The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-28
THE HENDRICKs0N MURDER CASE.

CorOner's nvostigatkOn-Verdfet Against
Purvis-He II Recommitted to the
TOmbs.
At the Eighth precinct station house yesterday
Coroner woItman held an inquest In the case Of
Isaac HendricksOn alias "Skye" the colored
vagrant who was shot through the head and
killed on the night Of the 10th inst. by
q pistol alleged to have been discharged
at the hands Of James Purvfs a youth
nineteen years of age, while on the
sidewalk In front OF John Speekman's dIsreputable
drinking place. No. 531 BrOome street, OF Sui.
Ivan. Purvis is q large, fine looking youth,
native OF Rochester, and about the last person one
would suspect of taking life without great provo
cation was offered him. Below WIN be found a
synopsis OF the evidence taken before the Coroner
and the verdict of the jury.
William II. Brown, co0red, depOsed that on the
night Of the 10th inst he saw deceased and James
Purvis come out of o barroom corner OF Broome
and Sullivan streets, and when on the walk
Purvis drew pistol and fred at de-
ceased, who fell on the pavement; Purvis
was near deceased when he fred the pistol;
Purvis then ran away towards Thompson street,
and was caught by an on1cer; afterwards saw de-
ceased lying dead on the sidewalk; the witness
was on the opposite side OF the street at the time
of the shooting; recognize the prisoner as the man
who fred the pistol.
Lucy King, sister of the deceased Isaac HendricK-
son. identified the body OF deceased as that of
her brother.
Edward Wilson, coored, OF No. 100 Thompson
street. saw Hendrickson come out OF the porter
house, followed by Purvis, who drew pistol and
fired and then ran away, followed by the witness;
the witness was about twenty feet away at the
time OF the shooting; Purvis was caught by police
Officer; heard no quarrel or dispute between the
parties previous 10 the shooting; deceased mad his
ved Win n ai Sr az No T 70 Sas
Emma j. Wallace, colored, living at No. West
Thirty-third street, depOsed that while waiting
q car she saw deceased and prisoner come from the
porter house and lace each other, when the
white man pulled out revolver from side pocket
and fired; the witness cried out, "FOr Gods sake
save the man :" saw deceased lying dead on the
pavement; saw no blows and heard no dispute be-
tween the parties.
John SpeeRman. OF No. 531 Broome street, de-
posed that deceased was In his place late on the
night OF the 18th inst. two white men afterwards
came in and had cigar and some beer; they then
went out; soon alter which the witness heard the
report OF pistol and learned soon afterwards
ceased |, lug on the sidewalk in BrO0me street; did
not see deceased when ne let the shop and went
conversation between deceased and the two White
men; eacn OF the white men paid iOr his own
drink; Hendrlckson was not intoxicated.
william II. Hazard, colOred. OF No. SO Crosby
street. was IN Speek mans place on the night OF the
shooting, and saw deceased and two while men In
there; Hendrickson went out first, soon followed
by Que oil the white men; In lew moments the
other one lett ana the firing occurred; afterwards
saw deceased lying on the sidewalk; recognize the
prisoner as the mau wno drank beer In Speek-
mans pac-; he mad no words with deceased there,
anu was not nearer TO him than ten leet
Char.ey Whltbeck, cOIored, corr0horated the
testimony Of the witness Hazard every I'm
pOrtant particular
Henry Mllcnell deposed that on the night of the
shooting he saw deceased come ouE OF the Rro0me
street door OF Speekman's place, immediately alter
which white man came from the Sullivan street
door and, drawing plstO, siiOt deceased, when ne
ran away, but was arrested by Oticer Eyers VINO
took pistol from h.m
Officer Evers testified that he arrested Purvs
after the shooting VINO gave him the pistol, say
ing that he had shot nlgger PurvIs said that the
Friday night previous the niger, IN Speekmans
place. had spit tobacco juice In his mouth; that ne
called back there that nignt to see IL the niger
would apologize. but Instead oil doing he slapped
him In the mouth. and &c shot him; recognize the
pistol SHOWN as toe one taken from Puryis,
Tne case Was then submitted t. the jury, who
rendered verdict against Purvie. who, by advice
mis- counsel (Mr. Hunmel) declined SAYING any,
thing about the crime charged against him. Coro-
ner Woltman committed Purvis to the yOmbs for