The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-09
BELLA JONES' DEATH.

DID SHE HANG HERSELF OR WAS SHE MURDERED
by OFFICERS?
The OF Bella Jones has been invested with
siderable interest because several persons have sought
TO prove that the poor hayward girl did not hang her
self in cell Of the Fifteenth precinct station house, but
cruelty beaten by the officers who arrested her.
Coroner Eickho began inquest into the yeser
day morning
The following is the testimony that has been thus far
ecited-
Dr. e. Marsh stated that he had made autopsy of
tho body of the deceased and found congestion Of
the brain; the lungs were intensely congcsted, and
death, in his opinion, due to asphyxia from hang
ing
William J. Beard being sworn, said that he was an
officer attached to the Fifteenth precinct the night
OF September about half-past eleven O'Clock he was
informed by coored man that disturbance going
on at No. 66 Thompson street; witness went to the
place; saw Mrs Flanagan, who said she was afraid TO
go into the house; summoned another officer to his
ssance went in and took Bella Jones out of the house
to the station house; she undressed; witness told
her to dress herself and she refused he told her that
he arrested her for threatening the life OF the complain
ant, Mrs. Flanagan; outside of the house
MADE RESISTANCE;
witness got assistance and she was carried to the
station house; from that time he did not sec her until
her dead body placed the sretcher the yard;
violence used to her by any person; she strug
ged while being brought to the station house and fell to
the sidewalk.
Daniel Flynn was next sworn and testified as fol-
lows:-l am doorman OF the Fifteenth precinct; saw
the deceased in the station house in front of the
desk she had n chemise and underskrt; she
fused to give her name; Witness with another officer
took her TO cell where he locked her up; about half
past twelve witness returned and asked her her name;
she gave it Bella Jones witness told the Sergeant who
entered it on the bloter; about two three minutes
TO O'Clock, when witness going his rounds he
deceased hanging by the neck to the ventator of
the cell door; she had torn up her underskirt and
knotted it around the ventilator bar then wound
the other part Of it around her neck; called
to the Sergeant and then opened the cell door and cut
her down.
Julia Flanagan being sworn said:-I live at No 166
Thompson street; on the evening of September was
sitting on the front soop; deceased threatened to take
my life was afraid to enter the house and called an
officer who arrested deceased when he had taken her
about block she struggled and fell back the side
walk, and pulled the officer with her. going after
her to the station house at the time; violence
used.
AN EXACT WITNESS.
ollowsI live at No 80 North Moore street; on the
evening OF September was gong down Thompson
street and had passed Houston street. when heard the
scream of woman; l stopped and looked back and
some people running; went with them and saw
woman the sidewalk with two officers holding her by
the wrists and hands and dragging her about ten feet
they wanted her TO get up on her feet and walk;
she told them that "as they had brought
her out of bed that way they would have take her
that way naked; officer was hitting her around
the thighs 10 make her get up; one Of the officers
wanted TO let her go back and dress herself the other
said emo, that as he had her there he would take her
that way; she told them thatf they would let her go
she told the officer he had grudge against her and
had bused in her door and dragged her of bed no
replied that he would 'bust" the door again the officer
dragged her then in front of stable further up and
somebody said " Put her in a wagon and take her that
way officer told the other to go to Blocker street
and rap for assistance the officer started for
sistance and deceased got up her feet; she made
motion if to TO her house, and the officer who had
remained behind grabbed her by the wrist and wrested
with her for minute or two, and finally threw her
the sidewalk; while she was down the side
walk he put his knee the pit of her
stomach, pressing 1t with all his might; she
screamed for help but answered; the officer hit
her the face with his fist at this stage of the tragedy
the became horrible that witness obliged
withdraw the witness stated that he had known
the woman, and had never seen her before since
The witness hero questioned by Officer Beard.
Tho latter attempted cross examination in his be-
half which fast drawing TO verbal dispute, when
the Coroner nterposed
The Coroner then addressed the jury, saying that
all tho witnesses that had thus far appeared
the side of the policeman except the last, it would be
necessary TO examine the other side closely. He
wished TO have the testimony of the man who with
the the night of her death and also that of
several citizens who had witnessed the ARRAY in the
He, therefore, declared the inquest adjourned
ciue