Mcnamara cried out,
e" You can't IN here whoever you are y ana
scarcely had the words sounded through the hall before
the door was pushed open, aud Mcnamara appeared
partially behind with the shovel raised In the act OF
striking. Reilly said he lodged back and received the
blow on wrist. dark lantern dropped from his
hand and he staggered back against Leahy. whose
drawn pistol exploded. At the same moment Leahy
cried our, " | fired before / meant to-"