The New York herald., 1876-11-30
HUNTERS POINT HOMICIDE.
INQUEST ON the BODY or PATRICK TATr--THI

TESTIMONY.
Guided by the uncertain light Of q single oil lamp,
cast through ndieren,ly clean glass globe. strag
CLING line Of witnesses and sghtseers made its way
into the First District Court room, at Hunters Point
last night to attend the inquest into the manner OF
the death Of Patrick Tai who found kneelng upon
the floor Of the freight Office Of the Long Island Rail-
road, on Monday morning, dead and rigid
The approach to the room and the room itself
sirkingy suggestive OF the raw abodes justice
in the West flight OF deal stairs, ornamcnted
with n very precarous banister OF slender timber,
formed the approach TO the narrow dingy above
where the Coroner held court Tho room was packed
to the doors. and the fetor OF the atmosphere was
overpowering The inquest held ut night in
obedience to unwritten law In force
In all primitive communities. which ordains
that public labors shall be performed
after those OF the individual have been attended to.
Most or the witnesses and jurors in the work.
ing people to whom attendance during the day would
prove hardship. Most OF Those in attendance
employees Of the railroad with sprnkling Of citizens
ana here and there blue coat acting under orders
from Captain Woods Davrell carly hand
his orderlies and deputies many OF whom failed
to recognize the fact that they were not conducting
the inquiry. The arrangements for tho accommodation
OF the press wero ample, II any Judgment had been
exercised In the system OF admission. The sergeant-
crowded the space allotted to the press with
his personal friends, that some Of the reporters
crowded as to be unable to write and others
were turned away. Hunters Point. or late q
prolific source oil crimes and Boosting
OF the politisai paradox o dual local government has
not yet had sensation equal 70 the present. u the
promise OF last nights developments be not false
The mystery surrounding the death OF TAFT s thicker
now than ever as tho Introduction OF side issues
through tho testimony have tended 10 compIicate
matters and make tho acceptance OF Ryers version OF
the more difficult.
The first witness called was Rodney W. Luke. Ho
testified follows:-I live at No. "a West Tenth
street; have been In the employ OF the Long Island
Railroad Company eight years; was at the depot the
day of the shooting; | left ten O'Clock; ~
and Patrick TAFT 10 DO there; / saw Taft
near the mail tram; my business
yard he always had lantern with nm; L was the
duty deceased 10 be ou hand at SIX o'clock tho de-
nsd q n sma srsE %
centre both inclosed SAW tho description In
the AHH q Monday io.ass. the diagram Is
ins,de and outside the oficc he was expected to be
well I'M when LETT Ryer, at three o'clock
hc attending to his duties, as usual; II was not
admissible Tor these to 90 to their homes at this
time; one man had charge OF the machine shop and
harness shop his name was James Kelly; he came ut
five clock and remained till morning.; all these
werc expected to remain all night; Saturday night
I was over there, but on Sunday l was not;
came over IN the quarter past seven boat Monday
morning; when came over the boy in the 0nlco asked
me Il heard the news hc meant by that this mans
death: went Ryer's house, and his wife said
had gone Astoria 1t was then about eight o'clock
l saw the deceased in the small office. hts head
resting ON chair; ~ young man named Carter
who works the platform was the rst to sec him;
know nothing about IL; did not see Ryer SINCE
l saw him here; Taft about thirty Of aye and
Ryer sixty; never TAFT intoxicated; hts disposi
lon was peaccable; never saw Kelly, the night
wutchman, drunk; know Ryer thirty years. never
saw him drunk; always supposed the three men 10
be on tho most friendly terms
In answer Counsellor Noble, counsel for Den.
MS Ryer sad do not know that Taft carried
pistol, but understand that the pistol ound be-
lonecd 70 ai know tina. .ne pistol was one Of cois,
'-'- WILLIAM nonxsoS's EVIDENCE.
william Robinson then testined:-I reside at No. 90
Dupont strcer Greenpont last Sunday was at the
yard from quarter past i've TO quarter past ak A.
IA. 1 did not Kelly, Rycr or iait there: went
some aicr that and remained home; saw nothing Of
them Sunday or Monday; know nothing Of
from hearing heard there had been some trouble
between them account OF some brdsses taken from
Tie depot 10 the mech an,cs Office; TAFT,
heard thought Rycr was interfering wirh h
II was tho general talk around the yard at the no; IL
ABB about
quarrel but tho talk ABOUT the yard three or tour
JOSEPH SMITH rEsrrrIEs
The next witness JOSEPH Smith. He sad-t
live at No 2!3 cherry street, New York wachman tor
carry over way bits; | came over on Sunday
last; me. captain OF. Of one Of the
on Ferry street; met Mr. Ryer there:
there was another there, and one Of them,
discussion about Tweed aud Ryer took OIL his coat to
fight: said that Tweed 20. his irst lite IRON
Six Engine, and the talk was Just about Tweed SAID
his In the hotel; the deceased was
standing IN tho store; there were only Jour OF us 10
the room the barRecpcr did have anything say,
but hc put all out Ryer and did all the aIking
drank little, but have pretty clear idea OF what
occurred; shook hands with Ryer before delivered
the South Side package ana went home; did not
trcat, Tor l hadn't cent; arrived homo about
three O'Clock; my trends head clearer
than nine; TAFT and kyer seemed to Le
quite friendly together; don't remember seeing
mean, ANYTHING BY pulling oil his coat Ryer said Il.
belonged 10 No 10 hose, aud said No 10 hose wal
or ten blocks anv time and catch her.
Philip Hoflander tcstihed:-l an friend Of the last
witness; i was with him all day Sunday; We vert
drinking all day Sunday and kept IL up till evening;
was about twelve O'Clock when struck the hotel
Captain Harry there, this gentleman was there
psassns Mr. Ryer ''a said snas r%ssa
made man Of in the Fourth
was foreman SIX engine; dom. know what Ryer
sad when no took his coat off; was drunk thai
don't know whether the man was III his shirt sleeves
or not were told to get out; Ryer and my friend
did most OF the talking
William Waddei tcstncd:-l live at No. Is Pike
street, am foreman Of the yard OF the Lone Island
Railroad Company; was there Monday about seven
O'Clock; SAID would like to get of: when saw the
deceased kncelng beside the char did not any
appearance OF n scuhc; | understood that whatever
quarrel there between the men madc up
time ago. there had been trouble about brasses
being stolen; TatIt accused Ryer OF telling
about the brasses; when examined the body
saw bullet wounds; about eight years ago presented
the pistol 10 raft; aiterward understood that Taat
loaned the pistol TO Ryer.
Louis orman, proprietor OF tho City Hotel, whcre
the men sunday night testihed:--I was present
when Captain Harry and smith aud Hoflendor came
in; Ryer, Walsh and Tam there, there
were SIX altogether; tho three first
In between twelve and haEpast twelve Sun
day night; RIVER, Tant and Walsh came IN
be; tween hafpast ton and eleven; Nike Walsh, RycE
und Taft remained In tho barroom; they wore all
talking sociably together ut first, and then Smith and
Ry CIR got arguing about Tweed, and Smith very
noisy and asked them all ito go out; Ryer drank
about nve glasses Of whskcy In my place Smith stood
out on tho sidewalk for time alter closed up
talking very loud and abusing Ryer; Ryer went into
the dining 10 get away from Smith.
Michael Walsh testified IL know OF no III feeling
tween Tafrt and Ryer; know1he Office where Tsfrt's
body iound; lhcre was high chair, two desks