The New York herald., 1876-09-05
THE FATAL PRIZE FIGHT.

COhONkhS INQUEsT-A LARGE ATTENDANCE
PATHETIo EVIDENCE OF THE DxAD PUoILIsr's
FATHER-wEEpEN, coLLYEB, CLARK AND
SPRING DICK HELD TO ANSWER
PHILADELPHIA, Sept, Z. 1870
The Coroner's investigation into the cause OF death
Of Philip Roster, alias Billy Walker the prize fighter
begun to-day before Coroner Goddard at the Cen
trail Police Station. large crowd was present In the
incommodous and on the outside
Weeden's eyes still blackened and swollen, and
his vilanous face pale and coloriess, while his
small had a wicked snap Sam Collyer looked
sccdy and miserable, Fiddler Neary was stupid and be-
so.tcd, and Spring Dick was careless and apparently
Indifferent All these shabbily dressed, with COZ
aress Shirts and coatess John Clark and the tugooat
captains were little more presenable.
THE DocroR's EvIDxycx
The FIRST witness was Dr. ". J. waldron, OF No 40
South Twelfth street. who made the post mortcm cx
animation, IN testifying to which he said:-The de-
ceascd's was the most intensely congested brain ever
saw, particularly on the left side; on the LEFT eide OF
the head was concussion produced think, by con.
tinued blows; II was below the ear upon the le side
the blood was dIused along the left side of the brain
NY opinion is that Roster came to his death from In
lurics inflicted upon the side OF his head.
ruE GRIEr-sTRIcKES FATHERS
The second witness was Dietrich Roster OF No. 1929
South Second street. tho dead pugnists father He
respcctabc-appcarn German OF about orty, and was
neatly dressed in mourning. lie was unable to speak
English wc. aud appeared confused. He seemed
grief stricken and sometimes unable 10 comprehend
simple questions. He testified Last all before the
nrst fight with Weedcn, heard OF 1t through the Ser
gcaut Of Police OF tho Second district He told IL
was TO come OF soon. asked Phiip about II and he
SAID he was forced TO 1t; he could not help 1t;
Wccdcn hat continually tant iliZed him ana sent
messages to his blacksmith shop daring him to nght;
he SAID there wcrc SIX going with him can rcmem.
bcr tho OF only two, Arthur Chambers and sam
Colycr; knew he was gong TO fight this last time;
say, ''nont hight, Philip, my boy II will give you
bad Dame;'' he saT Father. don't fight for money
| nght only Tor satisfaction !" ask my vile what we
should do, and she did not know; somebody said We
Ind better put him in prison, but she said No, Philip
is good a boy;'' speak him again and again
about IT, hut he always say Il am forced to II; can
not stand Wcedens tantalizng any longer;' made
pair OF shoes Tor him with rings in then but did not
know he was gong TO light In them always mado
his shoes; recognized Co:yor; have seen him about
my house, did not know my son training for
fight
THE sHxRrrp's NARRATIVE
John Hires. Sheriff OF Salem county, New Jersey,
por'y, sturdy ooking eouh'fyman, win determined
eye, testihed:-l first knew OF the fight about SIX
O'Clock on the morning OF the 31st, when man camc
to tell me of II at my place, six miles away; rode
over to near Pennsvulc and saw them nghtng; after
looking on for few moments ordered the constable
and a low men 10 dsperse the crowd l ordered tho
crowd to dispcrsc in the name Of the STATE about
third a couple of hundred scattered; then went
ana locked the CreedmOor barge last TO the wharf
held possession Of the wharf, after the light the
pushed by and refused stand going board the
boat; there was not much hiring; was struck with
picce OF bologna about ms big as that Bible.
Daniel Boone, OF No. ll2 Lombard street, and Frat
H. Day, of No. l,726 Otsego street. testified to having
carried Roster to the boat after the tight and
he had been deserted by Sam Colycr. his second.
Edward Buzly, OF North Pennsvlle, testified to see
ing the fight; he saw the final round, and when the
crowd asked him which the nearest way TO Penns-
vile he shrewdy directed them to where the Sheriff
Eli Beddlc OF the same place. testified to the same
effect
William p Mears, lieutenant OF the Harbor Police,
testified to being the lookout Tor the boats on
Nel mo- DAY al
ryer saw SIX boats gong down and followed them out
OF the city limits; The following day hc arrested tho
captains Of those boats by nstrucons thc captain OF
the Thomas Clark told him that John Clark en-
ployed him and gave him 800.
Al few minutes to sevon O'Clock the jury found a
verdict duplicating Wccden as the principal 10 the
murder and all tho resi- as acccsSorles.