The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-05
THE WESTMINSTER HOMICIDE.
TIE STONY OF THE KILLING OF JOHN r.
p1I1.EBER AS TOLD AT THE MoUEsT-vER-
-. --,Yg copoNrrR'r Irpv

nILIEBKR AS TOLD AT Ihh lNQOAbI--NEi-
DICT OF THE ooRoNER's JURY.
The inquest into the cause OF death OF Mr.. John r.
pleber was held the Westminster Hotel last evening
by Coroner Eiekhon. Among those present were the
brother and friends OF the deceased gentleman,
and Henry l. Clinton, who has been retained for the
defence Of Romano Dillon Before taking the testi-
rnony Coroner Rckhon told the jury that it had been
said that Mr.. Dillon was of unsound mind but with
this they to have nothing do. They were only
determine the evidence be adduced the cause
Of Mr.. Dineber's death.
The first witness Mr.. Charles B. Ferrin,
the proprietor Of the hotel He testified that he had
known deceased five years; he had lived al the
hotel for about Eve months him on the evening oil
December 81 1875 in the hall the lower floor about
quarter before eight O'Clock; there was another per-
son in his company; that was Romano Dillon; they
seemed be in conversation; did not hear any loud
words; only saw them for instant possibly half
minute; at the end OF that time movement OF Mr.
Dilon's arm; then nash and heard the report OF
a pistol; MI. Dillon turned and walked toward his
room; Mr.. Dilleber walked toward me; was walking
as rapidly as ! could toward them at the time; Mr.
Dieber walked about twenty-five feet and sat down
a scat in front OF the elevator; thore was another
gentleman there at the same instant who he was
cannot say; unbutioned Mr.. Dleoers
vest and saw the blood; l told some one
to 60 for the police, ana sent for
surgeon; took Mr. Dineber TO the elevator and
thence to his room; a moment before we got him I'M
dressed some one came up and said the police
down stairs; went down immediately and found
POLICE DILLoN's ROOM
Mr. Dillon had OF his coat and vest and the
and others we're looking for the pistol;
tho pistol was found, and Mr. Dillon
bers room; there the greater part OF the nghti
DR.. j. R. wood was in the ROOM Dr. strew came ABOUT
John A Trapp, OF No A3 East Nineteenth street,
hall boy the hotel next gave his testimony. Be
in the hall mentoned saw what ! thought was a
little argument going on between Mr. Dll-
eber and Romano Dillon ] did not under.
stand what satd; did not hear loud or
angry words; saw Mr. Romano Dillon raise his
hand the FASH and heard the report OF pistol;
walked toward them and heard Mr.. Dilleber cry out
ssTm shotl was near the entrance by the private
door at the tme aud ran out that way TO Dr. WOODS
and told his servant who sent him down alter;
then went TO Mr. Dillebers and he wanted me TO
send for his clerk got the address and sent for HIM
To Juror-Mr Dillon was facing Mr.. Dileber's side;
they from two TO three feet apart and were stand
ing still ,
tions, said be did not pistol IN Mr. Dhon's hand,
and could not tell what the men were talking about
BY a Juror-Are you certain nobody else but Mr..
Dillon could have shot Mr.. DilleberS
Witness-No sir, l am not sure; but there was no
else near them.
Witness, continuing, said the fash he was near
Mr.. Dllons raised hand; when witness nrst saw the
parties he about sixty feet away from them.
| Dr. William W. Strew, next called said On the
evening OF December 81 | called 70 see John X.
Dileber and found him suffering from gunshot wound
| in the left breast his mental system was very
much depressed; his mental sunerings were moro
! than his physical at that time | gave
him smulants and stayed with him through the night
and until he died the next day, little after eleven
O'Clock A NJ. the physical shock be did not recover
from any appreciable degree but his mind became
perfectly calm and collected; the cause OF death was
internal hemorrhage caused by the wound as he re-
Marked" said the witness when he put his finger in
the hole st must have been young cannon, meaning
| Mr. Don's weapon"
Officer George Van Buskirk, Of the Eighteenth pre-
cinct who was on duty Irving place on the night OF
the shooting testified that being notified OF tho shoot
ing he and Ofncer Mccarthy went into Mr. Dlon's
room and found him in his shirt sleeves; officer Nc
Carthy arrested him. found the pistol shown
him a Mr.. Dillons table, the case was closed;
they took Mr.. Dillon up TO Mr.. DlleOers room, and Mr.
Dueber identified him as the man who shot him. they
then conveyed Mr. Dillon to the station house
The pistol exhibited is Derringer which carries
large ball
CfHcer Thomas J. Mccarthy testified TO making the
arrest Of Mr. Dillon. Witness said he asked where the
pistol was and Mr. Dillon would not tell him; Mr.. Fer
rlne witness look the table; witness looked
and found a case which were two pistols; he smeed
| of both pistols and found that ono smelt OF burned
powder
! DR. Marsh who made the post -mortem examination,
described the effect OF the wound and the finding Of the
ball in the abdomen after II had passed across the chest
I and through the liver and kidney.
| THK VERDICT.
After brief interval the jury.returned and handed
! the Coroner the following verdict
1--WE find thatJohn r. Dlcber came TO his death from
/ internal hemorrhage, caused by pistol shot wound
from a pistol in the hands Of Romano Dillon, at the
| Westminster Hotel, of Irving place and Six
teenth street. on the evening Of December 81 1878"