The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-09
INVESTIGATION BEFORE CORONER
CHASTANT.

CHAsTANT.
The Murder Of Luclen Adams, Jr.
The following is the evidence taken
before Coroner Chastant in the case Of
the murder OF Lucien Adams, Jr., who
was shot and killed at the riot which
took place on Wednesday night last, at
Mechanics Institute:
Mr. Pat Creagh
was the first witness placed upon the
stand, and testified that on Wednesday,
the 5th inst, at about O'Clock, / went
to the Mechanics Institute to attend
the meeting of the Southern Republican
Club. I was there about ten minutes
inside the club room, when discussion
arose about the adoption Of the minutes
Of the previous meeting. During the
discussion some remarks were
passed that I did not like. Then
I remarked il / am not want
ed here, I will withdraw, which /
raj Smith, Martin Corners, Judge l..
Adams, Lucien Adams, Jr., deceased
and George Duhurst followed me out
Of the club room. AS [ was going along
in the middle OF the hall Judge Adams
followed close behind me; my son was
ahead Of me walking and Judge Adams
following close behind me. He (Adamsl
kept close to me saying: You Cd
Irish traitor, S. OF b, III Kill you.
He repeated this two or three times,
and when he said these words / expos
tulated with him, saying: Judge, you
are wrong, let me explain, let me go, N
etc. as / said these words | turned my
head to look at him / was afraid he
was going to injure me, and as | turned
around / saw Duhurst behind Adams
and I think he had pistol in his hand;
I got q little excited and afraid at the
time; Just as soon as I told him Judge,
| am not traitor, let me explain, 2 he
said "You s. Of a b. I'll kill YOU" |
got knocked down; Judge Adams gave
me the blow: / don't remember any
more: I don't think he struck me
with his first. After was knocked down
T was insensible; [ think L received
more blows after 7 fell; / don't know
how long I laid down after was struck;
+ am under the impression that Mr.. Il.
Y. Leclerc picked me up; after was
picked up ! was taken hold or by some
other man, but I did not know who it
was until reached the corner Of Com
mon and Baronne streets, when recog-
nized the man as James Casey; | did
not hear any shots fired or see any one
- = '-i Mr.. ". p. Creaxh
was the next witness placed upon the
stand and testified as follows: | and
nv brother-in-law, John King, left our
house together on Wednesday evening,
April 8, 1876; we arrived at the Me
chanics' Institute together at ~
O'Clock to attend a meeting OF the Cen
trail Republican Club, Of which l am
treasurer; the meeting was called to
order about o'clock; Mr.. Mcknight,
the President, was absent and Mr.. Sew
ell called upon Mr.. Leclerc to take the
chair; a discussion arose in regard
to the adoption Of the minutes OF the
previous meeting, when Judge ADAMS
walked over to my father Il. Creagh)
and told him that if he came there TO
break I'D the meeting that he had better
oct ont Of the room. Ny father an
swered mo" that he did not come there
to break up the meeting. Judge Adams
remarked if he did he would put him
out. NV father answered that there was
no need of putting him out, and that he
would walk out. Judge Adams told
him to 90, and my father got up and
went out, followed by. Judge Adams,
myself, Lucien Adams, George Duhurst,
Martin Corners and Nick Smith; others
The door was then closed. Ny father
walked on the left side Of the passage
wav. very close to the wall Lucien Adj
ans. ST.. was on the right side OF my
father. cursing him from the door
ali along the passage, holding his
right hand on his right side pocket;
The words Adams used were, You ID
son of a b-h, l have. got good
mind to cut your throat" My father
stopped and said ''let me explain my
self" as he said 50 Judge Adams struck
him in the face, and my father fell
senseless to the ground; thinking my
father was dead I went towards him,
and as I did Judge Adams rushed for
me. and as he did, said you ID little
son of a b-h, you are the one want
T was so excited / turned and ran off;
when I got to the railing | heard some
body running behind me, turned
around and jumped in the street; as the
party ran by me / heard Waterman
whistle at the corner OF common ana
Drvades streets while / was standing
in the street the shots were fired inside
the hall: about fifteen or twenty shots
must have been fired / saw the flash OF
about ten shots; at that time L was
standing at the corner OF Com
mon and Dryades streets; L
don't know who fired the shots;
while I was standing at the corner !
heard somebody exclaim friends OF
/ foes" Then / hallOwed, John, IS thaI
YOU" meaning John King, whom, as
him He answered, Yes. Mike. come
over. I am shot" 1 then went over
and took hold of him; saw pistol IN
his hand; the pistol was not his own;
T asked him where he got it from, and
he told me that he get it away from
Young Adams, who had it pointed at
his head when he took it away from
him. He kept the pistol and took it to
the station. / left King in charge OF the
police and went to the station and re-
ported that there was a riot at the
Mechanics Institute. After King was
taken to the station he was examined
and only two wounds found, but after
we took him home DR.. Stone examined
him and found four wounds and three
of them serious.
l.. SeweIl
next told his tale Of woe, which was as