The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-13
THE MILLER MYSTERY.
THE coRoNKRs NQUEsT-THE vEHDrcN
DROWNED WHILE NroucATED" "IIrrH
JACK" DIsCHA RGEn

DROWNED WHILE INTOXICATED" "LIrIIA
JACK" DISCHARGED.
At six O'Clock ''Little Jack" John Leonard md q
HERALD reporter stepped ashore at Elm Park from the
New York boat tho prisoner having been under bail
since August O. Mr. James Glen, of Greenpoint and
James Alster Of tho same place, having become his
bondsmen in 900 TO appear when wanted The
following is what Jack stated TO tho re-
porter while going to Mariners Harbor-'Ttx
pretty hard disgrace, l tell you, on my
poor father and mother who arc respectable people,
having me arrested for this One of the Hudson New
York; papers recently gave good character and M
God Is my judge, am innocent of showing Miller into
the water. am engaged on board the steamtug Com
nodore Boggs, and | want TO know why Mr.. Peter
Dalton the jewellcr Of Jersey City, won't down
here and give his evidence There is another fellow
they have called Boy Birch and neither
of them have been brought here to prove their charges
If Coroner Tus Tappan does not discharge me tonight
II they fail to appear why don't think it's square
deal have been arrested in my life and have
good Woodworking record had animosty to Miller,
and it not likely that should be so cowardly as "a
push him overheard while he drunk. l am not ro-
sponsible for Datons optical delusions" BY this til
the Coroners office was reached and the proceedings
the evening inaugurated.
THE coRoNER's STATEMENT
"T have" said Coroner Tappan to n HERALD reporter
consulted with District Attorney John Croae and Other
legal authorities including Mr. De Groot and havd
learned that cannot bring Dalton and Birch of Jersey
City, here by law think there ought to be reciprocal
action on tho part of each State in like the present
hatthe innocent should not suffer or the guilty escape
Dalton told in Jersey City, before the Chief OF Po-
lice, when asked him if no could identify the person
who had lie thought, pushed Miller overheard, thai
Miller pushed overheard by his from behind,
and not from bodily push. Justice
Reese showed mo the boy Birchs evidence
which similar to Daltons and, perhaps, influenced
by him. Finally, at ten minutes past seven O'Clock,
the proceedings formally commenced by tho calling Of
the names of the jury
81 demand that some of us DO sworn In, said Juror
Eagan
Coroncr-You were all affirmed at tho last session.
Gentlemen that Is the Same rs taking an oath III ponG
of law.
Chorus of three jurors, "Thats right Squire"
JACKS TESTIMONY
The prisoner John Leonard, commonly called Little
Jack being sworn, stated as follows, in firm voceT
have lived there for two years. am fireman on board
thefscamboat Commodore Boggsl went on an excursion
on board the tugboat Thomas Cornell, on the 25th OF
last July; started go the Fishing Banks, but only
went far as the Monument, below Fort Hamilton, and
then proceeded right round Staten Island we had in
toxicatng liquors on board the boat there wsre twd
kegs of lager of the and passengers be-
pretty well intoxicated; they did not get drunk,
not the whole of them, but they drank pretty freely
Coroncr-Was there any wranging quarrelling Oh
fighting on board the boat?
Prisoner-Not word, sir; knew Mr. James G
and eighteen months; never had any i'll viii or bad
feeling toward him. Miller had been drink
ing, and intoxicated undoubtedly; l saw
him vomiting I sitting on the bits aft; when
first him he standing up, and did not see him
again until he had gone overboard he fell over
To the engine room; also tried to catch him;
shut off the throttle valve and drew up the lever and
stopped the engine the reason stopped was the
gineer out Of the room. This is confirmed by
Kenny the engineers evidence
BY the Coroncr-How do you think Miller came over
board
Prsoner-He was intoxicated and fell In the waters
that is about all know Off
Tho foregoing story of Lennon corroborntes his I'M
sworn narrative given on previous occasion.
Tho prisoner then heard tho evidence read over and
said IL correct and signed it, His counsel exJudgs
Seymour, offered no objections
REcALCITRAST WITNESS.
'Ts Mr.. Dalton here?" said the Coroner, obviously.
mo, Squire, p" from n chorus of voices.
The Coroner then told the jury that they must not b
guided by what they had read in the papers or what
had ransped Jersey City, but by the evidence alone
lie said he did intend TO charge the jury but merely
10 read the evidence TO them. He much regretted
that he had been able to enforce the attendance OF
Mr. Dalton, of Jersey City who had sworn to having
the prisoner throw Miller overheard The Coroner
then read the testimony given week ago and printed
in the HERALD.
Attorney and asked what he doing when sitting on
the bits.
He replied :-"I was drinking a pail Of beer waf
moro or less intoxicated but knew what was about
dropped the pail when Miller fell overheard
THE JURY RETIRE.
Here the jury commenced their deliberations
THE VERDICT.
Aftor being out for twenty minutes tho jury brought
in verdict that James C. Miller came to his death 25tA
July 1875. by being drowned while in intoxicated
state being employed at the tmo board the steamtu1
Thomas Cornell
The prisoner was then discharged